Iuka reporter., 1889-10-03

md me armed. "
He means to fight he's brought to bayl
Look to your pistols, boys, and--in she
goesv cried Hank, while the hall began to
fill with the indignant and astounded bro
kers who had followed us up stairs.
Then, suiting the action to the word he
hurled his powerful shoulder against the
door with such force as to almost tear it
from its hinges.
The next instant the enraged occupant
of No. 13 confronted us with flashing and
defiant eyes, and flourishing over his head
a heavy desk-leg which he had hastily pro-
vided himself with at the expense of the
only decent piece of furniture in the office.
Back, l say, or I'll brain you ALI" he
shouted, apparently half beside himself
with fury.
In the excitement of the moment Hank
was about to dodge under the desk-leg,
with the nippers extended at arms length,
while Doc brought his cooked revolver to a
dead aim.
Stopl" cried, knocking up his arm as
the weapon was discharged, and just in
time to send the ball through the fanlight,
instead of the mans breast. Don't you see
who it is?"
Yes, they did, indeed, see as soon as they
could collect themselves, and then they
started back with quite MS much dismay as
had taken possession of me.
What Mr.. Jocelyn2" exclaimed Doc.
"Hallol the old cock that runs the Officer"
cried Hank.
Then the crowd that had followed us up
stairs filled the hall and hemmed us all in,
alternately questioning and denouncing us
ut great rate. until the direst confusion
prevailed. But Mr.. Jocelyn came to his
senses about as soon as we.
What Is it possible?" exclaimed he,
slowly lowering his bludgeon, as bewilder-
ment took the place of fury. Why, what
do you mean? Are you out of your senses?"
The man who fled into this room mo-
ment ago?" stammered Hank. "Where is
he?"
Either dashed to pieces on the stone
tagging below, or making his way down
the fire-escape. suppose" replied Joce-
lyn, wonderingly. Il took him for, per-
haps, one of a dozen maniacs, and you fell
lows for the remainder. l could not see
his face, but he dashed into my Office and
then out of the window there moment
ago like madman. Before I could re-
cover from that surprise, you all added to
it tenfold by storming along the passage,
and thought of nothing but locking the
door against possible fresh irruption of
maniacs. Who were you after? Certainly
not"
"Yes, after him, and no otherl' 1 cried,
filling in his startled pause, and then the
three of us dashed past him into the room.
1t contained no one but ourselves, even
the little boy of the previous day having
disappeared. The wash-room was wide
open, and beyond that the window as we'll.
The next instant our three heads were
peering out of it at once.
"Its all of sixty feet down to the flag
ging of the area there" exclaimed Doc,
Nand I don't see any blood or broken bones
either"
"Could he have swung off to that fire es-
cape on the next house?" asked Hank,
pointing out the object of his remark.
|, for one, was forced to admit that des-
perate and athletic fellow might have done
so, though the fire. escape was down u
blank wall fully fifteen feet to the left of
the window we were at; for there was as
suredly no other means by which o descent
might have been effecte j. nd the free
cape was new empty, wh..e the court be-
low gave no evidence of mangled life or
death, as might have been expected.
Then, after a bewildered pause, we
found ourselves all facing Mr.. Jocelyn
with doubtful and vaguely inquisitorial
looks; for it gradually dawned on the three
VI US Ut Uue same lIlSIinC CDaU he owed us
some sort of explanation.
Did this sort of thing ever occur here
before, sir?" said Dresser; II mean this
unheard- of thing of man suddenly dash
ing through his Office and out of that
break window, without leaving any
sign or trace behind?"
"Yes, sir, it did, which renders it so
much the more unaccountable and start
ling" replied Jocelyn, quite sharply, as if
taking offense at the tone and manner of
his questioner. 1t happened last Tues
day, if l remember rightly, at. say, half
past two in the afternoon. My office boy
was present. as well as myself, at the time,
and was well nigh frightened out of his
Wits
Cant you explain it in any way?" said I.
Doesn't it stand to reason that + d like
an explanation of it even more than you?"
he snapped turning more sharply upon
me than upon Hank.
But. Mr.. Jocelyn," stammered Doc,
feeling it to 10 his turn, mo one ever
heard of your having an Office here be-
fore."
Speak for yourself, Richard, if you
please, " said Jocelyn. with commendable
effort to control his irritation. Il have had
private business here for several years, as
perhaps several of these gentlemen would
testify. il it were necessary" he added.
turning to few bystanders that were still
grouped about the open door, the majority
having returned TO their interrupted pur-
suits after picking up or forming for them
selves partial explanation of the affair.
Several of the gentlemen muttered that
they remembered to have seen the occu-
pant of No Is about the building. off and
on, for good while past, while others be-
gan to mutter resentfuly against my two
companions and myself as being what they
considered unwarrantable disturbers Of
honest folks vocations.
But, persisted Doc, isn't it rather odd,
you know? What sort Of private business,
for instance, would require"
Jocelyn checked him with an impatient
and indignant gesture.
do you really think that your question
ing comes with good grace, Richard, just
after your narrow escape of putting bull
let through me by mistaken" he cried.
This retort seemed so pertinent and JUS
tiiable under the circumstances, as to ST.
lence us all for the time being, and we
turned to quit the place in decidedly
crestfallen mood.
Il shall be happy to be more confden-
tial, should meet you at dinner this even
ing" Mr.. Jocelyn called out after Richard,
in conciliatory and at the same time