The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-04-28

IT have not, sir"
Should you happen to, and can con-
trive to inform me before they depart,
wish you would send me word" said
Boyd deliberately. II am at the inn.
Mr.. Hunter, and can be readily reach
ed
II will do so, sir. If 1 see them"
Thank you very much, Hunter"
bowed Boyd, smiling In approval
That's all, my man. Stay-you might
have my cup refiiled. If you'll be so
good. Your tea, doctor, is very reviv-
ing"
AS the waiter accepted the cup and
saucer, Boyd, from one corner under
his dropping lids, INDUCED In a swift
glance across the table.
Professor Clyde was wiping the ham
die of his knife with his napkin.
At 10 o'clock that evening Jimmie
Coleman received the message men,
toned by Mr.. Felix Boyd.
Dusk was settling over the town and
Landscape when Boyd left the Vandyke
academy and started for the EPSON
Arms. Apon arriving at the inn, he
purchased at the bar a pint of old
brandy, and slipped the flask into his
pocket. Then he went up to his room,
lighted his oil lamp. and left 1t burn
ing on the mantel. About o'clock,
while seated In the inn office, he saw
Hunter entering the house with his
wife, ard he contrived to meet the cou-
pie In the hall.
mot seen either of those men since,
have your" he inquired affably.
mo, sir, / haven't" laughed Hunter.
when 1 do, Mr.. Boyd, I'll make sure
to inform YOU"
Good enough" nodded Boyd. 'By
the way, where does Curry live, whose
bnuea was entered Sp
"On Parker road. sir. Anybody out
side can direct you"
THANKS. think I'll have g look at
his place
The last was from over his shoulder,
as Boyd sauntered out Of the inn
At 10 o'clock. about the time Cole
man received Boyd's message, which
had been sent by a lad, Boyd was en-
gagged in Parker road, now studying
Curry's house from one side, now from
the other and occasionally entering the
grounds to obtain q different point of
view.
His steps had become unsteady. His
hat was awry on his head. He STUN bled
occasionally, as if near falling, and
twice he sat for some minutes on low
stone wall, as if a bit dazed by over
indulgence in liquor-or some other
cause.
return to the inn. His walk at times
began to reel Twice he appeared TO
have lost his way, and once he accost-
ed a bearded stranger and asked to be
directed. His voice was as unsteady as
his legs, and his enunciation quite in
coherent. Yet his brandy-flask was
then but partly emptied.
Upon reaching the inn he stumbled
UP the stairs, felt his way along the
hall WALL and with obvious difficulty
located his room. Then he entered,
dropped his hat upon the floor, laid his
coat or the seat of chair, took an
other drink from his flask, and then
threw himself, partly dressed. upon his
bed.
His fat pocketbook, however. he had
transferred to an inner pocket of his
vest, which he still wore.
1t was then after II o'clock.
Not a sound came from the deep
closet in one corner.
Midnight came and the situation in
the room remained the same. The
voices OF people outside and below had
ceased, and the inn was shrouded in
darkness-save alone the room in which
Felix Boyd lay, like a. man stupefied,
half dressed, on his bed.
The clock on a distant church struck
one.
Less than a minute later two men,
both heavily bearded, stole into Boyd's
room and quietly closed the door. There
could be but one Interpretation Of their
hushed words and rapid, yet silent,
movements.
Hes dead to the world whispered
one. You must nave loaded him."
NO" muttered the other. About
the same as usual"
He'll not come round before morn
ing. Too far gone to lock his door,
even, or extinguish his lamp. He'd no
business to remain up so late"
eth be later before he sleeps it off"
that hall door,
80, am"
"Tli relieve him of the stuff
The latter speaker then stole to the
coat in the chair-and found the pocket
empty.
Then he crept to the side of the bed.
bending over Felix Boyd, who was
breathing deep and hard, and with
stealthy fingers began to unbutton the
latter's vest.
Then from Felix Boyd there came a
move as quick as a lightning flash. and
the sharp, metallic click of locking
handouts was drowned by his quick,
ringing shouts.
Vow, Jimmie! Nail the man at the
hall doori I've got this one!"
Coleman scarcely reeded the COM
mand. Before the first word fairly was
uttered, both he and Griggs were out
of the closet, revolvers in hand, and
were leaping like wolves upon the man
at the door.
There was a struggle by both scoun-
drels, a brief one only, however, for the
men who had secured them were men
who knew their business. In half a
minute the trick was turned, when
Griggs, fairly gasping with amazement,
impulsively cried:
'Good Godl what's the meaning of all
this. Mr.. Boyd?"
Mr.. Felix Boyd. still gripping the
manacles on the wrists of the man he
had forced to his knees on the floor,
quickly whipped off the beard from the
miscreant's CHASTITY, horrified face, at
the same time crying curtly;
Meaning of it, Griggs? Merely that
1 have to present you with the robbers
you've been seeking-Professor Ray
mond Clyde, of the Vandyke academy.