The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-12-27
CHAPTER XVI.

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AS may be supposed, the inmates Of the
room were not Il little startled at this uuex
pected summons from without.
"What shall VIC do!" whispered Went
word.
aye! there's the rub" uttered Fingal
in dramatic voice
Will you open OF must force the door?"
demanded the voice from without.
Neither one, I hope,' returned Fingal
"Pray, who are you, and what do you want
with peaceable citizens!"
Il have warrant for every one of you u
"Thcrc must be some mistake" asserted
Wentword.
"Histr' exclaimed Don Benito, his deep
set eyes cleaning like Goals of fire. Il have
been expecting this all along Our plans
are discovered, and the Doge has sent his
lninions to murder US. We must give them
il warm reception" and at this the old man
lrew small revolver from his pocket and
.lrew the hammer, while his glittering eyes
were fixed ominously on the door.
This movement on the part of the de-
nented old man promised trouble Went
word and Fingal believed that mistake
had been made, and so, while the
Young hunter laid his hand on the arm of
The door and said:
1--WE are De lceahle citizens cni: can con-
ceIve OF no goa reason why we snuuIu ~.
molested by the law. I hope you will not
insist on disturbing u.s."
Il do insist" answered the man outside.
= If what you say is true you will not fear
Investigation
"Certainly not''
succeeded in disarming Don Benito, as
the old man was pleased to term himself
Fingal said
"Open the door, we have nothing to
fear''
Wentword obeyed, revealing two men
outside in the uniform of the city police
Both advanced into the room with blus-
tering air.
"You are prisoners" declared the fore
most man, sternly.
''Ha! doth the Doge dare insult his
friends thus! We will not give up the
precious documents we have risked so
much to gain,' cried Don Benito, fiercely
Then, ere those present could comprehend
his intentions, be bent low and dsrted
swiftly at the officer in the doorway His
head struck the fellow in the pit of the
stomach and doubled HIM up like Jack.
knife
A cry of pain followed
When the painting bluecoat regained his
feet, only two mer stood in the room, whik
the clang of the outer door at the foot of the
stairs announced the fact that Don Benito
had made his escape from the building
after himr' gasped the painting officer
mo use," said Fingal, ''the old chap il
beyond your reach. Neither my friend
nor myself will attempt to run, but we de-
mand to know why we have thus beer
molested."
'Search them, Markus"
Our two friends submitted to a search
under protest. Nothing was found of .
suspicious nature. After this the two off
GERS went through the room with no better
success.
''Confound it, there must be mistake
after all, +" muttered the man who seemed
to be in authority
"What did you expect to find" questioned
Austin.
Gamblers tools"
"You suspected this to be den Of tina,
sorta"
ssYes''
Fingal and his companion laughed.
sMr. Wentword and myself are respect
able persons, as we can prove. You have
made grand mistake"
Then the policeman began Offering an
apology. Wentword assured hum it was moi
necessary.
I'm sore from that old fellows head
Who was hel'' growled the police spokes.
man, with a grimace
s'Don Benito.''
g A half-crazed fellow" explained Fingal.
8 I met him a few days since He seems to
be harmless, usually. 1 suppose he mag.
med you were about to imprison him. BE
seems to have dread of such fate. think
likely he has escaped from some asylum
/" Then he ought to be looked after"
Perhaps; although l regard hum as
harmless lunatic"
:" don't them" asserted the officer still.
grimacing. "pn lock him up if can Law
hands on him."