The Washington times., 1906-11-04
The Case of the Vacant office

worse. poor devil" thought BOYD. as
ne watched the allotment hurriedly
made, and then saw Rarucy thrust
the balance Of the bonds back into
the grip and close IT,
1t no sooner was done than the Big
Finger rose abruptly 10 his feet. say
ing:
Wen be on az once. Ranney shake
hands. old man. for this IS the last
you'll ever see Of us, or We of YOU.
Secrecy and expedition are always
wise in affairs of this kind. MackIin.
and this interview winds Up the whole
business"
y hope It does. sir. indeed 7 do"
Macklin fervently rejoined. as he
forced a smile to his ghastIy face while
he shook the criminals hand.
You stin look after the grip. Ran
neg. 1 don't want the care Of that"
Leave it to me. then"
And you MackIin. g., your plunder
out Of sight Never mind seeing Us
10 the door. Wen find our way out.
You get your hlunt under cover"
The speaker. always a rurGan and a
desPerad0 despite his rare craft and
vicious abilities. strobe abruptly into
the han. with Rauney al his heels
and hastened toward the front door OF
the house.
To Macklin. whose arrest was OF
secondary importance. Felix BOYD paid
no immediate attention. Revolver in
hand with uls resoIats features grim
ly SET. he stole quickly through the
side han and reached that leading TO
the outer door. bent upon lending a
hand 10 Coleman and his companion.
once moro. however, 5uzt as the cIev-
er work Of Felix Bovd approached its
elimination, Just rs the arrest oI this
arch-criminaI chief appeared all but
tne,ttable-oace more satan served his
own.
The succor came in a most unex-
pected form, and from an entirely un-
expected quarter As the two erIul-
mails strode through the han. Mack
Inns one male servant. who had been
out during the evening. came
hHrrying across tho grounds from
side gate, accompanied by
bulldog. AS they rounded the corner
OF the house. the dog caught sight OF
Akerman and Jimmie Coleman. crouch
ing with drawn weapons at either side
of the yesubule door.
With a yeip that fairly split the suu
night air. the animal instantly Ieaped
at the nearer OF the rwo. and fastened
his teeth in the calf of Akermaa's leg.
The detective vented one i-repress!-
be shrek. 2 CRY that completely
drowned the furious snarIing of the
dog. and leaped invoIuutar.Iy from his
Concealment
At the same moment the criminal
chief opened the inner door OF the
vesdbulc and behe,d him and the ag-
ure OF Coleman dashing zap the steps.
He uttered only two words. as he
closed the door with a violence that
threatened its hinges.
Bolt, Ranney!"
Ranney turned Ike a fash 10 dart
hack through the hail. only to behold
Felix BOYD some twenty feet away,
and the gleam of his leralad weapon.
by God. were coruere1.' he yelled.
above the commands that Numbered
from Boyd's lips IS he approached.
"Not on yow Hfr:
Up with your hands. or III 6re.'
roareI Boyd. for the second time.
The face of tie criminal chief.
though white as the linen at his
throat. Lad turned hard as nmt. a pic
ture of utter desperation With leap
like that of ? leopard ne dar,ed back
of Ranney aud instantly vanished into
the dark parIor adjoining the hau.
BOYD fired the moment the reckless
scouujrel moved. bu: Ha had ln mind.
roo. the imminent danger OF shooting
Coleman who stood nearly I'm ranrs
and was furiouely hatterIne to frag-
ments the glass pane of tho front
door Under these conflicting eondi-
tions It was not strange that Boyd
missed the mark intended.
Rauney, however. as the report went
ringing through the house. threw up
both hands with a siaels cry and
Continued on Fn,h Pagel
II - =.