Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-07-09
|Stairs Of
|Sand....

hendricks, who had thrown himself
YEARLY down In q chair. was regard
ing his visitor with such malevolent
look that even the careless Jebbs grew
uneasy, and stopped the mechanical
movements OF his jaws for Il few min
utes to say:
Whatever eylng mo SO fierce like
and when had good news to tell ye."
adopting an injured tone.
When you left me the other night
you met a man who cano N a coupe.
you talked to him for time on the
corner. and then you both went off In
the carriage together"
Jebps seemed at first startled by
tilia sudden charge flung at him. but
1t was only i moment before he re-
covered his equanimity..
so 1t was that worried YOU chr
Yes. 1t looked like too much
double-dealing."
We'll. s'help me, never see that
party fore In my life. I'M was
s'prised a. you'd be when he tackled
me on the corner. He knew me,
thought" with u grimacs.
How did he know you?"
Well, sir. he had 1t all down ilne
how how wa, was mixed up IN t l1ttle n anal5
eSillS tlill1 dBO-SoHlelIIAL elitAl oouio
surely have landed me II they could ha'
got the proofs He could ha got
enough-he showed ma that In q
jifry. When found that out was
mighty meek"
And you never saw him beforeT"
Never can call to mind"
Job remained in silence for some
minutes. his eyes on tho floor. only
raising them now and then to cast a
iro {~lA ~ i( L.
well. what 10 this great news that
you have brought mop he asked. at
ter time
"Nuthin' more nor less than that I
have found our man.
Are you quite sure of thatY' q lit-
tie skeptically.
mo mistake about 1t, pursued Jebbs
cheerfully. "Ye see. it come about In
this way. Ever since we had that last
talk been hangin onto the heels of
: Teller who has generlly been one of
ills right-hand men. Ha'x big Dutch
man, goes by the name OF Browny on
the Bowery, cause his hair Is bright
brown. Him and me has been great
friends and empticd many can to-
gcther l never could get him to talk
OF hts work, or the man who employed
him, but last night, when We was both
feelin' kind o. proud and him lookln's
door and a'ai1nin' In that direction.
Into this Joint, where we was maxim
merry. come a little Teller that passed
the place where We got, and gin the
Brown man a jog, ind passed on and
out the other door and 30 away.
X see my friend, sleepy like put his
hand down In his pocket, and fetch up
a three cornered bit o paper, and
opens II and reads. There was ony a
few marks and number that I
couldn't make out. When was seem
him home, though, snagged 1t, md
here 1t is, and from an inner -ochet
he produced a two-inch square of
paper, which bore the figure OF q. fox.
or what meant to pass for such. and
the simple numbers Is.
"Pooh!" and job threw 1t aside. II
don't see anything in that"
Jebbs replaced the paper in his pock
ct. as II greatly disappointed.
You been so long away that It's
natural .-e don't see nuthin in 1t. Now,
Al tell We what l get out of IT."
well, l am listening"
We se this figure what's meant to
represent fox. That Is the sign of q
French hotel, what they calls In that
lingo lie Renard Rouge. or, In plain
English, the Red Fox. Them num-
hers means tho location of the meet
Ing"
but why should you suspect that 1t
Was this man who arranged the meet
ins7' asked Job.
Gauge things amt generally man
aged In sich q mysterious way. G'wan
you ought to know that gents in our
profession a!n't lnyin' no sich pipes.
But it's the manner of this swell gent
When he makes a play. to have 1t fixed
like a Bowery meller-drayma. Then
as Browny is knowed to be one OF the
steady men. why. the appointment
comm to him in that way makes me
sure that he Will be there"
Ard what do you want me to do7"
asked Job.
We'll. III you want to sot eyes on the
man yer lookin' fer. now's yer chance.
AND SIGH a one may not come again
How do l know but 1t might be Il
scheme to trap me-" cycling his COM
panion for moment. You have not
entirely explained that meeting with
the man who came into the street In
u coupe"
"Phew! are you worryin' bout that
yit7" asked Jebbs, as he lit dirty
pipe and began to send forth clouds
tha.t. l never SEQ the gent before.
and he didn't get nuthin' out o. me.
1 was polite to him cause / see that
1T was to my interests. Now, ii you
are a bit scared about this. why. Us
-er own affair, but let me tell ye the
nance is one what won't como
every day."
well. IN run tho risk" and Job
after u pause, for, while he suspected
with. he knew that he must trust
some one, and this man was quite as
honest as the rest Of his ilk.
Going over to the corner Of his
roopl, he extracted small box he
had hidden in a holo In the molding
of the window. and without paying
any particular attention to his COM
panion. who was watching with eager
eyes. he opened 1t. disclosing what
seemed to be few pieces OF cheap
jcwelry. Out of the heap he Sc
lected small and tarnished ring,
which was set with three stones OF
u dull blue color, that resembled tur-
quoise of an inferior variety. This
ring he slipped on the finger OF his
right hand, and then having closed the
box, restored 1T to tbs place.
From another corner he picked up
Il stout cudgel. and. shifting 1t under
his arm, said, with q certain air Of
grim satisfaction:
"Well, i am ready, IL you aref.'
Jebbs who had been watching the
preparations with attention seemed
TO be q little uneasy. and made no
attempt to follow his companion
who now stood with his hand on the
knob Of the door leading to the
stairs.
We'll, / am waiting" said Hem
bricks, and, did he imagine 1t OF not,
but his companion seemed to be in
no haste TO go; in fact he displayed
decided reluctance.
"COme and do what YOU arranged