The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-14

They had come fast; at the run which
looks like a walk and is more trying
than either. Tad was out of breath,
and he knew Schneider was more SO;
for Schneider's wind was no longer tina
the beer habit allows.
Il thought you were never coming"
Tad gasped, handing him a revolver and
a billy.
Shneider answered nothing. trying
only to keep his heavy breathing from
being too audible, though there seemed
small danger of attracting attention in
this lonesome place. They had turned
off Clark Street neal Polk, had dashed
down n narrow, noisome street and
up another, till the younger man COM
pletely lost his bearings.
Couldn't break away sooner"
Schneider said. when breath was return
ed to him; but we're in time and only
Billy Barnes to help Delwater when we
interview him. He's in the third house
from us On this side"
This is what you might call strenu-
Gus interviewing" Tad laughed ner-
vously, looking down at the ~rcvolvers.
He didn't harken to my voice when
T. lO1lSS "SICo uISSl, wv oCIllltl-
der broke off as two men came down
the steps of the house they were watch
ing and walked away in the other di-
rection. Come on" Schneider whis-
pered. Careful! Don't let 'em suspect
anything till we are right behind EN-"
The two walked as swiftly after the
men as they could without attracting
attention. When they passed under the
street lamp at the next corner, however,
Schneider laid his hand on Curtis's arm.
1T isn't De1water,' he said, and they
walked rapidly back to their post in the
alley.
Waiting there inactive1y, minute af-
ter minute. Tad's imagination played
full havoc with his comfort. If they
should be caught, it argued, there would
be no doubt about their going to Joliet.
The poles had railroaded innocent men
TO the penitentiary often enough, to
save their face" when there was too
much clamOr at their inefficiency; and
q genuine sensational capture like this,
a W~ell-known figure like Schneider as
chief actor, would be a monstrous big
feather in their cap, particularly just
after Millions murder. They might
even be accused of that, and hanged on
circumstantial, csoked-up evidence
though, Tad reflected hopefully. he, as
young and unhardened, might be let off
with a life sentence. He had his first
hanging assignment the week before,
II the yell Of the convicts ~resounding
through the gloomy Jail as the trap fell
the yell they always gave at a hang
ing, an older reporter told him-rang in
his ears at the remembrance
At last, after Several false alarms.
DelWater came out of the house. He
stood on the stoop talking to some one
inside, and presently called impatiently,
Billy, I say"
Billy came, and the two walked leis-
urely down the steps and towards the
reporters, not with the caution of ex-
perienced, night-walking C~hicagoars.
keeping out by the curb, but carelessly.
the inside of the sidewalk. When they
were just opposite the alley, Schneider
thrust his revolver under Delwaters
ear.
Hold On there!" he said quietly, az
the marquis turned his head, startled.
Billy Barnes gave one glance around
n started up the street on the dead
run.
Quick. Knock him down-don't shoot
him!"
Curtis was in such g tense state that
he didn't need the tone of Schreider's
voice to impress him with the impor-
lance of stopping Billy from getting
away. He dropped his revolver with
a clang that sounded loud as a fire en-
CINE to him, and jumped after Bllly.
He had got about ten yards start, and
for n dreadful instant Curtis thought
Billy was out-sprinting him. But Billy
led too rapid a life to be over-f1eet Of
foot, even with the fear of death be-
hind him; while Curtis was not very
his 10 Is for the hundred. In the mid
die Of the next block he was running
at Billy's elbow and holding him easily.
He shifted the billy from his left to his
right hand, raised it, and brought 1t
down on Billy Barnes's head.
Billy fell in a heap, and Curtis STUN.
bled over him to the ground. Scram-
bling to his KEGS, he hit him twice more
in the face-he was pretty excited-be-
fore he had sense enough to see that he
should kill him if he kept ON. A billv
IS a deceptive Weapon.
Delwater was offering Schneider all
his money and his watch when curtis
got back to the pair, and pleading in
fearful. obscene language to be allowed
to depart. incidentally he expressed his
opinion of his late ally, Billy Barnes.
and it was not high.
Who the hell are you anyway" he