Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-10-22
CHAPTER XIV.


mons had not yet emerged from his cellar
All the while he had been below u strong,
pungent smell Of burning, the dry, sui
phurous smell Of burning coke, had as
cended from below, with now and then
noise of hand bellows blowing a fire.
but no steam or sound or SAVIOR of cook
ing. Now and again there was the noise
Of stirring a fire, and now and again the
noise Of tongS gripping and lOosing and
slipping on what = listener might take to
be pieces of coke.
If no one was listening to the stoke-
some one was watching the exterior of the
marine store. A short time before IL
o'clock man dressed in seedy black
cloth, with short iron-gray whiskers and
beard, and long iron-gray hair and wear
ng blue spectacles, turned into the street,
and sat down in crouching position on
the aXle-tree of a cart.
When it was about quarter past IL
Timmons emerged from the cellar, carry
ing in one hand dark lantern, with the
slide closed. He went cautiously to the
wicket, and with a trowel began digging
up the earth Of the floor which was here
dark and dry. 1t was old sand from ii
foundry, and could be moved and replaced
without showing the least trace OF dis
turbance.
After digging down about foot he
came upon a small, old bag, which he
lifted out, and which contained some
thing heavy The bag had been all rubbed
over with grease and to the grease the
dark sand stuck thckly. Out Of this bag
he took a small, heavy, cylindrical bun
die of channels leather. Then he restored
the bag to the hole, shoveled back the
sand and smoothed the floor.
Timmons walked softly over his noise
less floor until he got behind the old
boiler Of donkey engine. Here he slid
back the slide Of the lantern and unrolled
the leather. The latter proved to be a
belt about n palm deep, and consistin:
of little bags or pockets Of channels leath-
or, clumsily sewn to band.
There were Il dozen of those little peck
cts in all: six of them contained some
heavy substance. Each one closed with
a piece of string tied at the mouth. Tim
mons undid one and rolled out on his hand
a thick lump of yellow metal about the
size Of the large buttons worn as orna-
ments on the coats of coachmcn.
He smiled well-satisfied smile ut the
gold ingot, and weighed it afectionately
IN his grimy palm, gave the lngot loving
polish with his sleeve, dropped 1t back
into it's bag. and retied the string. Then
out Of each of his trousers pockets he
took similar ingot or button, weighed
each, and looked at each with affectlonat'
approval and secured each in one OF the
half-dozen vacant leather bags.
'Two pounds two ounces all together,
ne whispered 81 have never been able to
get more than four dollars an ounce for
III ND Eftnnr 20 u 9
His offer is as good as ten dollars an
ounce, which leaves a margin for man
n get living out Of it. if the dwarf is
safe. If | had had only one deal with
him I'd feel he's safe, but he has done
little but talk grandly and vaguely up to
this Well, after this deal tonight he
can't draw back or betray me. That's
certain, anyhow"
He unbuttoned his waistcoat, strapped
+ba belt round his lank. hollow waist,
blow ont the lantern and stepped into the
deserted street Before he disappeared
tho elderly man with grizzled hair and
1vhiskers. dressed in seedy black cloth,
emerged from the shadow Of the cart and
kent stealthily in the rear Of the marine
store dealer. Timmons was on his way
"a keen his appointment with Leigh in
.vbo+vynd street, and the low-sized man
,,-;tb bIue spectacles was following, shad-
owing Timmons
Oscar Leigh sat in the dark on the last
.+on bnt one OF the stairs Of his house,
awaiting the arrival of Timmons. 1t was
olose 70 the appointed hour. lie had one
80 bis knees drawn up close to his body,
HE elbow rested on his knee. his lons
hna,led chin in the palm Of his hand. Ii
n;+cb dark. Nothing could be seen,
absolutely nothing.
..Nv mother cannot live forever, WINS
uad rho dwarf, land then all will be
hronk. all will be dark as this place round
Where shall l turn then? Whom
nho,, 7 sneak my heart to? l designed
49, n,ock to be a companion, friend, q
nor6dont a solace, triumph; 1t Is be-
coming a tyrant and scourge. man
.,s,,,+ have something to think of besides
,.soIf. 1. deformed dwarf must never
4h;nl If himself at all, unless he thinks
80 +b;nrs of himself. Here's Tim
a;,rh rose and sliding his left foot and
n,nrtinc his body on the stick, went to
the door and opened IL: :, :, nv
' ..,r,,.olve to the minute" said Tim
..Ie+ rs go for walk" said Leigh.
..Rnt | have the stuff with me" said
,r;,,n,ons. in tone of annoyance and
protest walk sov" cried
=, ENORMOUSLY. striking his thick
..;ltad stick ficrcely on the flags as he
spg rh. two men turned to the left. and
wont on few PAGES in silence.
WEI ~ have been in Geographic communicS.
, len milwaukee since | saw you.
'lon Ta;gh Il had not only message,
ou. said Timmons, scornfuEy. witt!
lent serrentine movement run
n nina up his body and almost shakin syyn ms
h hln1 off its long. stork.iiSe neck. Nv Gu
Is the fool off the job ass .e ne v eomrs 70
" savasey in slang ns .s S|n such s anpri ~
Showing how cheap ne ns.u sue- "Ap' =