The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-09-02
BELOW THE DEAD LINE.

Hal there has been a fire herei" he
muttered, peering sharply at the smol-
dering black refuse in the stove. NO
embers left Yet this burned rubbish
has been vigorously disturbed, as if to
destroy all indications of its character
Was 1t excelsiOr-no, Aha, have it,
II was-string! The poker-by Jovei
the pOker.' --..--
This humble adjunct to stove was
lying upon the floor near the hod, and
Boyd now bounced upon it like a ter
rier upon "a rat.
"Warm," he muttered. feeling of the
crooked iron end. Still Warmi /
am right. and must be. close upon his
track. The poker is not yet cold He
can have left here but a few moments
ago. Now 10 get out, and after him -
With eyes glowing brighter. even, and
rejecting the triumphant fervor that
was inspiring his haste, he darted to-
ward the office door. Yet before he had
reached it a key was thrust into the
lock, the door thrown violently open
and Coleman and the janitor appeared
upon the threshold.
Before the astonished janitor could
speak, Boyd brushed rudely by him and
fell 70 forcing his way through the ex-
cited crowd of men in the corridor, at
the same time shouting loudly:
Follow me, Jimmie! I've hit the
nail on the head! Lose not a moment.
Follow me, and
Not yeti" roared the janitor. spring
ing upon him from behind. You have
broken into this office. The police
shall"
Police be blowed!" Numbered Cole
man, throwing open his coat to display
his detectives badge. Make way
therel I'm a central office man and
80.
roOmi Make way, / sayl Make way!"
He had hurled the janitor aside while
speaking. and now the awed crowd fell
back and opened a way for the two
men to pass. Boyd led the way, again
at breakneck speed. through the CORR
dor and down the stairs. and again the
previous scene with the cabman was
repeated
Exchange Place." shouted Boyd as he
followed Coleman into the waiting We
hicle
As they sprang down at the corner
mentioned. Boyd caught Coleman by
the arm and pointed to huge office
building some fifty yards away. in
which were located the offices of Ken
nedy & Peck, bankers and brokers.
ITO the rear door. Johnnier' he cried
rapidly. ''If you see a man resem bling
Il
You may head him off there if he at
tempts to sneak in back way--barring
that we are too late. Leave the rest
TO me-
Coleman FASTENED toward the mar
row street making TO the rear of the
building. and just thirty seconds later
Mr.. Felix Boyd walked composedly
into the elaborate rooms occupied by
Kennedy & Peck With merely
oil OF ba ole in, fIn
several enclosures. he made his way
UnceremoniOusly into the private Of
flee of the firm and promptly closed
the door. Precisely as he expected, he
found both members of the firm seated
in the room: and. which gave him
quick thrill of triumphant satisfaction,
he observed that they were alone.
BY the clock on the wall it was pre-
cisely half-past 9-just thirty minutes
since Boyd left his office IN Pine street.
In an open CRATE at one side wood
fire was burning briskly, the September
morning being a little cool. The two
members Of the firm We're seated in the
sunlight near one of the broad win
dows, apparently discussing some bust
ness matter. Both looked up sharply
when Boyd entered. The latter at once
removed his hat.
Good morning, gentlemen" he said
politely
Kennedy started to his feet.
Excuse me! This is our private Of
flee" he snarled.
Precisely where my business brings
me-" retored Boyd dryly. sit down
again, 1 beg"
II cannot call your name, sir" cried
Kennedy; land / know Of no business
that warrants this intrusion. Leave our
private office at once; or I'll call the
police, if you"
stop right there, Mr.. Kennedy" said
Boyd stern. II have business here,
very serious business, as You presently
may discover. Until that business is
completed, gentlemen, not one of us Will
leave this roomi'
Are you a madman?'' Kennedy eX-
claimed.
mo, sir: but am a very determined
man, Now, understand me. gentle
men, If I am mistaken, / shall offer
you very humble apologies a little later.
If I am not mistaken. however. a man
named Paul Wyi1off will soon enter this
room.
Now. once again-understen me!
When that man enters, if he does. the
first word of slightest sign from either
Of you VIII bring a bullet from this re-
volver. If YOU doubt that I mean all T
say. attempt 10 leave this room, Sit
down, Mr.. kennedy. 1 nat rlSnI, SIT.
Now. not a word while we sit and
watt"
II was a remarkable scene, 50 quickly
yet forcibly, was it enacted. Boyd had
drawn his revolver. and advanced to
take a chair near the table in the mid
die of the room. That each Of his
hearers was auelled more by his own
guilty conscience than by Boyd's
weapon. appeared i'm that each had
glanced apprehensively at the other
and both had grown deathly pale. At
Boyd's final command, Kennedy had re-
sumed his seat, and a silence covering
several minutes ensued.
Then hurried steps were heard ap-
preaching through the outer office.
Boyd glanced sternly at his observers
then took his revolver from the table
and concealed back of his hip. He
scarce had done so when the office
door was rapidly opened and the very
man he expected, Paul Wykoff, rushed
into the room.
At such a moment, and under the
sudden stress of excitement and disnay
he must have felt on seeing Felix BOYD
only one man i'm ten thousand could