Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-09-12
.HAPTER XXxiIl.-Continued.

L lSSueu u CledE obdlSll6ul vi INC
situation; / showed in minute detail
how the people standing together un
der the leadership of the honest men
of property could easily force the big
bandits to consent to an honest, just,
rock-founded, iron-built r%econstruc-
ton. My statement appeared in all
the morning papers throughout the
land. Turn back to it; read it. You
will say that / was right. Well
Toward two o'clock Inspector Craw-
ford came into my private office, es-
corted by Joe. | saw in Joe's scanned,
green-gray face that some new danger
had arisen. you've got to get out of
this" said he. The mob in front OF
our place fills the three streets. It's
made up of crowds turned away from
the suspended banks"
/ remembered the sullen faces and
the Kisses as l entered the c61ce that
morning earlier than usual. My win
dows were closed TO keep out the
street noises; but now that my mind
was up from the work in which | had
been absorbed, l could hear the sounds
of many voices, even through the thick
plate glass.
We've got 200 policemen here"
said the inspector. Five hundred
more are on the way. But-really,
Mr.. Blackjack, unless we can get you
away, theren be serious trouble.
These damn newspapers! Every one
of them denounced you this morning,
and the people are in a fury against
you"
| went toward the door.
Hold on, Matt cried Joe, spring
ing at me and selling me. Where
are you %going?" :,
ITO tell them what I think of them"
replied /, sweeping him aside. Fol-
my blood was UP, and was enraged
against the poor cowardly fools.
For Gods sake don't show your
self" he begged. 'If you don't care
for your W life, think of the rest
of us. We've fixed a route through
buildings and under streets up to
Broadway. Your electric is waiting
for you there"
1T won't do" I said. I'll face EN-
its the only way"
went to the window, and was about
to throw up one Of the sunblindS
for a look at them; Crawford stopped
m They'll stone the building ant
then storm it," said he. you mus
go at once, by the route we've ar
ranged"
Even If you tell them I'm gone
they won't believe it," replied I.
we can look out for that" salt
Joe, eager to save me, and caring
nothing about consequences to him
self. But | had unsettled the In
spector.
Send for my electric to come dow
here" said l. "Ill go out alone ant
get In it and drive away"
"That'll never do" cried Joe.
But the inspector said: Your
right, Mr.. Blackjack. It's a bar
chance. You may take 'em by SUI
prise. Again, some fellow may vel
and throw a stone and" He did no
need to finish.
Joe looked wildly at me. "Yo
mustn't do it, Matt" he exclaimed
you'll precipitate a riot, Crawford
IL you permit this"
But the inspector was t%elephonin
for my electric. Then he went int
the adjoining room, where he con
marded a view Of the entrance
Silence between Joe and me until h
returned.
1.-The electric is coming down tn
street" said he.
I rose. Good said I. I'm ready
Wait until the other police &c
here advised Crawford.
IF the mob is in the temper 20
describe" said I, "the less that's don
to- irritate 1t the better. ! must go OF
as If | hadn't a suspicion of danger"
The Inspector eyed me with a
expression that was highly fatterin
to my vanity.
"IIl go with you," said Joe, star
ing up from his stupor.
NO." l replied. "You and the otht
fellows can take the undergroun
route, il it's necessary"
1T won't be necessary" put in IL
inspector. "As soon as I'm rid of yc
and have my additional force, 7
clear the streets" He went to ii
door. wait, Mr.. Blackjack, until l.,
had time to get out to my men"
Perhaps ten seconds after he disa
peared I, without further words, p
on my hat, lit a cigar, shook Joe's we
trembling hand, left in it my privai
keys and the memorandum of II
combination of my private vaul
Then | sailed forth.
/ had always had a ravenous app
tite for excitement, and | had bee
in many a tight place; but for Il
first time there seemed to me to |
an equilibrium between my intern
energy and the outside situation. 4
I stepped from my street door al
glanced about me, ] had no feelir
Of danger. The whole situate
seemed so simple. There stood Il
electric, Just across the mario
stretch of sidewalk; there were Il
200 police, under Crawford's order
scattered everywhere through Z
crowd, and good-naturedly jostling al
pushing to create distraction. Wit
out haste, l got into my machine.
calmly met the gaze Of those tho
sands, quiet as 50 many barrels
~gunpowder before the explosion. ~
chauffeur turned the machine.
60 Slow / called to him. "Yt