Leroy Yerxa

“ With the entire country a white layer of blowing snow it was difficult to make out the sharp walls of granite that arose from the cup-shaped hole below. It was like a huge bomb crater, perhaps ten miles across. On the valley bottom was the smoothly swept blue-green of a frozen lake.
The plane banked abruptly and Lardner cut the motors. Drake felt the tenseness mount within the cabin. A fear was filling these State Street gunmen that had never troubled them before. The motors were silent. The ship dropped below the lip of the canyon wall and the wind died smoothly. ”

“ They turned and went into the cave of the Fox People. Perhaps the gem would work. But if it didn't, Lardner had died with the secret on his lips.
"You'll never get her," he had said, "even with the diamond."
At the edge of the pit they stopped. Silvaris spoke in a faraway, silencing voice.
"Our lives depend on you. I am no longer able to control myself. In a few hours we will all be dead...."
He hesitated and the voice trailed off into nothingness. Before their eyes the man fell away into a light mist. Instead, a large fox stood at Drake's feet, tail drooping and its eyes staring ahead dully. ”

“ Puffy asked in a puzzled voice, "why don't we clean up the mystery right now?"
"Wait!"
Silvaris went slowly down the long steps to the fox pit. He climbed the steps to the side of the polar bear and his sister's lifeless body. From her armpit, he took a huge gem. As he came toward them, Drake knew it was the Lardner stone, flashing and alive in the semi-darkness.
He pushed it into Drake's hands.
"Somehow Lardner pawned a paste imitation of the real Flaming Diamond off on us that night in Chicago," Silvaris said sadly. "The real stone is the only gem that will make the transformation." ”

“ The lives of many people are hinged on my playing the game alone. The curse that holds me, binds my people also."
Puffy Adams' jaw dropped. He reached for the always ready bottle in the small bar and poured a drink. He swallowed it with a loud gulp.
"George Lardner shares your knowledge," Drake said.
Sylvia's body shuddered under the fur.
"Lardner is a snake." Her voice was as cold as ice. "His greed has destroyed my people. Death will be his reward."
"All of which means," Drake said evenly. "You have recovered the diamond that you held in your hands last night at the Owl Limb." ”

“ Sylvia Fanton asked me to help you, and I am her brother."
Puffy Adams sat down abruptly on the cave floor.
"And I," he said unbelievingly, "am the keeper of Cinderella Drake, the sap who still looks for the silver slipper."
"But Sylvia is no fox woman," Drake protested. "She's too warm, too human!"
For a moment there was silence. Then a warm smile lighted the stranger's eyes.
"We are all human," he said. "We are early settlers who came to this valley and sought its sanctuary. Only the curse of George Lardner has spoiled our paradise and driven us into animal form. ”

“ The rainbow had faded swiftly and darkness was coming down on the cavern.
"I am Silvaris, King of the Fox People," he said swiftly. "On the Flaming Diamond depends our ability to exist. Night is almost upon us again, but unless the diamond can be restored to the paw of the bear, there will be no more night or day."
"But you have it!" Drake protested. "Lardner came here to get it back again...."
"Lardner came by mistake to this valley six months ago," Silvaris said brokenly. "We welcomed him as we welcome all people. He betrayed our trust and stole our life source. ”

“ George Lardner faced him, neck red and arms akimbo.
"You're getting too damned clever for your own good," he shouted. "I oughta' knock some of the cockiness out of you."
Drake had a slow temper. But behind the Cinderella Drake who had soused himself so thoroughly in Lardner's whiskey still lurked the keen eyed air patrol cadet who had only six months ago put his body through every air battle on the west coast. Some of the old strength and nerve were coming back now. Coming with a rush of hot blood to his head.
Puffy Adams had sworn he'd stick by Drake until that spirit returned. ”

“ She sat up, shielding herself carefully.
"It's very simple," she explained. "I am doomed to wear the body of a fox during those hours when the sun is high. At night...." She motioned toward the window with slim fingers.
Drake turned, saw that the sun had drifted behind the distant skyline and darkness had come down on the city. He smiled, only partly understanding.
"At night you become a very lovely woman. I know that much."
Sylvia Fanton blushed.
"Thanks!"
Puffy whistled.
"Leave it to Cinderella Drake," he grinned. "Man, you sure hit the jack-pot this time." ”

“ The face of Silvaris, the Fox King, lightened.
"You are a pilot?" he asked.
Puffy chuckled.
"Cinderella can fly the blind spots off a Jap Zero," he said. "Just strap a pair of wings on him."
They charged toward the mouth of the tunnel. A few hundred feet from the entrance Drake stopped. He picked up a tommy gun where it had been dropped by the fleeing gunmen. Going forward more slowly they saw three men at the entrance, guns pointed into the darkness.
On one knee, Drake fingered the trigger. He picked up a large rock with his free hand and tossed it ten feet to one side. ”

“ He's a busy man these days. Mary ought to know where her boss is. Women like that have an idea of everything that is going on. Find out where Lardner went and meet me at the apartment as soon as you can."
Puffy was already on the sidewalk.
"Leave it to me, Cinderella," he said. "I get the idea. If you can't follow the fox, you're gonna follow the wolf and let him lead you to her."
Drake nodded and smiled after the sturdy figure with a growing respect.
"Move along there!" The gruff voice came from his side. "Can't be holding traffic all night for you." ”

