Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1903-07-22
Mystery Of the
Bayou Woods
BY WALKER KENNEDY.
Copyright. ise By A N. Kellogg Newspaper Co.
CHAPTER VIU.-CoNTINUEp.


1t was not often that n well-dressed.
good-looking young man was seen in
Peters Rest, and his advent ought to
have occasioned some surprise, but it
did not. The Rest pursued its dark
and devious occupa tions as reposc-
fully as though Warde had been a
regular feature of the establishments
Billy McGee did not even look IN
from the important business that was
transacting before him.
Warde at once STROBE up to the bar
and asked II there was present man
by the name of William jackson.
-Four deuces." said Mr.. McGee. 1t
will be hard to beat that william?
Oh, yes. Bill was here about half an
hour ago. Are you the gent he was
cxpectin'?"
Yes"
He said if you come to tell you to
wait for him. He'll Toe back directly.
You'll have to throw again. Dock.
Take seat in the parlor," continued
Mr.. MCGEE to Warde waving his hand
toward the door of an adjoining
voom.
AS Wardc stood before the bar
H was somewhat startled to find that
his coming had not been without
some interest to at least one or two
of those present.
In one corner of the room two men
sat at table drinking. They were
sturdy-looking fellows, who were
slightly better dressed than their as
sOciates, but their faces were almost
startling in the prominence of evil
displayed therein. One of them was
very muscular man, whose strength
had certain cat-like element in it.
which had been very cleverly cele-
DRAFTED by his associates in the nick
name of Old Tom. which they had
given him. His companion was an
almost perfect specimen of physical
manhood.
The mirror revealed the fact that
these men were watching Warde with
an intensity-it seemed to him ma
Lightly of interest-for which he
could not account; but he BETRAYED
no surprise, nor did he give any evil
dence that he had observed them.
Taking from his pocket a cigar he
lighted it coolly, and then nonchalant.
~ entered the parlor
This was q simple room with table
and several chairs in it. A swinging
lamp was suspended from above. The
wall were covered with choice pic
toria selections from the illustrated
criminal weeklies. few sensational
papers suitable to the clientele at
Peters Rest were on the table. and
Warde idly scanned these with about
the same interest that a seraph might
take in reading the london Times.
lie had been there barely five min
utes when the door opened and Old
Tom entered the room. At first he
seemed bit embarrass ed before
Warde's cool and searching gaze and
then he said: you come here to see
Bill Jackson. did your"
Yes; has he come back?"
NO, but maybe my pardner can tell
you something about him"
I'm not particular about that. n
he does not come soon I shall go.
Have you any idea what he wants
with me? I'm newspaper man"
Walt till / call my pardner. I
think he knows something about t."
Never mind your partner. do not
care To know what he has to say"
Warde's suspicious were now
aroused, and he did not propose to
have tete-a-tete with these brawnv
rufians. There could be no doubt
shout it, a trap Of some sort had
been laid for him.
"See here, young feller," said Old
Tom, you sin't afraid 10 talk with a
couple Of gentlemen. are your"
II am not" said Warde, "but have
nothing to talk 20 you about NV
time Ia up, anyhow"
He arose as ne 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 IL as plain as could be.
Wsrde saw hat not a moment was to
be squendered. He took the whistle
from his pocket and was raising IL
70 his lips when Old Tom sprang
toward him and with one sweep of his
powerful hand sent the whistle spin
sing across the table 20 the floor. SO
sAEorous was the blow that Wsrds