Immediately above them a gun barked. Ken heard the slug zip past his face and saw Johnny stagger.
“Run!” Johnny snarled, recovering his balance.
Panic-stricken, Ken bolted down the dark alley after Johnny as a police whistle shrilled in the darkness.
They hadn’t run more than fifty yards when Johnny suddenly staggered, lost his balance and fell on hands and knees.
Ken pulled up and bent over him.
“Were you hit?” he panted.
“Got it in the arm,” Johnny gasped. “I’m bleeding like hell.”
Ken looked frantically to right and left. He could hear someone running down an iron staircase not far off. He could hear distant shouts and more police whistles. He caught hold of Johnny and hauled him to his feet. Johnny leaned against him.
“Where’s this alley lead to?” Ken asked.
“I don’t know. Leave me! They’ll be on to us in a moment.”