Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-12-31
Mystery Of the
Bayou Woods
by WALKER KENNEDY.
Copyright, 1903. by A. N. kellogg Newspaper Co
CHAPTER VIII.-CoNTINUED.

Warde at once strobe up to the bar
ond asked il there was present man
by the name of William jackson.
-Four deuces," said Mr.. MCGEE. at
will be hard to beat that. William?
Oh, yes. Bill was here about half an
hour ago. Are you the gent he was
expecting"
Yes"
"He said if you come to tell you to
wait for him. He'll be back directly.
You'll have to throw again. Dock.
Take a seat in the parlor," continued
Mr.. McGee to Warde, waving his hand
toward the door of an adjoining
room.
In one corner of the room two men
sat at a 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 a certain cat-like element in it.
which had been very cleverly cele-
brated 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 intersection 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 q cigar he
lighted it coolly, and then nonchalant-
~ entered the parlor.
He had been there barely five min
utes when the door opened and Old
Tom entered the room. At first he
seemed bit embarrassed before
Warde's cool and searching gaze, and
then he said: "You come here to see
Bill jackson, did you?"
"Yes; has he come back?"
"No, but maybe my pardner can tell
you something about him."
I'm not particular about that. If
he does not come soon l shall 60.
Have you any idea what he wants
with me? I'm newspaper man."
"Wait till 1 call my pardner. l
think he knows something about it."
"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 a tete-a-tete with these brawny
rufflans. There could be no doubt
about it, a 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 you?"
81 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 suuandered. 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 cross the table to the floor. So
vigorous was the blow that Warde
was knocked against q 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 lie closed the
door quickly. He had touched key
on the outside, and he turned it rapid
IL; and thus n locked door was be-
tween him and his assailant.
At first he could not tell where he
mas. it was so dark. But as soon -