Just as the crook was about to dislodge Kennedy's other hand, I saw a flash and a puff of smoke and a second later, heard a report—and another—and another.
Horrors!
The crook who had taken refuge seemed to stagger back, wildly, taking a couple of steps in the thin air.
Kennedy regained his hold.
With a sickening thud, the body of the crook landed on the ground around the corner of the church from me.
"Come—you!" I ground out, covering my own crook with the pistol, "and if you attempt a getaway, I'll kill you, too!"
He followed, trembling, unnerved.
We bent over the man. It seemed that every bone in his body must be broken. He groaned, and before I could even attempt anything for him, he was dead.
. . . . . . . .
As Kennedy let himself slowly and painfully down the lightning rod, Elaine seized him and, with all her strength, pulled him in through the window.