Willmar tribune., 1904-03-02
$&kk $&kk&&HH&EHBSEkSBS$SB8A &HH &B BEk
Scoundrels eco. |
By COULSON KERNAHAN
Author Of Captain Shannon "A Book Of
Strange Sins. "A Dead Mans Diary" Etc.
Copyright, 1899, by Herbert S. Stone & Co.
CHAPTER VII.-CoNT1NuED.


Number Two was speaking. Come,
lurry up with those TOOLS" he was
saying. The police are pretty sure to
keep an eye upon the place still. The
only wonder is that they haven't left
some one in charge. Good God! what
that?'
And then heard another and a
deeper voice
Move step, either of you, and I
fire. They have left some one in charge.
Will you surrender quietly or shall
The next instant there was the re-
port of firearms, followed by scuf11ing
noise and cry.
I waited to hear no more.
Pm better out of this than in it. and
for several reasons said to myself.
My explanation wouldn't satisfy
either side, if l were called upon to
make it. II the Syndicate of Scoun-
drels gets to- know I've been playing
the spy on them, there would be an
other vacancy in the council, for the
villains would never rest till they'd
poisoned, or drowned, or knitted, or
dynamlted me. And l don't know that
should find myself altogether popular
with the police if l had to tell them
my story. Besides which, they
mlghtnt believe it, and, for all know,
l might find myself in the dock along
VITA the other two. So I'll leave you to
set1'e your little difference among
you selves, gentlemen"
Cae can think in three seconds what
can be written down in thirty. The
reTort of the pistol was still ringing
in NY ears as I opened the door, and,
stepping cut, walked away at a pace
which, though it was not so rapid as to
attract notice, was, l can promise you,
smart. Very glad 1 was too when l
had turned the corner of the square,
put 1t was not until found myself in
crowded thoroughfare, and l knew
that had put good 500 yards between
myself and the place, that 1 began to
slacken.
The evening papers had no more
eager reader than l that night, and it
was with no little CONSERVATION that I
saw the following announcement in 4
late edition:
"A tragic discovery was made this
afternoon at SO Fassett Square, Dals-
ton, the house in which a quantity of
dynamite was recently discovered by
the police. Constable X24 noticed
when passing on his round that the
front door was open, and on entering
and searching the premises, he discov-
cred in the cellar the dead body OF
the policeman who had been left in
charge The unfortunate man had
been stabbed to the heart, but by whom
there was no evidence to show, but
that struggle had taken place was
clear from the fact that revolver, one
chamber of which had been discharged,
and which has been identified as his
property, was found lying beside him.
II is, however, supposed that the crime
was committed by some member, or
members, of the gang by whom the dy-
nami>e had been concealed on the
premises, and that they had revisited
the house, not knowing that the police
lad left anyone in CHARGE"
And in the stop Press" space in
the paper, which is devoted to late
news, found the following-to me-
extremely significant announcements
The police refuse to give any par
ticulars in regard to the sensational
murder of policeman at Fassett
Square, Dalston. Our representative,
however. succeeded this afternoon in
obtaining short interview with the
wife of the murdered man, who has
informed him of curious circumstance
in connection with the case. This is
that an empty beer barrel, which was
lying in the cellar where the, body was
found, had been very carefully taken
to pieces, and this she is confident was
not done by her husband, who she as
sured our representative had no tools
on the premises by which the work
could have been accomplished
This is bad news!" I said to my
self as l laid down the paper. The
scoundrels have not only got clean
away, hut they have evidently accom-
p]ished the object of their visit, and
succeeded in taking the dynamite with
them. 1t makes me feel very un-
comfortable about the whole business;
although even if had gone down to
the cellar I should not have been in
time to save the poor fellows life; and
after all: if the police don't take proper
steps to guard premises which they
are in charge of, it's their affair, not
mine.
But now that know the scoundrels
lave got possession of the dynamite,
and that they intend to use it in blow
ing up Lord Cranthorpe's house, /
will make it my business to see that
they don't do anything Of the sort;
and, knowing what I do of them and
their plans, think shall succeed,
though I fancy I'm setting myself a
lisky job"
CHAPTER VIII.
I BECOME A PAVEMENT ARTIST.