The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-09-16

the slightest sign OF q raid III Boyd
has got a line on us i'm any way ne
may attempt a raid an hour hence,
thinking us unDreDared."
That's right. tool" cried Kelly. as
he disappeared i'm the passage.
"Busby!"
Right here, SIR
After Ranney and that girl arrive.
dispatch a man through the brewery
| cellar to make doubly sure that way of
escape is clear, and have him order
Payson to have the launch ready to get
under way at a moments notice We
may have to bolt from here on the
run. unless we can locate that man
Boyd and learn what he's about
I'm blessed if it doesn't look So"
The devil take him, | say, One
never can tell where to find him. If
once get him in my clutches Ha.
che door. Busby, Open the door for
Ranney and the girl"
The man FASTENED to obey. and at
the same moment Kelly reappeared
from the passage
AS Busby threw open the heavy door
tall. dark man, i'm black, strobe
quickly into the chamber and APP
preached the table.
Whats gone wrong. chief?" he i'm
pulsively cried. I've done my part.
but have seen no sign of Felix Boyd"
Nor has Kelly" was the sharp re-
joinder. Either you've all gone blind
or there's something amiss. Where's
| the girl? Where is Jessie Dole?"
Picking her way through that in
| fernal corridor" cried Ranney. It's
as dark as a nigger's boot. She fol-
lowed me all right from the WoodcoclS.
and Joined me just as l came into the
There is not a lamp from the street
door to this place. and one might
knock his brains out unless familiar
with the way"
at is dark because / ordered 1t
dark" cried the chief with threaten
ing austerity. rs that girl on the way
here? Why was she five minutes late
at the Woodcock? Busby. go and hur-
ry up that girl! II she has not seen
Boyd
"She has seen him. gentlemen. and
now the same privilege is yours, Come,
come. fan back. every man OF you, If
you come too near me therell be trou-
bic right on the jump"
The interruption came from Felix
Boyd himself
Observing that Busby was about to
ter the dark hall after the girl suo-
posed to have been following Ranney,
Felix Boyd had moved quickly into the
! lighted chamber while speaking
brushed forcibly by the two startled
men who stood In his way, then sprang
quickly across the room to the oppo-
site wall. against which he placed his
back to preclude any assault from be-
hind.
He presented startling picture for
moment, with his tall. 1.-the figure
drawn up, his head thrown back his
hands warningly raised, and with his
firm face and dilated eyes evingcing a
GOODNESS and courage that briefly awed
his observers, quite as much as his un-
expected appearance had startled
them.
For the moment not a man among
them. could find his voice, and Boyd
quickly added. in tones that rang with
an odd mingling of severity and scOrn
! through the silent room:
Come, come, you fellows, are YOU
struck dumb? A chilly greeting. in
deed. TO give an invited guest Who
among you enjoys the unenviabIe dis
tinction of being called-the Big Fin
ger? 1t is chiefly TO have a look at
Mr. Big Finger that L am here, and
upon his own indirect invitation. You,
sir, at the table-are you the great
mogul OF this gang of blacklegs? If
so, / am glad to meet you-and that's
no liel"
This ironical harangue gave the gang
time to pull themselves together. and
when it became evident that Boyd con-
templated no immediate violence al
though prepared for any on their part.
they fell back some PAGES, with fea-
lures betraying a reviving assurance
that he was alone and I'm their power
Before any of his subordinates could
speak, however. the chief at the table.
with his sinister eyes never leaving
Boyd's haunting face, thrust out his
arm in Busby's direction and sternly
cried:
The door, Busby-the doori"
The man addressed understood him
and the door closed with a bang. and
the changing bolts shot into their sock
cts. Yet Felix Boyd appeared to have
no interest in thus cutting off his es-
cape.
"Busby, eh?" he cried, with ringing
curtness. II thought as much. Your
villainous countenance, Busby. an
peared rather familiar. Glad to learn
that my memory played me no trick"
Much good the recognition Will do
you sneered Busby, with a scowl.
AYE, much good. indeed" supple
mented the chief with a gesture i'm
posing silence upon the several ruff
fians gathered near him. Surely, Fee
lix Boyd, you do not expect to leave
this place alive?"
Alive? Why. certainly" cried Boyd
CURLY. when I respond to such a
pressing invitation as yours, Mr. Big
Finger-if you'll pardon my ignorance
of your proper name-I expect to be
treated graciousiy."
so you came well armed, no doubt
and are prepared TO defend yourseIf?"
queried the chief with sinister signif-
canoe
Armed, Ell? Yes, 1 have a brace OF
guns. Here they are, and good ones.
You may find them useful before / 60
| Will shy them your way that you may
feel perfectly safe while / remain
here"
And While he spoke Boyd drew re-
volver from each hin pocket, placed
both upon the floor and then kicked
them, one after the other, across the
room toward is amazed observers This
move was but q clever trick on his
part. however, TO render more inn
pressive his subsequent conduct, and
awe these ruffians into a belief that he
meant all that he threatened.
Two of the gang quickly seized the