The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-10-24
CHAPTER II.
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Then l rallied my spirits with some
thing Of resolution, and shamed my
self with the reproach that l should
fear TO share any danger that Henry
was ready to face. Wearied as | was
with travel, / was too much excited
for sleep. Reading was equally i'm
possible. l scarcely glanced at the
shelf of books that hung on the wall,
and turned to study of my surround
ings
The room was on the corner, as |
have said, and threw up the sash of
the west window and looked out over
tangle Of old buildings, ramshackle
sheds, and an alley that appeared TO
lead nowhere.
Some sound OF a drunken quarrel
drew my attention to the north win
dow, and / looked out into the alley
There were shouts and curses, and
one protesting, struggling inebriate
was hurled out from the front door
and left, with threats and foul Ian
guage, to collect himself from the
pavement.
This edifying incident, WHICH was
explained to me solely by sound, had
scarcely come to an end when a noise
of creaking boards drew my eyes to
the other window The shutter sud
denly flew around, and a human figure
swung in at the open casing.
shit" came the warning whisper,
and l recognized my supposed robber.
1t was Henry.
Don't speak out loud" he said in
suppressed tones. wait till l fasten
this shutter
Shall l shut the Window" l asked,
| thoroughly impressed by his manner.
mo. you'll make too much noise"
he said, stripping off his coat and
vest. Here, change clothes with me.
| Quick! It's a case of life and death.
| must be out of here in two minutes.
| Do as l say, now. Don't ask ques-
lions. I'll tell you about 1t in day
or two No, just the coat and vest.
There-give me that collar and tie.
Where's your hat?"
The changes were completed. or
rather his were, and he stood looking
! as much like me as could be imag-
/ ined.
Don't stir from this room till
come back" he whispered. You can
dress in anything of mine you like.
III be in before twelve, or send a
messenger if I'm not coming. By-by."
| He was gone before l could say a
word. and only an occasional creaking
| board told me of his progress down
! the stairs. He had evidently had
/ some practice in getting about quiet
! ly. | could only wonder, as l closed
and locked the door, whether 1t was
| the police or a private enemy that he
was trying to avoid.
| had small time to speculate on
the possibilities, for outside the win
dow l heard the single word, 'Helpi"
I rushed to the window and looked
out. A band of half dozen men was
struggling and pushing away from
Montgomery Street into the darker
end of the alley. They were nearly
under the window.
Give it to him." said voice.
In an instant there came a scream
of agony. Then a light showed and
a tall broad-shouldered figure leaped
back
These aren't the papers" it Kissed.
Curse you, you've got the wrong
mani"
There was a moment of confusion,
and the light flashed on the man who
had spoken and was gone. But the
fash had shown me the face of a man
l could never forget 1t was a strong,
cruel. wolfish face-the face of a man
near sixty, with a fierce yellow-gray
mustache and imperial-a face broad
at the temples and tapering down into
a firm, unyielding jaw, and marked
then with all the lines of rage, hatred,
and chagrin at the failure Of his plans.
It took not a second for me to see
and hear and know all this, for the
vision came and was gone in the
drooping Of an eyelid. And then there
echoed through the alley loud cries OF
Police! Murder! Help" l was con
scious that there was man running
through the hall and down the rickety
stairs. making the building ring to
the same cries.
1t was thus with feeling Of sur
prise that found myself in the street
and came to know that the cries for
help had come from me, and that
was the man who had run through the
hall and down the stairs shouting for
the police The street was empty.
Fortunately the policeman on the
beat was at hand. and 1 hailed him
excitedly.
only rolling a drunk" he said
lightly, as l told Of what had seen.
NO, it's worse than that insisted
There was murder done, and I'm
afraid it's my friend"
He listened more attentively as
told him how Henry had left the
house just before the cry for help had
risen.