The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-11-04
CHAPTER XIII.
a Day Of erace.


Resolve, shame, despair, fought with
each otner in the tumult in my mind
as l passed between the bronze lions
and took my way down the street.
was called out of my distractions
with sudden start as though a buck
ct Of cold water had been thrown over
me- | had proceeded not twenty feet
when | saw two dark forms across the
street. They had, 1t struck me, been
waiting for my appearance, for one
ran to join the other and both hasten
ed toward the corner as though to be
ready to meet me.
| could not retreat to the house Of
the Wolf that doomed forbiddingly be-
hind me. There was nothing to do but
to go forward and trust to my good
fortune, and l shifted my revolver to
the side-pocket of my overcoat as l
stepped .briskly to the corner. Then
l stopped under the lamp-post to re-
connoiter.
The two men who had reused my
apprehensions did not offer to cross
the street, but slackened their pace
and strolled slowly along on the other
side | noted that 1t seemed a long
way between streetlamps whereabouts.
/ could see none between the one un-
der which / was standing and the
brow of the hill below Then it oc-
Cured to me that this circumstance
might not be due to the caprice of the
street department of the city govern
ment, but to the thoughtfulness of the
gentlemen who were paying such
close attention to my affairs. l de-
clded that there were better ways to
get down town than were offered by
Pine street.
To the south the cross-street
stretched to Market with an unbroken
array of lights, and as my unwary
watchers had disappeared in the dark
ness, l fastened down the incline with
so little regard for dignity that l found
myself running for a Suffer street sar
and caught it. too. AS l swung
on the the platform l looked back; but
saw no sign Of skulking figures be
fore the car swept past the corner and
blotted the street from sight.
The incident gave me a distaste for
the idea of going back to Henry Will
tons room at this time of the night
So at Montgomery street l stepped
into the Lick house, where l felt reas-
onably sure that l might get at least
one nights sleep, from from the haunt
ing fear of the assassin.
But, once more safe. the charms Of
Luella Knapp again claimed the major
part of my thoughts. and when l went
to sleep 1t was with her scornful words
ringing in my ears l slept soundly
until she morning sun peeped into the
room with the cheerful announcement
that a new day was born
In the fresh morning air and the
bright morning light, | felt that
might have Been unduly suspicious
and had fed from harmless citizens
and l was ashamed that l had lacked
courage to return to Henry's room as
I made my way thither for a change
of clothes. l thought better Of my de
cision- however, as l stepped within
the gloomy wslls OF the house of mys
tery and my footballs echoed through
the chilling silence Of the halls. AnC
l lost all regret over my nights lacl
OF courage when reached my door
1t was swung an inch ajar. and as
approached l thought I saw it move.
I'm certain l locked it," was ny
inward comment.
| stopped short and hunted my re
volyer from my overcoat pocket.
was nervous for q moment. and angry
at the inattention that might havv
cost me my life
Who's there?" l demanded
No reply.
gave knock on the door at Ions
reach
There was no sound and I gave it I
push that sent It open while
prudently kept behind the fertilization
Of the casing AS no development
followed this move. I peeped through
the door in cautious investigation. TIL
room was quite empty. and l Wake,
in
The sight that met my eyes was as
tonishing. Clothes, books. papers
were scattered over the floor and be,
and chairs The carpet had beer
partly ripped up, the mattress tori
apart, the closet cleared out, an,
every corner Of the room had beer
ransacked.
1t was clear to my eye that thi
was no ordinary case of robbery. Tn
search, it was evident. was not 70
money and jewelry alone, and bulkie
property had been despised. The mel
who had torn the place to pieces must