The Columbus journal., 1908-07-29

We'll, honey, you're having q run
Of the cards." she said at last. BE
tween having the message trusted to
a fool boy, and having a cop for your
friend, an maybe Citing this note be
fore you're expected to, you're setting
here genteellike having agreeable
conversation alcng with me, instead
OF being in company you niightn't like
SO well-or maybe floating out toward
Fort Point"
$50 you didn't writer" l said coolly
Il had an idea of the kind. That's
why my friend Corson is smoking his
pipe down stairs"
Mother Borton gave me a pleased
look and nodded. hoped l had made
her regret the cruel insinuation in hel
application of the proverb to me as
the favorite of fortune.
Il see," l said. Il was to be way.
laid on the road here and killed"
Carried off, more likely. l don't
say as it wouldn't end in killin' We
But, you see. you'd be of mighty small.
use in tellin' tales if you was dead;
but you might be got to talk If they
had We in quiet place"
Good reasoning. But Henry VIII
ton was killed.
"Yes," admitted Mother Borton;
they thought he carried papers, and
maybe they amt got over the idea yit
It's jest as we'll you're here instid of
having little passear with Tom Ter
rill and Darby Meeker and their pals"
WELL" said l, as cheerfully as
could under the depressing circum
stances, IF they want to kill me,
don't see how l can keep them from
getting chance sooner or later"
Mother Rsrton looked anxious at
this, and shook her head.
You must call on your men," she
said decidedly. You must have
guards"
by the way" l said. that reminds
me. The men haven't been paid, ano
they're looking to me for money"
Who's looking to you for money!
"Dicky Maitland the others, sup
pose"
"Dicky Nahl?"
why, yes. He asked me for it."
And you gave it to him." she asked
sharply.
"No-o-that is, l gave him ten dol
lars and told him he'd have to wait
for the rest. l haven't got the money
from the one that's doing the hiring
I In-
Mother Borton gave an evil grin
>and absorbed another inward laugh.
Il reckon the moneyl come all
right" said Mother Borton. recovering
from her mirth. There's one more
anxious than you to have 'em paid
and if you ain't found out you'll have
it right away. Now for guards, take
Trent-nO, he's hurt. Take Browr
and Porter and Barkhouse and Eitz
hugh. They're wide-awake, and don,
talk much. Take 'em two and two
and never go without 'em, night CT
day. You stop here tonight, and II
git 'em for you tomorrow"
declined the proffered hospitality
with thanks. and as compromise
agreed to call for my bodysuard in the
early morning. Rejoining Corson,
explained Mother Borton's theory O.
the plot that had brought me thither
she's like to be right" said the po
liceman. she knows the gang. Now
if you'll take my advice, you'll let the
rats have your room for this night
and come along up to some foine no
tel"
The advice appeared good, and fif
teen minutes later Corson was drink
ing my health at the Lick House bar
and calling on the powers of light anG
darkness to watch over my safety as
l slept.
Whether due to his prayers or not
nv sleep was undisturbed, even BY
dreams of Doddridge Knapp and hi,
charming but scornfui daughter: ani
with the full tide of life and busines,
flowing through the street in the
morning hours l found myself once
more in Mother Borton's dingy eating
room, ordering breakfast.
Mother Borton ignored my entrance
and, perched on a high stool behind
the bar and cash:drawer, reminded me-
of the vulture guarding its prey. But
at last she fluttered over to my table
and took a seat opposite.
Your men are here she said short
~. And then, as l expressed my
thanks, she warmed up and gave me
a description by which 1 should know
each and led me to the room where
as she said, they were 'corralled."
by the way" l said, halting out
side the door, they'll want some
money, l suppose. Do you know how
much?"
They're paid" she said, and pushed
open the door before l could express |
surprise or ask further questions.
surmised that she had paid them her
self to save me from annoyance OF
possible danger. and my gratitude tc
this strange creature rose still higher |
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
s&A 600 G., SSN a