The Columbus journal., 1908-10-07
CHAPTER xIII.-Continued.

had never had the pleasure OF meet
ing Mr. Meeker face to face, but /
doubted not that | should be able to
pick him out. / was right. | knew
MIN the moment | saw him. He was
. tail and broad of shoulder. long of
arm. shifty of eye, and his square jaw
was covered with stubby red beard.
His color heightened as we walked
into the Office and cut off the two
doors Of retreat
An unexpected pleasure" | said.
giving him good day.
His hand slipped TO the side pocket
of his sack coat, and then back again,
: and he made a remark in an undertone
that [ fear was not intended for a
pleasant greeting.
There's a little dinner of few
friends going on upstairs" | said po-
litely. Won't you join u.s."
Meeker scowled moment with evil
dent surprise.
mo, | won't" he growled.
But it is a sad case for a man to
dine alone" | said smoothly. You
NO, sir" said he, looking furtively
at my men drawing near. between him
and the doors.
But 1 insist" | said politely Then
j added in a lower tone meant for him
alone: Resist, you hound. and I'll
legs"
His face was working with fear and
passion. He locked at the blocked
way with the eye of baited animal
I'll be damned first" he cried. And
seizing a chair he whirled around,
dashed it through a window and
leaped through the jagged panes be-
fore l could spring forward TO stop
him.
Round i'm front. men" | cried. mo-
tioning my followers to sally through
the door. Bring him back" And an
instant later | leaped through the Win
dow after the flying enemy.
There was q fall of six feet, and as
l landed on pile of broken glass. a
bit shaken. with the rain beating on
l recovered my wits. When | looked
no one was in sight. l heard the
men running on the porch of the hotel,
SO the enemy was not to be sought
that way. | set off full speed for the
other corner. fifty yards away. half
suspecting an ambush But at the
turn | stopped. The rain-soaked street
was empty for block before me.
Where is he?" cried Porter, the
first of my men 10 reach my side.
/ shrugged my shoulders Il haven't
seen him."
He didn't come our way-that I'll
swear painted Fitzhugh.
He was out of sight before 1 got
my feet" said l. They must have
hiding-place close by
He must have jumped the fence
here" said Wilson. pointing to a cot
tase just beyond the hotels back yard.
I'll see about it" And he vaulted the
pickets and looked about the place
He was back in a minute with a
shake of the head.
Well, it's no great matter" l said.
I'VE can get along without another
guest for the afternoon. Now get
under cover, boys, or you'll be soaked
through"
Well. l reckon he wouldn't have
been very pleasant company if you'd
got him. said one of the Ilen con-
solingly. when We had told our tale of
the search for guest.
Il suspect he would be less >disa-
greeabie in here than out with his
gang" l returned dryly, and turned
the subject. l did not care to discuss
my plan to get a hostage now that 1t
had failed.
The gray day FLASHED slowly toward
nightfall. The rain fell by fits and
starts. AS the time wore On l sus-
pected that my men grew uneasy,
wondering what We were there for,
and why l did not make some move.
Then l reflected that this could not be.
II was l who was wondering. Had the
plans of the Unknown come to disas-