Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-01-31
Wi1linar, Min nesota

IN excellent adviser, and perhaps It
was from his habit Of appealing to her
judgment upon a vast variety Of Ques.
tons that he now submitted the prob
lem OF Danny Gilbert. The result was
miraculously good.
"Why, yes, l know this man." said
she. He has been posing for Billy Ab~
bott."
At this Powell and suddenly faced
each other open mouthed, and we spoke
in the same instant:
'"That's it,"
"You've solved the riddle"
For we both remembered having seen
Danny Gilbert with Abbott at the
street door Of the building in which he
has his studio We had been riding by
in an open car and had called to Alb
bolt, but had not succeeded in attract
Ing his attention. Beyond doubt the
Individual with him was the burglar
upon whose head price was SET The
hunter that is in the breasts Of all men
proceeded to capture Danny Gilbert
while we ate our dinner, and we spent
the reward many times and in increas-
ingly attractive ways over the coffee.
Miss Knight, indeed, expressed GER
tain pity for the man. If he had taken
up an occupation so arduous as that of
posing he must at least have tried to
rectify his life. Any suggestion Of hers
was wisdom from on high to Powell.
"What do you think?" said he, turn
ing to me.
II think Danny Is probably planning
another robbery" said l.
but he can't rob Billy Abbott" pro-
tested Powell. mot even a landlord
can rob Billy for more than the first
two months. Then Billy begins to rob
the landlord, and presently he has to
move"
"He's getting along much better
now" said Miss Knight. Hes taken
up a really clever line of work-for pot
boiling, mean. He is making designs
for stationery and that sort Of thing.
The last time l was in his studio he
was working on the design for check,
and it was very artistic in its way"
"A check!' cried Powell. AHA! That
explains IT,
So we fell to discussing the POSSIBLE
tiles Of crime In that direction and
had evolved many impossible schemes
whereby Danny Gilbert could win
wealth by stealing the design Of some
body's check when Miss knight inter-
rupted us by announcing that it was
time for her to go home. We walked
with her to where she lived, and from
across the street we watched the light
fare in her window as sign that all
was well.
do you know" said Powell, there's
| something III the life Of big city that
carries man back to the most primi
tive instincts of his nature: l never
part from her''-and he looked upward
toward the window-"wfthout that
sense of danger which must have
haunted early men when all the world
| was strange and every creature hos
! tile. In village or even in smaller
! cities a certain kinship unites the peo-
pAc. AOu w AOL say VIVA AI8AL dAU
leave one utterly alone, as am leaving
| her. See them! See them across the
way there passing the door! The AMI
mails that roved the forests were more
akin to cave dwelling man than those
people are to her or to one another.
| They do not speak the same language,
think the same thoughts-oh, well,
what's the use Of kicking? want to
protect her; that's oil. just want to
watch and guard her every hour. Now,
keep still. Not word. Forget my
foolishness. oughtn't to have said it.
Let's go and see If we can find Billy
Abbott"
It may have been 10 o'clock when we
| came to the building where Billy had
| his studio. There was really no chance
at all Of finding him, for he lived in
the suburbs, and this was business
block in which he had established his
workshop. The door was locked; the
hall was dark. There was no bell, and
| in all the front Of the structure only a
single window was Illuminated. This
was on the second floor above the
door and was lettered with a dentists
sign. But when we walked around to
the side there was light, sure enough,
in Billy's window upon the third floor
| at the extreme end.
We called, but without hope that he
would hear our voices amid the thou
sand noises Of the restless city. Then
Powell broke of a small fragment
from worn curbstone and threw it
with good aim so that it glanced from
the sash, but without much noise, so
far as we could Judge. Instantly, how
ever, the light in the studio was extin-
guished. Evidently Billy was Just
leaving, and we hurried around the
corner to the door. There we waited,
at first with unquestioning confidence,
then with considerable surprise. Half
an hour passed, and he did not appear;
nor was his window lighted.
Presently the dentist appeared at the
door, and to him we explained the SIT
uation. He thought it very odd, and;
knowing Powell by sight, he let us in.
We assembled the dark stairs, but found
no trace Of Billy, nor did he answer to
our call.
HE used to leave a key hung up
alongside the CASING" said I. by
Jove, it's here! Well look in and see
whether anything is wrong"
A~~~ T.