CHAPTER XVIIBud, drained of color, cried “Hurry that call, operator!”
His gun was on the door when Norma filled it. “Stop, Bud!”
His eyes dulled. Conflicting emotions ran jagged edges over his face. One hand held the phone, the other the gun. Norma was afraid to fire for fear she would miss. “I’ll kill you if you try to stop me!” he screamed. He could not place the person in the doorway. And then he realized that it was the Devil cleverly disguised as his sister.
Norma stepped into the room, drawing closer. Her hand trembled violently. Bud was perspiring.
“Bud,” she said. Her voice choked. “He didn’t mail ... he didn’t mail the ... package ... the ... the package.” Tears ran down her cheeks.
“Get away! Get away!”
“He didn’t mail it! No one need ... you’re safe ... your secret.... Put
