The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-05-21
CHAPTER lIl.-Continued.

man hut th|N ar" unaDl' To HHu "'S
trace of crime. Giles returns TO ms
room aud hunts for some evidence that
might explain his strange mission
CHAPTER lIi.-Continued.
Then followed some numerals
mixed in a drunken dance with half
the letters of the alphabet-the eX-
PLANTATION of the map, | suppose, in
cipher, and as it might prove a clue
to this dreadful business, | folded the
sheet carefully in an envelope and
placed it in an inmost pocket.
The search having failed of definite
results. / sat with chair tilted against
the wall to consider the situation.
Turn it as would | could make
nothing good of it. There were des-
perate enterprises afOot of which |
could see neither beginning nor end,
purpose nor result. | repented Of
my consent to mix in these danger
Gus dOings and resolved that when
the morning came | would find other
quarters, take up the search for
Henry. and look for such work as
might be found.
II was after midnight when | had
come to this conclusion, and, barring
doors and windows as well as could,
/ flung myself on the bed to rest, and
I sank into an uneasy slumbar.
When | awokc it was with a start
and an oppressive sense that some
body else was in the room. The gas
hight that had left burning had been
put out Darkness was intense. |
sat upright and felt for matches that
l had seen upon the stand.
In another instant | was flung back
upon the bed Wiry fingers gripped
my throat, and y voice Kissed in my
ear:
Where is he? Where is the boy?
Give me your papers, or III wiring the
life cut OF you"
was strong and vigorous, and.
Though taken at disadvantage,
struggled desperately enough to break
the grip on my throat and get hold
upon my assai!ant.
Where is the boy?" gasped the
voice once more; and then, as | made
no reply, but twined my arms about
rim my asSailant saved all his breath
for the struggle.
We rolled 70 the floor with thud
that shook the house, and in this
change VI base had the luck to come
out uppe"mOst. Then my courage
rose as I found that could hold my
man. feared a knife, but if he had
one he had not drawn it. and was
able to keep his hands too busy to al
low him to get possession of it now
Finding that he was able to accom-
piish nothing. he gave short cry and
called;
Conn"
heard confusion of steps outside
ami u sound as of a muifled oath
Thea the door opened, there was 8
rush Of feet behind me, and the flash
of buIl's-eye lantern. | released
my enemy, and sprang back to the
corner where | could defend myself
al some advantage
could distinguish four dark figures
of men; but, instead of rushing upor
me as stood on the defensive, they
seized upon my assailant. | looked
on painting. and hardly able to regair
my breath. 1t was not half a minute
before my enemy was securely bOunC
and gagged and carried out. One o
the men fingered.
Don't take such risks" he said
~ wouldn't have your job, Mr.. Wilton
FOR all the old mans money. If W.
hadn't happened up here, you'd have
been done for this time
In Gods name, man, what does al
this mean | gasped.
The man looked at me in eviden
surprise,
They've got a fresh start, guess,
he said You'd better get some o
the men up here. Mr.. Richmond sen
us up here to bring this letter."
He was gone silently, and left il
The darkness. | struck match
lighted the gas once more, and, secuI
ing the revolver. looked to the letter
The envelope bore no address. tor
it open. The lines were written in
wo,nans hand, and a faint but pc
Cu!iar perfume rose from the paper
1t bore but these words:
'DOn't make the change until | Sc
you. The money will be ready in tn
morning. BE at the bank at 1890"
The note, pu2zling as it was, wa
hardly an addition to my perpleXitieE
It was evident that | had bee
plunged into the center of intrigue
plot and counterplot. | was suppose
10 have possession Of somebody's bo!
A powerful and active enemy threa
.ened me with death. An equally a.
tive friend was working to preserv
my safety. People of wealth wer
concerned | had dimly seen a frai
ment of the struggling forces, and
was plain that only very rich pc
son could afford the luxury of hirin
the braves and guards who threa
sned and protected me.
The fate of Henry showed th
power of those who were pursl
ing me. Armed as we was with tn
knowledge of his danger, knowing, a
did not, what he had to guard an
irony what he had to guard it, he ha
yet fallen a victim.
could not doubt that he was tn
man assaulted and stabbed in th
alley below. but the fact that no trac