The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-10-05

and ascertainlng that neltherNTSpraBue
nor Sturgis had yet left the house,
the detectives called loudly TO the
missing men, and receiving no reply,
at last became alarmed and sent word
of the mysterious disappearance to
Headquarters. The chiefs answer came
at once:
"Remain on watch where you are.
We shall investigate from the other
side"
One of the detectives thereupon went
up TO the roof of the building, whence
he could keep watch upon the back
yards. while his companion remained
in the front hall.
They had been waiting thus for some
time, when the latter though; he heard
footsteps in the direction of the private
Office. lie was on the alert in an in
slant.
The door was cautiously opened and
man stepped out into the hallway.
He carried n valise and II package. He
blinked like man coming suddenly
from the darkness into the daylight
WHO are you?' asked the detective,
brusquely.
The man looked in the direction of
the voice, and. as his eyes became ac-
customed to the light, returned the de-
tective's surprised stare with Il calm
and searching look.
"Checkmate!" he muttered quietly
10 himself at last.
Then, without seeming haste, he
passed back into the private Office, be-
fore the astonisheG detective could
make any attempt to stop him.
Recovering himself quickly the de-
tective followed the sounds of the re-
treating footsteps to the cellar stairs.
| Then. fearful of an ambush. he fired his
revolver as signal to his companion
on the roof and, after striking
match, he cautiously descended, reach
ing the cellar just in time TO see Muir
dock disappear into the underground
passage.
lie rushed TO the spot; and. unable to
find the door. he pounded with all his
might upon the shelves, causing the
bottles to dance and rattle.
"Come. now" he shouted, 1.-THE games
You cant possibly escape, for you're
surrounded
No answer came from within.
The man tried lis powerful strength
urou the door without any perccptible
effect
When the second detective arrived
upon the scene he found the first one
removing the bottles from the shelves
by The light of n match held in his
left hand
"Get a light and an AK. Jim. There's
a secret door here which Wen have to
break in; l can't find any way of open
ing it,"
a few minutes later. the detectives.
after dealing upon the shelves some
telling blows with an AK, called upon
Murdoch to surrender.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE MURDER SYNDICATE.
"See here, Sturgis, this won't do.
forbade you to do stroke of work
to-day, or even to leave your bed; ant
here you are scribbling away just as
though nothing had happened. tel
you when a man has the narrow squeal
you have. there has been tremendous
strain upon his heart, and it is posi-
lively dangerous
Don't scQld. Cd man; have neve'
! In my life been better than ! feel to
day. And. besides, this work could no
be postponed--'
"0h, pshaw That is what nine GU
of every ten patients say to their physi
clan. They are modcsuy convince,
that the world must needs come to
standstill if they cannot accomplish
their tiny mite of work"
DIR. Thurston, who had assumed hi
frown of professional severity, pre-
ceeded TO feel the reporters pulse.
well, YOU are in luck; better tina
you deserve. AlmosS any other ma
would have been laid up for a week b
the experience You hSve been through
And here You have the face to recove
} without the assistance of the medici
l profession, and in spite of your insolen
disregard of my express orders to leay
l work alone for the present. Now, ther
: is Sprague-"
5 "Ah, what of Sprague?'' asked tn
reporter, anXiously.
"SpraPue has had a close call Blu
, he is safe now. If tender and INTEL
S gent nursing count for anything, h
e will probably he up in day or two. y
Miss Murdock-"
"Yes. She has professional nurs
> 20 help her; but she has insisted O
taking charge of the case herself. An
an excellent nurse she is, too, and
charming girl into the bargain-nn
;. what is more noble woman"
Does she know of her father
death?"
: 81 broke the news az gently G
. possible. She took it much more calm
ly than | supposed she would. Their