The Globe-republican., 1892-05-23
CHAPTER XXI.

whisper.
CHAPTER XXI.
Mrs. Kits companion sprang to his
feet and drew murderous-looking
knife.
He seemed about to rush into the de-
tective's presence, but the woman
grasped his arm and held him back.
The two whispered together earnestly
for a moment, and then Mrs. Kits re-
turned to the apartment in which Pax
ton remained, and presently the man
also sauntered in, while the detective
unsuspectingly continued to work at his
accounts.
Unobserved by Paxton, the man to
whom Mrs. kits had communicated her
startling discovery regarding our friend,
carelessly worked his way along until
he was behind Paxton's chair.
But while Mother Kits and her con-
federate were both plotting against the
detective, the latter had taken advantage
Of their absence to secure letter which
he had discovered at the moment Of his
entrance partially concealed under a
sofa.
Paxton naturally surmised that the
missive had been lost by some one, and
he concealed it on his person as he pick
ed it up, intending to improve the first
favorable opportunity to read it.
In order to divert the attention Of the
detective from her confederate, Mrs.
Kits began conversation with Paxton
the moment she returned to the outer
apartment after warning the confederate
regarding her discovery.
The cunning creature conversed about
her business affairs in the most natural
and uncOneerned manner in the world.
Paxton replied as best he could, but
now that she had detected his disguise,
the woman craitily shaped her remarks
so that his replies served to confirm her
suspicious.
The detective sat close to a window
which was closed by heavy outside
shutter.
While Mrs. kits was talking, and
while her confederate gained position
in PaxtOn's rear, the latter heard a
faint, scarcely audible tapping on the
window shutter without.
1t was only by the exertion OF su-
preme effort that Paxton avoided giving
a violent start, which would have
awakened suspicion in the mind Of the
old woman that something was wrong.
He recognized the tapping on the
window shutters as an imitation OF the
click, click Of telegraphic instrument.
More than this, he recognized the let
tiers and words for which In the tele-
graphic alphabet these sounds stood.
In a moment the detective mentally
read the following startling sound"
message.
You are found out! Man behind you!"
Not feature Of the detectives face
underwent the slightest change, and his
manner remained as composed as be-
fore.
But suddenly he turned around upon
the man behind him, who contemplated
attacking him. and said, carelessly:
Give me chew Of tobacco"
As the detective wheeled about the
wretch, who had his knife in his hand,
suddenly concealed it.
He was taken by surprise, and he
stammered:
All right; yes, tobacco. Here's my
box"
As he spoke he presented q tobacco
box.
Paxton carelessly arose and reached
out as IL to take the box which the other
held out to him, but instead Of So doing
he shot his hand by the box and sud-
denly clutched the fellows throat. With
all his power he hurled him aside.
Then he bounded to the street door.
Mrs. Kits had taken the precaution
to lock the door, and she had removed
the key.
AS Paxton gained the door there came
q heavy rap upon it from the street side.
open the door, old woman. II you do
not desire the police force have sta
toned without to break it down." said
Paxton calmly.
Mother kits was surprised and
alarmed.
She could not comprehend how Pax
ton had discovered that his disguise was
penetrated, as it was clear to her he
must have done.
She was alarmed at the coming Of the
police, whom she feared, and she did not
doubt that they were at the door In force
and she made haste to unlock 1t.
The man whom Paxton had handled
80 roughly picked himself up, and stood
elarinC at the detective like some fero-
cious animal that feared to make leap
and yet longed to do so.
As he heard the knock on the door, and
also heard Paxton inform the old woman
! that the police were at the door, the
desperate suddenly changed his mind,
though he had been about to attack the
| detective.
fro BE CONTISUEnl
DrA~OND WEIGHING 400 CaratS ID