Warren sheaf., 1903-05-14
CHAPTER XIV.
THE BLACK COUPE.

CHAPTER XIV.
THE BLACK COUPE.
Hendricks stared at his shabby
companion for a moment. wondering
what he meant when he said that the
writer of the lines was more of
shadow than a man." Persons in his
peculiar walk of life were not in
clined to use figures of speech.
II see you think I'm talkin' foolish
ness,'' said Jebbs, noticing the puz~
zled look on his hosts face.
Job nodded gloomily.
"Well, Pm not having fun with We,
I tell ye. If I amt mistook in the
writer of that er queer dockerment.
shadder would be easier to lay
hands on than him.
Hendricks shifted contemptuous1y.
but did not interrupt, for he was
far too much interested in getting
at the truth of the matter to delay
his companion.
eyes, sir,' continued Jebbs, 'I amt
tellin' ye no lie. Where he lives NC
one knows. He's here to-day and gone
tomorrow. He has finger in all
the best pies, and then slips away
until another promisin' job is to the
fore. They has anxious times over
him at headquarters, but never can
get ther' hands on him. He turns up
when he's least expected. There's
many that works for him that never
seen his face. He lodges here and
md
shadow, for none of the people know
his real name, and SO it's The
Shadow they calls him."
Job, after moments thought, took
a small roll of bills out of his pock-
| ct, and taking three fives from the
top, spread them on the table, re-
storing the roll to his coat again.
'There's for the present. I an
glad to know that he is occasionally
heard from. When you next learn
of his whereabouts let me know, and
you shall have five hundred dollars
that is if your story is true.''
The other stuck the money away
in his coat and winked expressively.
'Mebbe by the time [ let you know
his stand, likes not he would skip
fore ye got there,' said he.
"l'l run the risk-fnd out who he
is. He is one man here, and another
there, but 1 want to lay him by the
! heels,' and his face darkened over
"What for-what for-?" and
for> moment Jebbs eagerly leaned
| forward. Hendricks pushed him back
with an oath, and strobe over to the
| window, where he stood for mo-
ment looking out OH the garden.
Then he turned, and, walking back.
| laid his hand on the others arm.
"You ought to know me by repu-
tation, that I don't allow any one
| to pry into my business.''
'Y-e-s," and the other WINGED un-
der the shine of the bright eyes
that seemed searching his very SOUL
Job took the haggard face in his
| hands and examined it keenly, as if
he were examining d bit of bricabrac
searching for the hidden mark Of
the potter. Then he removed his
hands and turned away, walking up
and down the limits of the little
| room.
''I'm not sure whether I can trust
you or not. But you ought to know
that [ have a way of rewarding those
who serve me well, and of making it
very unhealthy for those who de-
ceive me-
| "Yes-I-know that" replied Jeubs,
crouching back, as if he feared his
companion.
'There, there" and Hendricks pat
ted him on the shoulder; "I don't
| want to frighten you when there is
no necessity for it. Don't make it
necessary for me to be harsh with
you. Now tell me, has this ghost of
man been heard Of lately?"
"Oh, yes,' frightening up since the
storm had passed. cit was him that
had hand in that affair on Fifth
avenue the other night; that, we
think, was handled like one of his
| jobs
| "And you would know him if you
saw him?''
BLESS ye, seen him onc't, but he's
a masterful actor and makes up for
any part he means to play"
! "Hum!" and Job continued his pac-
| ing up and down the room. He was
beginning to feel that the task he
had before him was not a light one,
and would he ever be left free enough
to carry it out to success? "You are
no friend of this man?'' he asked, as
if not entirely free from suspicion Of
his guest.
"No; don't know as anybody is.
Ye see, it's this way: When he has
a plan of work on hand, why he
sends for the men he wants, and
they meets him wherever he happens
to fix. I guess few ever see him
loolzin' his real self. but bit o.
writin' fell into my hands I knew to
be his, and it was main like that piece
you showed me. I KEEP it cause il
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