Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-02-17
Copyright, 1899, by Herbert S. Stone & Co.
CHAPTER V.-CoSr1SCED.


ly. Whether I had been disturbed by
" sound or movement cannot say,
but suddenly the stilled waters of my
slumbers became troubled. It was as
II, from mirror rejecting calm
stretch of sky, satyr face had leered.
| stirred uneasily, and lay for some
moments half asleep and half awake,
but conscious of impending disaster;
and when at last opened my eyes, it
was to find mans face pressed close
to mine. He was bending over me as
I lay, and his eyes, as I met them.
seemed tc fasten on mine and to hold
me as hawks talOns hold the scream
ing sparrow out of which he means
to tear the life. So spellbound and fas-
cinated was l by the intentness of the
mans gaze that I was at first hardly
conscious of the fact that he was press
ing revolver barrel to my forehead.
Put up your hands, he said, imper-
atively, and the ring of command in his
voice recalled to my mind the scene in
the yachts cabin when the candidate
for the seventh place on the council
had been hidden to stand forward.
But had l not heard my companions
voice should have known him-if only
by his eyes-for Councillor Number
One, the leading spirit and originator
of the infamous brotherhood Except
ing for the fact that he wore no beard,
he was dressed exactly as when I had
seen him on that eventful evening.
The dark mustache and the equally
dark and bushy hair, were evidently
natural; and [ remember that as Law
there squirming under the cold kiss
that the revOlver's ugly lips were
pressing to my forehead. said to my
self, in the dazed, half mechanical way
in which, in moments of supreme peril,
one notes details, so no! my friend!
1t was from yourself. was it, that you
took the pattern of the disguise which
the seven councillors have to assume.
When you want TO disguise yourself
all YOU have to do is to slip on the
beard which you. no doubt, have in the
bag | see in the rack behind you, so
that YOU can assume or discard your
disguise at a moments notice, instead
OF having to get yourself up as the
rest of the councillors have to-
councillor Number cne" evidently
included thought reading among his
accomplishments, for, rs if in reply to
my self-cOmmunings ne nodded pleas
antly and said:
Quite So You are remarking, no
doubt, upon the fact that, except for
the absence of the beard, my personal
appearance very zearly resembles the
disguise you arc yourself wearing.
You haven't seen me in deshabille be-
fore, have you? But before we dis
cuss that subject l have a question or
two to ask yon. I'll trouble you to sit
up. still keeping your hands above
your head. And be careful how you
move, as it would be highly unpleasant
for you were this revolver to go off, as
it certainly will, if you try any hanky
panky with me-"
I rose to sitting posture, with up
held hands, as bidden Had my head
been fastened to my body with gummed
paper l could not have moved more
gingerlv, for the revolver barrel never
budged an inch, but chung leech-like to
my forehead while l shifted.
And now" said Number One polite
~, "1'll trouble you, sir, to tell me
who you are"
Il am Councillor Number Seven" I
said.
That's lie!" he replied, calmly.
"You ought to be Councillor Number
Seven, but who the devil you are, and
how you come to be here and in that
disguise, don't know and can't think
If, as seems likely, you are a detective
who has found out something, and you
meant attending the meeting tonight,
and plan taking us in our own trap,
it is possible that you know enough
OF me to understand that I'm not
man to be played with. Tell me who
you are, how you came to get that dis
guise, and where the real Number
Seven u.s. and I'll spare your life, under
certain conditions. But you must be
quick about it, and make clean breast
Of it with no trickery, or, by God!
man, III scatter your brain pan for
you. No, it's no use your trying to look
outside to see where we are, and il
there will be stoppage soon. I got
In at Stepney, and the station we have
just left is Upminster. So the train
won't stop any more this side of Ben
fleet. Out with it, man, unless you
want your brains outside your head in
stead of in it. Who are your
Councillor Number Seven" I pro-
tested stoutly, seeing no way out of it
but to lie.
You're not. That game won't do
for me. Now do as bid you or it will
be the worse for you. First of all, re-
move your hat. Now unlock the beard
and take it off, too. That's right, keep
Your hands up still. Now turn your
lace this way, to the light, and let's
have look at you, but move carefully,
for the trigger of this revolver is hung
as light as a watch balance. No, I'm
hanged if I know you. Come, you are
quite a young man, whoever you are,
and it's pity to throw-away your life
Mt of sheer obstinacy. I'd rather
spare you than shoot you, especially
as want to know who's blown on us.
When you are dead meat what good
will it do you whether we are nabbed
or not? Once more, who are you?"
Councillor Number Seven" I re-
peated, doggedly.
"'Twon't do" he said, decisively.
But come, I'll give you a chance.
You say you are Councillor Number
Seven. What's his real name, them"
= This was a poser which 1 tried to
evade by answering his question with