Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-06

anything about Sir Julius Blunt No9-Miss
Newton, | shall not caution you again"
But there is some one else in the house"
Carlton merely drew the revolver from his poclS.
ct, and laid it on the desk before him. The girl
continued breathlessly-
'Mr. Carlton, there is another burglar--a real
one, in the room on the other side of the hall.
saw him go in from the vemnda,"
IF you're trying to bluff me at the last min
ute, it's no 60" said Carton brutalIy And Pm
not in the mood to be fooled"
Il swear that a man has just crossed the
room"
Then go and tackle him"
The girls lips moved, but she made no sound.
Outside the clock struck sonorous "One."
Il cannot" she breathed.
He turned contemptuously to the telephone
again.
whats that9 Frost back in about ten min.
utes? All right. Hold on till then"
The girl took sudden step towards him.
Lend me your pistol"
Carlton shook his head.
"Not quite"
Them must go without it,
She turned to the door and passed out. Carl
ton was on his feet in time to see her enter the
dining room.
Everything appeared as he had left it. The
silver glittered untouched on the sideboard. In
the distant corner stood the chest lost in sha-
dows black as itself.
Towards this she stepped and presently he
heard her voice, tremulous, but clear
What are you doing here?"
He waited, with curiosity mixed with feelings
for an answer There none. He was con-
scious of a vague movement in the darkness and
he heard quick gasp for breath. There was
faint scuffling sound, and then-silence
Carlton peered into the darkness completely
at fault. 1t was an entirely unexpected sequel
He could distinguish sickle of yellow light shin
t,,n AnkAat
dark lantern, imperfecty closed and paused. an
ticpating another trap, until he remembered the
electric switch was within yard of his hand
For the second time that evening he cooked his
revolver, touched the brass knob, and stepped
forward
AT the "cick" and sudden food of light some
thing sprang from the corner and rushed towards
him. He had just time to realize that his adj.
versary was a short, heavily-but man. before
dodging blow from an iron bar, and to fire one
futile shoe He caught the uplifted arm as it
was raised second time. Bar and revolver clat
tered to the floor together in the breathless strur
gle which followed
Carlton was the taller, but very little the
stronger man, and he was compelled to draw
upon every ounce of his strength For perhaps
l1ve minutes they swayed and wrestled and then
he tripped his opponent. The latter fell heavily
When he arose, it was to look down the barrel
Of revolver held before his eyes
Put up your hands Higher!"
The man did so
Walk backwards to the wall"
Without shifting his gaze, Carlton took down
q pair of curiously shaped handouts.
The last man to wear these was a niger who
iI'treated white woman. He was shot trying
to break away"
He slipped one over the mans wrist and drag
ged him. cursing but submissive to where the
great chest stood A massive iron handle hung
from either end Carlton passed the loose hand.
cuff through one of these, drawing his captive to
a kneeling position, and clamped it on to the
wrist. He ran his fingers over the
ragged coat, and drew out knife, some skele-
ton keys, and short bludgeon Not till then did
he relinquish his own weapon.
where's the girl?" he demanded
The burglar gave surly jerk OF his head in
the direction of the wall
There was gap of about two feet between It
and the chest Carlton leaned over, and fumbled
with outspread fingers. Then, bending down,
he grasped and lifted the limp body
He carried her to couch near the door. He