Free press., 1906-11-17
PREMIER WARDS ADVENTURE.

4
was, how was going to spend the night
with my host and insure being alive
in the morning9
'I had not so much as knife, and
even if had I should hardly have had
a chance in a hand-to-hand discussion
with an expert such as he was.
Gust as | was conjuring in my mind
what to do l suddenly remembered that
l had a small paper packet in my cigar
case containing tobacco insecticide pow
der which 1 had been using some weeks
before in my hothouses; it was medi-
Gated. l took the cigar case from my
pocket and sneaked the powder out of it.
"IistenP I exclaimed, as l started
half up. There's some one outside. l
heard him sing out. If it is the po-
| lice
81 had touched the right chord. In
stinctively feeling for some weapon, my
convict host glided to the door and in
stantly vanished. Of course, he was
back again at once-it would have been
but had already dropped the powder
into his drink.
"'You must have a guilty conscience,
mate he observed, with some relief, re-
gaining color. There was nothing
My horse, probably l said; thought
he'd get some more oats if he kicked
up a row.
HE did not take the hint, but sat
down again beside his drink. 1t seemed
century before he finished it, and the
game of cards was getting labored; for
the suspicion which ! had noticed in
his eyes had given place to a certainty
that I knew too much about him.
with immense relief l saw the mar
cotic take effect. His eyes grew heavy
and the cards dropped helplessly from
his hands, and I watched him breath
lessly for the moment when it would be
safe to lash his hands and feet. Sud-
denly, to my utter dismay, l found my
self giving way to exactly similar SEN
sations! He had drugged mel
with the room fading before my eyes
and a fatal numbness coming over my
| limbs, the only idea / could form was TO
| make an effort to get outside into the
fresh night air.
"I stumbled from my chair. I have
faint recollections of his doing the same
Then two people seemed to reach the
door together and grapple. One drew
revolver and the other seized it and
threw it across the room, whence neither
of them had sufficient strength to fetch
it. Then one of the men crumpled up
like paper bag and slithered on the
| floor.
Whatever exactly happened, we re-
covered next morning. He must have
touched me with his foot when he awoke,
for when 1 opened my eyes-surprised
to find not only my windpipe intact, but
my watch and valuables still there'-he
was struggling feebly to his feet.
There was no need to throw myself
on the defensive. My host approached
me with obvious respect and esteem and
helped me to get up
You've done me, mattel he ex-
claimed weakly, as he placed his hand
upon my shoulder. You've enough
drugs inside your carcass to kill two
men, yet here you are still as good as
I am, and you've near done for me into
the bargain
"My acuteness had so impressed him
that he now welcomed me in the light
| of a brother criminal and without a
tinge of professional jealousy he held
my hand, meeting me with the frank
ness of one polished gentlemen dealing
with another.
To tell you the truth, mate he went
on, my heads like lump of lead. just
hold up till l cook some tea
I should like some answered; my
nerves are a shipwreck, and Pm gone
in the knees. What was that drug you
used, by the way?
'Ah that's trade secret he replied
with a smile, and, besides, these amt
business hours. Don't talk shop; just
lower this tea
THE tea, which had probably been
criminal after all, and he would without
week or two, was now piping hot
Neither of US could eat, but we drank
at least gallon apiece, and after bottle
ofsoda water on top of that felt better.
"He pressed me to stay few days in
order that I might exchange condolences,
assuring me on his word of honor that
it would be perfectly safe, but / de-
! clined I would have been sure to have
lost his good opinion by accidentally dis
closing that was not professional
criminal after all. and he would without
doubt have murdered me In the end of
sheer contempt.
Well, l won't press you, mate he
said, as he followed me out to help in
saddling my horse. I expect you've got
some job on hand somewhere. else But
why in blazes didn't you tell me you
were one of US? When l meet regular
stich-at-nothing son-of-a-gun with no law
or order or humbug about him, why, I
like it, that's all I could see it in your
keye the moment we met Don't let that
little matter OF last night stand between
US. And say, if you're in trouble and
want to put yourself away for a few
months without fuss-well, you know
where to Gomez
4 II grasped the old scoundrers hand.
and, to use one of your Yankee phrases