The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-08

But you could. eh?"
oh. say"
Look here" Grafton sat up brisk
IL. I've got about SEQ in my pocket
Why your friends haven't stolen 1t,
/ don't know-but they haven't. III
give all but $50 of II 10 you for that
revolver"
Sos ye can blow a few sirholes in
2. hey?'
j won't touch you OF try to injure
y'h'-i give my word or honor on that,
Az I want is a chance TO leave this
room with loaded gun IN my hand
ia attend to the rest
"Mebbe the rest would attend to you
instead, reJoined the other eft Amt
no use, mister. There's six or eight o
the boys downstairs, without the boss.
They'd make hash o We
Perhaps they would. and perhaps
they would not Herei" He produced
the money and held Il forth. why
not try ST You can say / ovsrpow-
cred YOU. I'm larger and heavier in
every way. and Il ls not 1T ali I'm
probable. You give me that gun and
stay here for three minutes That's
all I ask. and it's an easy way 20
earn money"
His captor was wavering. Grafton
saw It and his heart beat fast. Once
let him set to the dark corridor. even
without knowing the place. and he
was ready enough 10 trust the rest to
his own powers OF lighting
"Well-going 10 try it?' he asked
orlsply.
"T-damned If know whether to
do II or not"
You had better. Here's the cash
see it?''
His captor rose and walked slowly
toward him, magnetized. as itsseemed.
by the green roll
"Youn swear not to do me?"
II will"
And" the weapon was poised be
fore him, butt foremost. Here. take
it, Ye dunno what we're dom but
We want to do it-so 20 ahead. Only
I'm telIin' We this, mister-its the
morgle for yours. once ye try to so
down them stairs and get TO the
street,
Very well I'll take my chances
''Ye're foolish-tomorrow or next
day We can walk out without meeting
a socl."
I understand perfectly" Grafton
stood up and buttonec his overcoat
with a steady hand. 4 think / pre-
fer leaving today, nevertheless. Good
day."
The rough shook his hand with som.
admiration and little sorrow. Per
haps it seemed shame 20 let so calm
a customer walk downstairs 10 Ger
tain death.
Grafton. did NOT pause Stepping
through the door he had wrecked. he
stood IN the corridors gloom with
leaping pulses. His first step to free
dom was an accomplished fact, Now
what should he do?
Was it better TO make one grand
dive for the lower floors end ind his
way on. before the alarm could be
given. or would it be better 10 steal
slowly down and trust to fate2
At the end of a few seconds. he de
cided upon a compromise between the
two. He must get down as quickly
and as noiselessly as possible. make
for the first door aad-vanish.
lie groped his way TO the stair-head
iHumined by a small window on the
coGrt His foot felt caJsiously for the
%
other. Within very few seconds
Grafton had passed TO the second
floor.
But how the old boards creai1ed.
long drawn squeak fairly froZe his
blood. as he hurried TO the head Of the
lower flight What II il had been
heard? lie waited. hardly breathing.
Some one below shifted a chair on
the bare floor; then all was still once
more.
lie essayed another forward step,
a louder creak ensued. And this one
had been heard. There could be 90
doubt Of that terrible fact. BeioW, a
door opened and a head peered out.
Grafton shrank against the wall, but
TOO latei lie had been scent
Well it was do or die now Two
STEPS at a time, he made down the
shaky flight. And before he had half
accomplished the descent, a crowd Of
six or seven rough figures were in the
hallway below him. He pulled up
sharply and raised the revolver.
Three shots. and six men before
himi Did they fire enee, the end OF
John Grafton seemed Il mathematical
certainty. He drew a long breath,
perhaps his last. and braced against
the wall. 1t was all very weird and
sensational, but ne vowed that II ne
must be murdered in this den, one or
two should go with him.
Beneath, he saw the fash Of pistols.
Now.
But at the very second he expected
the shot, door opened. For an in
slant, he caught a glimpse OF the
cirty barroom, he heard muttered
word or two. And the words
were magic. for the men in the
hallway melted away before them.
and darted through doors which
opened readily TO them, even in the
gloom.
A miracle had been worked for his
saVatiQn Grafton gasped as he
stared below; and, as he stared. the
door from the bar opened again, ami