The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-13


piece. Lend me your nat, Jacket and club
I will watch your buildings while you go
drink my health
'Le Diablel may get into trouble But
franc plecel Herel Give IL to me!
Quick Get into the jaeket The hat! Pull
Il down over your eyes. Speak as little
as possible. Ahr'
stolid watchman sat on the lumber
pile and bareheaded Frencbman was
starting OF to drink on the franc piece.
'IIo, My keysr he exclaimed ~ must
take my keys
Leave them; they will he safe. II any
one suspects. the keys will prove that
am the Waterman"
Good! But do not use the large brass
one 1t is to the floor in the end building.
There NJ. dc Mullion has his office. He is
therec1ow. He must not know"
II will not disturb him. Now go"
The watchnan went numbering off. none
too soon. The searching party in the cell
lar came out on to the street and met the
other that had gone half way round the
square. A short distance away the third
party was seen approaching.
Here, NJ. le Never Sleep" said one
leader Have you seen a man come out
OF these cellars?"
mon Dieu! just saw a score" replied
Buckford, almost in a tremor lest his
French should not be such as 70 pass
muster. But the man hunters were too ex-
cited 10 notice just then a little thing
like the accent OF a watchman in a leath-
err jacket and slouch hat
"It is strange. devilish strange" said
one. How could he vanish so complete
ly? Was he a Magician
'You! With your magicians!' said an
other He was flesh and blood man,
but quick one. Did we not see his blood
on the broken Window
Buckford trembed He had wiped the
blood from his hands and face with his
handkerchief, but now kept his hands
concealed and his face screened from the
light lest show of blood should betray
him.
"Well. are we to stand here till he
comes and asks us TO XIII him?" asked
one OF the party. 'In moment the po-
lice will be here. And then what. eh?"
Very we'll" said a mar owning the
voice Buckford had heard In the door
"Have some one wait here 10 watch. We
will continue"
Have YOU any cbjection, stay awake,
20 our company?
None shall be pleased" replied
Buckford.
Four mon were told off to remain there
on watch. The Others separated into
groups and went in various directions.
Buckford was in an agony OF apprehen-
zion. IL the real Waterman returned
while these fellows were there, what
might not happen. and especially II the
watchman was drunk?
The American thought ever every pos
sible method OF defeating his foes that
came into his. head Nothing promised
success. III the police came that way, he
would certainly cafl for assistance but
TO call for the police when there was no
police in sight would be folly. He would
simply be pounced upon and slain before
the police could arrive.
An hour passed while he was thus wild
with apprehension. and then a drunken
whistle was heard coming.
Here comes some one. We must ques-
ton him." said one of the watchers.
Buckford looked toward the approach
ing man. AS he passed under street
light Wallace noted that he wore no hat.
ne was far from sober.
And now, with certain destruction star
ing him In the face. Buckford Wallace
thought as he had never thought before
To wait there till the drunken watch
man came and demanded his keys his
Jacket his slouch hat, would be 10 sit
silently inviting death
He rose, stretched himself. yawned ana
said:
MY friends, should have been re-
lieved an hour ago. My assistant some
times stops at NJ. jacques. / leave tie
place in your care while | go TO sec 1.
ne is there. request. however thar you
allow no one TO enter the buildings"
"Oh, never fear, old stay awake We
will take care OF your buildings. You
are so anxious YOU must have for
tune invested here
They all laughed at this joke. and
Buckford walked away in the opposite
direction from that in which the real
watchman was.
Good" he said TO himself MY only
chance Is NJ. de Bullion and fortunately
] am before his door. / will walxen the
millionaire and tell him the whole story
He will give me his powerful protection
until can communicate with the policel"
He turned Into the corner building. lie
ran up one fight of stairs. He knocked
on a door
There was no snswer
This NJ. de Bullion is a sound sleep
err" he said Il will get him up IL
have 20 pound IN the door"
II was not so easy to pound in tho
door. but lie did make "a tremendous
noise.
Heavens The mob win hear Il even
n NJ. de Bullion does not" said Buckford.
stop This won't do. I'll use the key
and make my explanations afterward
IL was easy 60 find the big brass KEY
and III II 10 the lock IL turned easily.
and Buckford entered the door and locked
a.
For the first since he had faced his
enemies IN the little room he breathod
freely.
There" he said. with a grunt OF sat
tsfaction, 81 am safe for a time. They
will scarcely dare intrude upon the pri-
vacy OF NJ. de billion"
Having secured himself thus, he took
match from his pocket ard lighted II.
The gas had not yet been piped into the
buildings. He found. however, a dingy
Iookine lamp resting on dusty shelf. lie
lighted this
II fancy" ne said. that the watch
man was mistaken There is surely no
one In this apartment tonight. / have
made noise enough 10 wake the dead