Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-06-18
Stairs of


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STREET SMITH
~~~S I~~>~~
come across one who knew where he
was to be found Though SO far he had
accomplished nothing, he still had
hopes. man of the type he was seek
Ing must in time be found IL he was in
the city. Those Of his class belonged
to certain groups, and, however, mys-
terious their movements, their pres
ence in place was always known.
Job had returned one evening worn
out with his search in the lower part
of the city, had finished his humble
supper, which he had brought home
in a paper bag. and had been mapping
on his cot. when an unusual sound In
the empty rooms below him attracted
his attention. He jumped to his feet,
and, setting the candle on the table be-
hind him, opened the window and
peered out on the deserted garden. A
faint moonlight lay over the ragged
berry bushes along the walks, and on
the pile of wood that was a most con-
spicuous decoration and rose like a
funeral pyre in the center of the grass
plot.
That's queer he muttered, drawing
In his head. mot person in sight.
and certainly I didn't dream that
heard that noise.
He took another peep out of the win
dow and closed it softly, shaking his
head
Must be In the house-wonder If n
rat could make noise like that? The
beggars do grow pretty big in these
parts. All, there it is again--and comes
form those rooms below. / suppose
must look into this a bit" and he
sighed TO think that perhaps he was
not to enjoy his peaceful little abode
much lcnger-that some one had found
him out.
He took his revolver out of his
pocket, examined II carefully to see
that it was in working order, and then,
holding it in one hand and carrying the
candle in the other, opened the door
leading to the stairs and went down. 1t
was very quiet below as he paused Mt
the last step to listen. He heard u
scurrying sound in the wall, but there
was nothing to be alarmed about In
that: 1T was a mans step he thought he
had heard in the first place. After a
moment he stepped onto the floor and
swung the candle around, to get good
view of the place.
just as he did this he was suddenly
conscious of heavy breathing close be-
side him, and at the same time the piss
toll was suddenly snatched out of his
hand.
1t was done so quickly that for a
moment he felt stunned, then turned
about to grapple with his opponent;
but the candle went out, and the out
stretched hand emily famed the empty
air. He stood there unarmed, not dar-
ing to move, lest he should betray his
whereabouts, and give this unseen foe
q chance to locate him for shot. So he
stood silent and was considerably sur
prised to hear not the crack of an ex-
ploding cartridge, but a cackling laugh,
that i'm the silence of the place sound
ed so weird that 1t even startled him
from his usual condition of calm upper
durability.
who are you? What are you doing
here?" he called out.
Just wait until 1 get this candle
goin', and I'll make myself known"
said the man he could not see, and at
the same time Job heard scrapfng
sound as If the other was trying to find
the candle. This he was able to do, for,
after a moments hunt, the candle was
lit, and out of the gloom a shuff1ing fig
ure appeared. Job took the candle out
of his hand and held the light up to the
man's face. 1t was not a handsome
face into which he peered. The fellow
had DOTTED ragged hat that he might
show his features better. His hair de-
scended in ragged wisps about his
hungry and cadaverous face, that, being
unshaven, seemed sprinkled with coal
dust. His dark eyes set In deep hol-
lows, wore half amused expression,
while his lips were parted in a grin
that disclosed a double row Of yellow
and uneven teeth.
ooh, it's you, en-" grumbled Hen
bricks.
"You know me-Jebbs-do you? All,
thought you would" and the stranger
broke out into cacl1ling laugh again.
Here's yer pistol" said he. handing
over the weapon. Gave We jolly scare,
that's what l done"
Nonsense-come up stairs and say
what you have to say" and Job, an
gered at the way he had been treated,
led the way up the stairs, while the
other, evidently conscious that it would
not do to anger his host further fol-
lowed him slowly.
"Now, how did you come to find me q
asked Hendricks. as he set the candle
down on the table and eyed his guest
with anything but an amiable look.
well, / see you several times of late
in the street, and somehow you slipped
away fore I could catch up with you.
Tonight had better luck"
"Hum" Then, going to a box in one
corner of the room. which he evidently
used for closet, he took a bottle from
| it and Il plate of bread and meat, and
set them down on the table before his
guest. Job did not attempt to speak
again, as he watched the man fall on
the food like wild animal and it was
only when the last crumb had been de-
voured and the bottle emptied that he
ventured to say:
Why did you come in like n theft
II wasn't sure you was In, and
wanted to surprise you" with a grin
when l see you come down in the
dark with that pistol in hand l was
feared you'd plunk me fore I could
make myself known, and SO I had to
take it from We. Hope you'll excuse me
for that. Ye might have killed me by
mistake, and then an explanation
wouldn't have did me no good. See?"
Yes. l see" growled the other, to
whom the subject was evidently an Tn
pleasant one, and ranked, since il
showed how easy it would be to disarn
him another time.
Well, what do you want?" he
asked, after a moments pause. why
did you come and seek me out?"
Il thought that you might have some
work on hand for me to do" Then
with keen look. II must say, Will
that you have changed-there are some
things bout We I can't make out"
Changed? Course I've changed
who wouldn't in all these years. Well
don't know but 1 have work for yor
to do"
The other drew his chair up nearer
to the table and moved his thin lips
together as IL he was smacking then
over prospective treat.
What is it, cleanin' chimneys? p