The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-08-28


| BY chance, and very narrow chance al
that" answered Paxton, while Judith
! hastily secured the door and drew the
widow curtain closely.
Don't talk in riddles. Levi, she said.
well, TO be plain, / was on my way
| to meet Pratt and Weeks. when l dis
covered I was shadowed. doubled and
twisted in every shape, but I couldn't I
throw the fellow off my track, until at
!ast I lodged into the passage between
this building and the next. Then the
shadow went on by me. But he'll come
back and explore the passage. We shall
hear his footsteps, for ] placed some
| loose boards whero he'll step on them.
When We hear him in tho passage, III
20 out the front door and make off. You
see have come, Judith, merely to give
ny tracker the slip"
Thus Paxton replied. telling the story
ne had devised for the occasion In ad-
vance.
you ought to have sent messenger
| 60 Pratt and Weeks. instead OF ventur-
ing to go there yourself, answered Ju-
| lith.
AS she spoke, there came the sound Of
footsteps in the passage.
There's the fellow want to give the
| slip," said Paxton, who knew the sounds
| be had heard were made by his agent,
whom he had instructed to traverse the
passage soon after he entered the house.
Quick as thought, Judith extinguished
che light in the room.
Come" she said, leading the way to
| che front door.
b. ~ PpNY,doarnbd
suppose?" she asked, as they started
Tor the front door.
yes, for the present"
II think it's about the safest place
you could find. No one you wish to
steer clear Of is likely to visit Dreaders
Alley, especially after night-fall, and !
presume you keep close during the day!'
Trust me sor that"
With this conversation they reached
the front door.
Look out, Judith, and see II the coast
ls clear" said Paxton.
The woman unfastened the door and
cautiously peered out.
In an instant she drew back, saying7
AL right, now is your time"
Good. I'm off. Goodnight, Judith
Goodnight, Levi"
Then Paxton sprang down the steps
and darted away, not forgetting to imi-
tate Levi Kredge's peculiar limp.
In a moment he vanished around an
adjacent corner.
He was exultant and delighted, for
success had surely crowned his effort
this time. He had discovered where
Levi Kredge was in hiding. He had not
L. LII p,,r tIor OF yui
the cunning Judith, much as he would
have liked to draw her out and gain
further information.
Paxton well knew the locality where
Levi Kredge had secreted himself, and
be was aware that Brouscem's was
sort Of lodging-house, frequented by the
dangerous classes Of the metropolis.
Moreover, he knew that Brouscem's 8
was the most dangerous place in New
York to attempt to make an arrest in,
anless backed by a strong police force.
But to take such force would be to de-
leat his purpose when he sought to cap'
ture Kredge.
Paxton meant to arrest the treacher-
Gus janitor that, very night, and in q
moment or 30 he had hit upon strata
gem which he thought might answer his
purpose.
Less than an hour subsequently, In an
entirely new disguise-that Of q sporting
man .abcut town. the detective was on
bis way to Dreaders Alley.
Before setting out, however, he had
repaired to the office and made com
plete change in his disguise mentioned,
while at the same time he had given
some instructions to two Of his agents
whom he found there.
Upon REQ living Paxton's orders, these
men, who were both powerful fellows
whom he knew to be perfectly fearless
In the midst Of danger, went out.
When Paxton reached Brouscem's II
was near midnight.
He entered the combined bar-room
and Office of the establishment, which
was thronged, and looked about fol-
Kredge, but the janitor was not there.
The detective sat down near the door
and waited, hoping that Kredge at this
late hour might venture into the public
ccn.
An hour elapsed, and then. just as
Paxton began to despair Of meeting bis
man, Kredge entered.
The janitor sauntered to the bar not
far from the door, and just as ne
entered the room man at the other END
of the apartment mounted upon rude
stage and began to perform some skillful
card trick with one hand, for he was
one-armed man, while a boy passed
around with hat, taking up collec.
ton for the performers benefit.
Paxton stealthily arose glided, to the
street door and looked out.
He saw his two agents, who had left the
office in advance Of him, standing one
on each side Of the door.
With his men he exchanged silent
but significant signal, aid then he ap.
preached KreGge and touched his arm.
The janitor wheeled about with q
start, and his hand sought his pistol
pocket. -,
What do you want? Who are your
he demanded.
Il come from Malvin. A word with
you in private. It is important said
Paxton.
It was his purpose to deooy Kredg g
outside, but the later was wary.
Just at the door be paused and said:
I'VE have gone far enough. We are
out of earshot, Tell me now what word
you bring from Malvin?"
Kredge stood with his back to the door,
and at that moment Paxton saw one OF
his agents cautiously open 1t.
The detective cast rapid glance about
the room, and he saw that the attention
Of all the dangerous characters there
assembled was centered upon the man
with one arm. who was performing the
card trick at the other end Of the room.