The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-05-31

sers." Crom's legs were underneath
the tablet NO" continued Jim. I'm
afraid they won't lay hands on him
through me. But they may through tue
things he took. Go CD to that!'
"There was dis,nUnd pin"
II seen it, What elseT'
"AE his money"
"Ah. he paid like a gentleman. any.
thing else"
go!d-watchw
The words would hardly come. Jim
thumped the table with his heavy fist.
"That'll do!' he cried. "That'll hang
him, You mark my words! What sort
Of a watch?"
But this time the words would not
come at all. for Jim's wife stood in
the doorway behind Jim's chair. and
her eyes and Tom's-the terrified and
the guilty-were locked together in a
long, dread stare.
whats that about a watch?' she
said in sort Of whisper, advancing
unsteadily and leaning a hand upon
her husbands shoulder. Whose
watchr
zone belonging to a murdered man."
replied Jim. I'm asking what kind
Of one. | say it ought to hang the
chap what did it,"
ut WILL" said she hOarsely in his ear.
ITS a repeater. and him that has it
sits in front of you in that chairr'
There followed silence so profound
that Tom could hear the watch itself
ticking in his pocket. The coachman
then rose and slowly leaned across
the table, resting one hand upon il.
The other was half way to Toms
throat when he sprang TO his feet and
in so doing pressed his thigh against
the tables edge. Instantly there rang
from his pocket a sweet and tiny ting.
ting. ting. ting, ting!
1t was the saving Of him from Jim
the coachman and his wife.
Both shrank back as Tom darted to
an inner door and so up the stairs
which he had descended half asleep.
Ere he reached the top there was a
crash below. For an instant he thought
the man had fallen in a 1T, but a vol.
ley Of oaths proved II only a slip as
Tom slammed and locked the door Of
the room in which he had slept away
the day If not his life. His shoes were
still where he had kicked them of.
He slipped into them and, exerting all
his strength. pulled the large iron bed.
stead from its place and wedged IL
between wall and door. Then he
crouched and listened. The man was
for taking him single handed, the wo-
man evidently restraining him by main
force.
Let me go! Let me go!" Tom heard
him cry.
Never till | drop! Police! Police!
He sha'n't murder my jim too"
so help me. but I'll strike We II We
don't let co.
Strike away. Police! Police! Po-
lice! If you 90. go too"
Her cries were not loud: they were
In the struggle, which was |
still contlnued-now at the foot Of the |
stairs. now on the stairs themselves
md ut last on the landing outside the
door Meanwhile the bird |
had Town.
No sooner had Tom realized what was
taking place below than he threw TN
hc bedroom window. II overlooked a
'mall aud tilthy back yard. into which /
rOm quietly dropped while the puir
we're stlll struggling ON the stairs. To
ind his way through the house. th.uu4I
he kitchen Itself aud ont into the mar
'0w street was the work Of very few
The last Tom heard wns
lie heiab0rlng Of the locked. blocked
iOor by honest Jim. Nor did his pres
nee Of mind desert him yet. lie walk.
ii out Of the narrow side street, only
when he came to the main
hOroughfare aud after n pcrilous hest.
alton rs to whether he should strike
nto the city or over Blackfriars bridge.
He chose the city and. having chosen.
ost his head and ran for hfs life.
lie dartcd across the street and
plunged into the busy alleys fillIng
he delta between the bridge and st.
'auls Here he slackened little.
or the stony, many Widowed ravlnes
we're SO narrow and so crowded that
/ was impossible to continue running.
Iut he threw up his heels the instant
le emerged on Ludgate hill, tearing
elter SHELTER In the middle OF the road,
Ie was nearly run over by a van
omlng out Of Paternoster row and
ursed to the skies by the driver.
aces stopped and turned upon the
ayements. He knew the folly Of It.
nd yet ran on with a fiend IN either
eel.
"Ba.nk. ba.nki Ere you are. sir
.fe y3u are!''
Tom was almost up to the omnibus
cforc he realized that this was meant
or him. IustlnCtively he waved and
oddud. aud his mad pace was ex-
laincd. Tie omaibus stoftped. h.
.