Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-05-13
lighted it coolly, and then nonchalant
ly aptaraJ fba mn rlor

and several chairs in it. A swinging
lamp was suspended from above. Th,
walls were covered with choice pic
torial selections from the Illustrated
criminal weeklies. A few sensational
papers suitable to the clientele u,
Peters Rest were on the table, ans
Warde idly scanned these with about
the same interest that q seraph might
take in reading the London Times.
He had been there barely five min
utes when the door opened and Ole
Tom entered the room. At first he
seemed a bit embarrassed before
Warde's cool and searching gaze ant
then he said: "You come here to see
Bill Jackson, did you?"
Yes; has he come back?"
NO, but maybe my pardner can tel
you something about him"
Pm not particular about that. II
Have you any idea what he wants
with me? I'm a newspaper man."
"Wait till call my pardner.
think he knows something about it.
Never mind your partner. do not
care to know what he has to say
| Warde's suspicious were nov
aroused, and he did not propose to
have tete-a-tete with these brawny
ruffians. There could be no doubt
about it, n trap of some sort had
been laid for him.
"See here, young feller," said Old
Tom, you amt afraid to talk with a
couple of gentlemen, are your"
Il am not" said Warde, "but have
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 the 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 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.
In the saloon there was great
commotion, and he knew that he was
not yet safe. He would be pursued.
There was n door doubtless leading
from the barroom to the porch, and
the ruffians 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 a door in the
rear and n sense of triumph pos
sessed him.
He flung it open and was about to
plunge out, but for moment he
paused, appalled, by the dense dark
ness beneath him; then he heard his
pursuers coming, and moment later
light flashed through the porch.
Just then the moonlight futtered
feebly out of the clouds and he
caught its sheen below. A cold hor.
ror 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 us he gazed eagerly
out he saw that there was a 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 rush toward the
rear.
The object upon which Warde had
lighted was half sunken pile, and
series Of them were driven at in
teryals of yard apart. Some had
been sunk deeper than others, and
they stood out from the water like
the black pillars of ruined temple.
II he could walk along the tops of
these irregular columns he might
reach the tugboat. This would place,
him where he could perhaps secure
help or where he could defend him
self.
The river had eaten q 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 Entertainments 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 n
little higher than the others and
then let himself down to one far be-
meath it was dangerous task, and
the further he got out into the river
the more difficult it became for him
to make any Roadway.
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 swirlinp river be-