Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-22

nothing to talk to you about. My time is up, anyhow"
 He arose as he said this, but Old Tom stood before the door leading into the saloon, and there was some thing in his face that Irving had not seen before. The word murder" was written upon it as plain as could be. Warde saw that not moment was to be squandered. He took the whistle from his pocket and was raising it to his lips when Old Tom sprang toward him and with one sweep of his powerful hand sent the whistle spin ming across tho table to the floor So vigorous was the blow that Warde was knocked against a door to the right and it gave way, sending him through it. Somewhat dazed, he picked himself up and with mechanic al presence of mind he closed the door quickly. He had touched key on the outside, and he turned it rapid ly; and thus a locked door was be- tween him and his assailant. .
 At first he could not tell where he was, it was so dark. But as soon as he became accustomed to the dark ness he found that he was on back porch shut in with lattice work. Round about him was the sense of something gliding. ...,
 Tn the saloon there was a great commotion, and he knew that he was not yet safe. He would be pursued. There was door doubtless leading from the barroom to the porch, and the rufians would come that way or break down the rickety door which he had just bolted. He felt that they were coming closer all the time. He could not spare even moment. Hurriedly he felt with unsteady hand along the lattice work. If he could only find an opening he could cross the back yard and join Fenton in the vacant lot just to the south of the Rest. At last he found door in the rear and a sense of triumph pos sessed him.
 He flung it open and was about to plunge out, but for a moment he paused, appalled, by the dense dark ness beneath him; then he heard his pursuers coming, and moment later a light flashed through the porch. Just then the moonlight huttered feebly out of the clouds and he caught it's sheen below. A cold hor- TOT came upon him.
 Beneath him lay the river.
 Now his pusuers were upon him indeed, Just below he saw the head of some black object projecting from the water, and as he gazed eagerly out he saw that there was 8 series of these dark objects leading away to- ward where tugboat lay moored. The object seemed solid, and with out moments hesitation he leaped upon it.
 "He has gone!" he heard hoarse voice cry.
 "Then he's in the river," came the answer.
 And there was g. rush toward the rear.
 The object upon which Warde had lighted was a half sunken pile, and a series of them were driven at in- tervals of 8 yard apart. Some had been sunk deeper than others, and they stood out from the water like the black pillars of ruined temple.
 If he could walk along the tops O. these irregular columns he might eeach the tugboat. This would place him where he could perhaps secure help or where he could defend him. self. ~@
 The river had eaten a great semi circle in the bank under the Rest, and the current eddied and circled around therein with silent but tre- mendous power. None but an expert swimmer could save himself from be- ing drawn into this impromptu whirl- pool. The piles had served the pur- pose of protecting the bank from the further encroachments of the river, and the line began under the Rest and extended away from the shore.
 At first Warde leaped from one to another of these pillars without much trouble, but to climb up to one a little higher than the others and then let himself down to one far be- heath it was a dangerous task, and the further he got out into the river the more difficult it became for him to make any headway.
 Hardly had he traversed dozen of these treacherous stepping stones when he was discovered, and, glanc- ing back, he saw to his horror that he was being followed by Old Tom. He looked at the swirling river be- low him, and the world was reeing about him. A cold precipitation stood upon his face. He became nervous, blind almost, and felt an almost ir-n resistible impulse to throw himself into the river and end the suspense.
 Old Tom, however, was at home in this kind of an enterprise. It was pastime to him, and he crept from pile to pile with the cat-like agility which had won him his name.
 It was fearful race. The moon had now made some headway, and it's light fell upon the black river and gave it the semblance of oxy- dized silver Another backward glance, and gleam of light revealed something bright in Old Toms hand. It was long, sharp knife.
 Warde shivered.
 On went the two figures leaping from Toi1a fo nile one with Erem bliup