The Chilhowee echo. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1899-19??, 1900-04-21
CHAPTER TX.
MR.. ADOLPHUS DICKORY MAKES A


N~,l APT. PREWETT would have
ekE9 indeed been astonished, coult
MX he have seen the eX-schOOl
master at that moment. In
stead of being at X, or on the roat
thither, as he supposed, that marvel O
wrinkles was on the cars speeding to
Memphis. Arriving there he ploddet
northward on foot until he was in the
suburbs. He halted before a dingy
one-story frame house and knocked al
the door. 1t was opened cautiously g
little way, he was allowed to enter an6
the door was closed at once. The room
was only about fourteen feet square
ceiling very low, with window in one
end and window and door in the back
A rough upholstered chimney stood a,
one end of the room, evidently having
another fireplace in the adjoining
apartment. Some black bottles, some
clay pipes and an old pistol and pack
OF cards ornamented the shelf. A filthy.
looking, tumbled bed and three or
four chairs completed the furnishing
arrangements. Upon the bed lolled an
Irishman of the lower class. His bushy,
red hair, red eyes, bloated features.
stumpy, unclean hands and general
bull-terrier appearance, were repulsive
in the extreme.
Mr.. Dancey did not sit down, but
stood looking at the Irishman quietly
for moment. That gentleman as qui-
city returned the gaze, but presently
he seemed to be irritated by it, for he
said:
'Wot re yez starin' that way fur?
Can't yez spake to dacent man as has
been lookin' an a lookin' fur yer ugly
face for week or more?'
Where are they?" inquired Mr..
Dancey.
'Is it the Captin' you name? He's
aslape in the mkt room, an lit me tell
"a honey, ct yez. wants him Waked.
yez must do the job yer own silf."
Mr.. Dancey paid no attention to the
lrishmans remarks, but turning around
he went into the adjoining room, clos
ing the door behind him. The apart
ment was very similar to the one he
had left, but the bed was more cleanly
and comfortable in it's appearance. Ly-
ing upon it, fast asleep, was man,
low-browed, hawk-nosed, with black
beard and mustache. On chair by
his side, lay revolver and bowie
knife. These Mr.. Dancey softly re-
moved to the table and then stood look
ing at the sleeper with the Internal
grin peculiar to him, furrowing and
twisting every wrinkle in his face.
Then he walked to the bed and gave
the sleeper vigorous shake. In an
instant the figure sprang from the bed
with an oath and grabbed at the place
where the weapons had been.
"They're not there, Bill" said Mr..
Dancey, quietly.
"Where are they?"
.'Here they are," said Mr.. Dan
cey, handing them to him. 81 moved
them because you might have made
mistake before you got wide awake.
came through that door because Mike
wouldn't"
The man flung the weapons on the
bed and sat down, motioning Mr. Dan
cey to chair.
81 like to have shot the fool the other
night for waking me with shake, and
he didn't like it much. Well, what's
the news?"
GAIL fixed,' replied Mr.. Dancey; sis
he here?"
"Who?" said the man.
"The blue devil. You know who I
mean," said Dancey, Grossly.
"Oh, yes, he's down town, and dev-
ilish tired of waiting, too."
"We must see him right away" said
Mi. DuACCy.
"What do you want to see him for?
I am managing this business. Say what
you've done and are going to do and I'll
see him myself"
'Now you just look here, Bill Ford"
said Mr.. Dancey, in his, dull, slow,
stubborn way. "You may manage as
much as you please, but you can't man.
age my part of it,"
ct can't eh? I'll manage that and
you too"
And Mr.. Bill Ford seized his pistol.
eff didn't know you can't afford to
lose me just now, you would be lying
dead across the bed," said Mr.. Dancey,
coolly. GAS it is, I've got the drop on
you, and if you make move I'll use
it,"
Mr.. Bill Ford now noticed for the
first time that Mr.. Dancey's hand was
in his coat pocket, and that something
in that coat pocket was pointing