Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1898-12-29

ewes as be gaEed into vacancy mad
troubled expression, and his appearance
generally indicated great mental dis
turbance. Suddenly he arose and step
ming 70 the door, turned the key. The
rusty bolt clicked sharply, but had his
mind been less preoccupied, he would
have noticed that the latch had in some
way been torn from the casing, and that
In consequence the lock afforded no pro-
lection against intrusion.
"Pshaw," ho muttered, half aloud,
''what's the use Of trebting about this
business2 A puff Of flame and tho last
iota Of evidence against me is de-
stroyed. Those fellows, of course,
arc following me, but they will have
their labor for their pains for don't
propose to let thoso cursed deeds re-
main in my possession another minute" "
And removing the chimney from the
lamp he took some papers from his pock-
ct and was about to apply them to the
fame, when a slight noise at his eJbow
caused him to raise his head, and he
found himself gazing into the muzzle of
= shooter, the barrel OF which ap-
pcared to his startled gaze to be about
the size Of sower pipe.
'I'll take charge Of those documents
now. If you please remarked Charlie
Mason in an extremely business-like
and matter-ol-fact tone of voice as Job
backed up against the wall.
There was moments silence during
which job made tremendous attempt
to summons his wits and courage to his
aid.
'And If won't give them up" he
said at last, in voice that trembled in
spite of his effort to appear unconcern-
cd, what are you going to doabout itg'
"Oh, moth ng worth mentioning" re-
sponded Charlie, Il shall merely go
down stairs in about two minutes and
tell the landlord that be had better
take u sponge aud some warm water and
remove the speck that your brains will
make on the wall before it has chance
to dry on"
"Would you commit murder?"
"l suppose that's what they callitir
this country" assentod Charlie cheer
fully, "but, do you know [ have beer
stopping in section of The world wherC
people are in thshabit OF shooting such
things as you on sight, and I've brough
lots Of their notions homo with me.
really think that if could kill abou
six such coyotes as you every morning
before breakfast it would help my ap
petite wonderfully"
"But you wouldn't dare" said Jo
huskily,
"Wouldn't II" and the CLEAN whicl
shot from Charities steel-bI1e eyes droy
the last particle Of courage from job
faint heart. III those papers are not il
my hand before | have counted three
I'll give the Oakland coroner tho bes
paying job he has had for ten year,
One, two"
For Gods sake don't Shoot" suppl
Gated Job, with chalky lips-"herer
and he thrust the papers into Charlie
hand, aud sank into the ehair.in vel
limp and.dem0ralized condition.
That's right: sit down and tai
thing, easy, remarked Charlie appro
ingly as he examined the papers al
assured himself that they wore u
right ones. Il am vory sorry, no co
tipued, that my appearance has 50 u
set your equanimity. Perhaps sma
quantity OF that oelectable coneoctic
OF rain-w4ter aud strychnine, which !
proprietor Of this hostelry rotaiis 81
rosa under the Somewhat misleadil
name of whiskey might have SCOT
ing effect on your nerves. There Is
necessity for my giving you directio
for procuring il, as the peculiar ru
cund hue Of your nasal organ indica
that you are already familiar with
sirns, grips and passwords, the kno
edge Of which is 50 essential TO per'
who seeks the bloom Of youth in p
>hibition state. And now my d
friend and former schoolmate, au
voir," and Charlie bowed himself
and descended the stairs, whistlinl
particularly cheerful and vivaoious
Ivan was sitting in the hotel on
when Charlie hurriedly entered
I've captured the papers, SAID
latter briefly "Come on, the d'
down train is past due now"
As they reached the street the "
tie Of an approaching locomotive gr
their ears.
make The train u you can, Oharl
called out Ivan; never mind me
Charlie started on brisk run d.
the street toward the depot while
followed az best be could The sta
was good half mile distant, aud e
lie reached Il eompletelF out Of pre
ius, An ume 10 see the train mo-
awayat distance Of about 50 Va
Turning on bis heel with an iuPi