“ They followed Lardner slowly down the vast hall that led under the lip of the mountain. It was warmer and more humid now.
"The boss knows what he's doing," a voice said behind Drake. "These fox people can't do us any harm during the day. By night we'll be ready to blast them down in short order."
Unable to speak to Puffy, Drake was thinking plenty. If they went on to wherever the tunnel led them, it would be too late to face Lardner with any show of force. Drake knew that Sylvia Fanton would be caught off guard if she were here. ”

“ They were obviously the members of a dance band. Instruments were packed and waiting on the baggage truck outside as Drake and Puffy entered. Drake went straight to the ticket window. The man behind the ticket cage looked up with a smile as he approached. His eyes were tired and questioning.
"Yes, sir?" in quiet friendliness.
Drake tossed a roll of bills on the counter.
"We're thinking of taking the night plane to Winnipeg," he said indecisively. "Any empty berths?"
The clerk grinned.
"Fortunately for you," he said, "there aren't any priority passengers tonight. ”

“ Sylvia blushed prettily.
"I'll try to dress a little more modestly in civilization," she offered.
"Not for me," Drake urged. "When a man comes home from a hard day's work shooting down Japs, he likes to see as much of his wife as possible. Namely, in a very small fox fur."
"Yea!" Puffy said. "Guess you're right. Excuse me while I go curl up with a good book."
He blundered noisily toward the row of empty berths at the rear of the plane. ”

“ Drake examined the diamond curiously.
"Hey!" Puffy said excitedly. "Wait a minute. How come Lardner is so almighty hot after us, if he thinks we've only got a paste?"
"That I cannot explain," Silvaris admitted helplessly. "I purposely disguised myself to mingle with his men. He came to destroy us and yet he knows our life is short now that the diamond is gone. We cannot live long as animals."
ar away toward the mouth of the tunnel came the sound of an idling motor. Drake sprang into action.
"I think," he said, "that we can outplay Lardner at whatever game he's playing. He must be wounded. ”

“ The fun has really started."
he plane had dropped and leveled off. Lardner's men seemed to have forgotten their captives in the excitement. They sat with faces glued to the windows, watching curiously as George Lardner at the controls brought them down in ever tightening circles toward the valley below.
Adams nudged his companion.
"Look at 'em," he whispered. "The rattiest looking bunch of bums I've ever seen. What in hell does Lardner need so many guns for?"
"To finish murdering a race of people," Drake answered coldly. "A job that he started when he found the Flaming Diamond. ”

“ Adams hesitated, then added,
"Lardner showed up there six months ago claiming he had found the world's largest diamond. He claimed he got it from a secret valley somewhere in the Baker Lake district."
"Fantastic!" They had reached their destination and Drake pulled the coupe in smoothly to the curb. The lights over the door of the Owl Limb Night Club were darkened.
"The Explorer's Club doesn't think so. They are mighty stirred up about his find. The only thing that puzzles them is how come the stone is cut. Lardner refuses to tell them who did the job. ”

“ The flat of the girl's hand caught his face, hard. Drake sobered a degree.
"My jacket!" her voice was strained and tense. "Please! I must have it at once."
Drake was interested. His pale eyes started to show fight.
"Sure!" he said. "But it's my jacket."
The sirens were dying now. A powerful police car shot to the curb behind them. Puffy's eyes narrowed and he drove the coupe away from the club smoothly.
"Too hot around here," he said to no one in particular. "Can't stand the smell of copper's feet."
Sylvia Fanton's dress was badly ripped on one side. ”

“ Love is not good for a woman who has my obligations.
The outer door rattled noisily. Drake took a second quick look at the note and stuffed it into his pocket. Puffy Adams stormed in and stopped abruptly with a shocked look in his eyes.
"Been havin' a party?" he asked whimsically. "Looks like the guests came on a whirlwind."
Drake was silent. He started to rearrange the room mechanically. Duffy collected the clothing from the floor and replaced it in the closet. The boss would talk when he got ready.
From the chair by the cocktail table, Drake said suddenly, "What about Lardner? ”

“ For a moment he was sure she would throw herself into his arms.
"You're very nice," she said softly. "I'd be grateful forever if you could help, but you can't. I know my task and I have others with me who know theirs. It will be best if we never meet again." ”

“ His lips murmured off into something Puffy couldn't understand.
ong shafts of sunlight split the obscure shadows that had hidden Jim Drake's room for the past twelve hours. Drake turned over carefully in bed, groaned and reached for the full glass on the table.
"Puffy!" His voice arose in shattering crescendo across the stillness of the rich apartment and crashed against the door. "Puffy—it's me. Take these damned rocks off my head."
Adams opened the door and came forward with a sly grin on his face.
"Okay—Okay." He was impatient. "I'm coming, Cinderella." ”

“ Adams pivoted, took one look at the imposing granite building in which he was about to trust his tender body and with a shake of his head mounted the long flight of steps.
Jim Drake stepped hard on the accelerator and sped away toward Wildwood Zoo.
nce on the grounds he had little trouble finding the section of open air cages that housed the small animals. Wildwood was built with a complete lack of eye appeal. Down a tarred path he passed through tangled brush and approached a short line of ugly wired cages. ”

“ He slipped into his shoes, dressing quickly, went toward the tiny wash room halfway up the aisle. One of Lardner's men was making a hurried exit. They met, heads down, with a jarring blow. The gunman started to swear loudly, caught himself and said in a mock pleasant voice,
"Good morning. Say, ain't this a darb of a trip?"
Drake nodded. ”