St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-10


half dozen strangers enter the room al
the last moment.
But with the crash of breaking glass
came the report of several firearms, and
instantly the room was envelOped In
inky darkness.
felt my arm seized in vice-like
grasp and the voice Of Darlington whis'
pered in my ear:
"Come with mel"
He led me away through the darkness
and the confusion of voices and men
around us. We traversed the length OF
the room and passed through narrow
doorway, while sharp click from be,
hind assured me that we had left the
gambling room.
Nov, pard," said Darlington, "be'
fore we 90 any further want to say one
| thing: You saved my life out there,
and it may be I've saved yours by bring.
ing you here. You're the only man
living beside myself who ever set foot
in here, and if you ever give away the
existence of this thing or anything that
you see or hear in this place I'll kill you
if can. See?'
l saw, and we proceeded on our way a
hundred feet or more. finally emerging
into a room, where the gambler quickly
struck light and invited me to be
seated.
Derrington's love of luxury was ap-
parent on every, hand; Soft rugs coy
cred the floor, the walls were hung with
pictures, while the richly upholstered
furniture invited comfort and ease.
We we're scarcely seated in our chairs
and had exchanged but a few sentences
of conversation, when wild, shrill
scream rang out, seemingly from the
room above, ending IN frantic repeti-
ton of the word ''helpw uttered in a
woman's voice.
1t thrilled me like an electric shock
and l sprang to my feet in amazement.
What is that?'; l asked quickly.
But Darlington did not move, other
than to proceed leisurely to light his
cigar. 49,,
'that is one of the things you hear in
this place.
"Ahr' | dropped back into my chair
apparently as nonchalant as the gam
bier.
But flood of light had burst upon me
when | heard that scream. believed
that it was the eoice of Ruth Huntoon
that | had heard, and, if she were a
prisoner there, felt that my work was
already nearly accomplished.
"Do you keep a menagerie?' | asked
carelessly.
"Yes," said Darlington. Sin the shape
of a poor girl who has gone mai. She
shot her father through the heart in my
bank about month ago. He was a
friend of mine, and don't want to see
his girl in either prison or mad
house, see? She has disappeared, ard
nobody can find her."
"Ah!t' l said, but thought:
vi l,oA
before we are much older L will prove
that you are liar"
l did not hear the woman's voice
again that night, and | wondered what
had silenced her. since the man who
was doubtless her 1ailer had paid no at
tention whatever to her cry.
"1f that scream and those cries for
help came from the lips of Ruth Hun
toon," l thought. there are two fore
gone conclusions to be deduced: First,
the girl is prisoner; second, she IS
guarded by third person who was near
by to quiet her. Humph! That third
person is, of course, woman, and Pd
rather tackle three men than one deter
mined woman.
The next question is why did she
scream out at that moment? Derring
ton would not permit her to be abused,
screaming to attract attention, and thus
bring somebody to her rescue"
My FRIEND" said Darlington in low
tone at that moment, I'VE have been
sitting here silently for several mo-
mentS. indulging in our own reflections.
At shrewd guess I'll attempt to read
your thOughtS.''
Fire away, partner" | said.
You were wondering why | cared TO
bring you here on SO short an acquaint-
tance."
Wrong"
"What then?'
MY thoughts were on the person who
uttered that scream"
Darlington frOWned.
''When l hear woman cry for help"
L continued, my natural impulse is to
grant the request, and Pve been WON
dering If | hadn't better tackle you. down
you if [ can, and go to the rescue"
"Oh!"
Derrington's frown gave way to an
amused smile.
"Say, Billy" he said slowly, Il like
you"
Thanks" said dryly.
you've got sand and lots of it; more,
you've got the muscle to back it up. You
chucked Black Bob through the window
as though he were feather, and Pm
willing to admit that if you should
tackle me you'd give me the toughest
Scrimmage l ever had before | could
down YOU"
81 like you," he continued; 81 like
your face; you've got no white feather
to show, and | reckon you wouldn't
man Pve been aXious to find all my life,
and if you've got nothing better in the
corral, and will give me clean, square
roundup about yourself we'll strike up
partnership here and noW Wait,
Billy, don't speak till | get through
with my say, [ want a partner badly,
and you're the man L want.
"We'll begin tomorrow night and
divide the profits of the bank, out of
which you will pay me 10 per cent of
your share until you have passed over
$4,000. Fll stay with you week or
two until you get the hang of things.
and then I'll light out for Frisco and
the coast for few months.
'Say, look here, if this strikes you
favorably, all you've got to do is to re-
turn and furnish a good record of your
self. | don't care how many galoots
you've laid out, if you've done it fair.
and have given 'em chance for their
bacon. don't care how many prisons
you've been in. if it wasn't for stealing
and cheating"
''Well," said, slowly, ''Pve been in
good many prisons in my life, but
never stayed very long in any one of
them, and / truthfully say that never
was ashamed of what took me there"
Darlington rose to his feet and ex-
tended his hand.
"Shake, Billy" he said. "I'll take
my chances and tie to you on that Show
down."
Hold on, Jack. l haven't called
your boost yet"
well, shake anyhow, and then tell
me why you hesitate"
THAT is just what I can't do, more
than to say that Eve got job on hand
that I've sworn to accomplish. When
that's done, if you're still of the same
mind III see y0u.p
"How long will it take?''
"a few days--a week-perhaps two"