The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1908-09-23
CHAPTER xxI.-continued.

CHAPTER xxI.-continued.
Send six men to o'clock boat. Come
with one in hack to courtyard of the
Palace Hotel at TAO"
Mother Borton's face changed not
a whit at the reading. but at the end
she nodded.
She knows" she said.
What does it mean l asked.
What is to happen"
Don't go, dearie-you won't go,
will you?"
Yes" 1 said. Il must go"
oh" she walled: you may be
killed You may never come back"
Nonsense" said ]. In broad day
light, at the Palace Hotel? I'm much
more likely to be killed before l get
home tonight"
Her earnestness impressed me. but
my resolution was not shaken. Mother
Borton rested her head on the table
in despair at my Obstinacy.
Well, if you will, you will. she
said at last: land an old wOman's
warnings are nothing to you. But ii
you will put your head in the traps Ill
do my best to make it safe after you
git il there. You jist sit still, honey.
And she took the candle and went
TO a corner, where she seated herself
at a stand.
Mother Borton appeared to have
some difficulty in arranging her words
to her liking. She seemed to be writ
ing. but the pen did not flow smoothly.
At last she was done, and sealing her
work in an envelope she brought the
Hickering light once more to the table
Take that" she said, thrusting the
envelope into my hand. If you find
a one-eyed man when you git into
trouble give him that letter I've writ
We. and it may do We some good. It's
the best can do fer We. You'd better
go now and git some sleep. You may
need it"
thanked Mother Borton and
pressed her hand, and she held the
candle as l tiptoed down the stairs.
joining my waiting guards and went
out into the night.
Where are Barkhouse and Phil
lips?" I asked. as We turned our faces
toward the west.
Porter gave a low whistle. and as
this failed to bring an answer, fol-
lowed it with one louder and more pro-
lonsed. We listened, but no response
came
Wed better get out of here. said
Wilson. There's no telling what may
happen when they hear that whistle"
Hist! What's that" said Porter,
drawing me back into a doorway.
There were running steps on the
ow darted from one side of the street
10 the other.
There seem to be friends waiting
for u.s." said 1. Just get a good grip
of your clubs, boys. and keep your
revolvers handy in case they think
they have a call to stop us.
Hold or" said Porter. There's a
gang of 'em there. l see a dozen of
EN-. and if we're the ones they're after
we had better cut for it,
Il believe you are right" said I.
peering into the darkness. l could see
a confused mass. but whether of men
or boxes could only guess.
Well go up there, and you can cut
around the other way" said Porter
There's no need for you to risk ii.
There's no need for any one to risk
il. Well cut together"
This way then" said Wilson. Il
know this part of town better than
YOU do. Run on your toes" And he
darted past Borton's and plunged into
an alley that led toward the north.
Porter and l followed as quietly as
possible through the dark and noisome
cutoff TO Pacific street. Wilson turned
toward the bay, and crossing the
street at the next corner followed the
main thoroughfare to Broadway.
Il guess were all right now" he
sasped, as We turned again to the
west. but we'd best keep to the mid
die of the street"
And a little later we were in sight
of the house of mystery which fronted.
forbidding and gloomy as ever, on
Montgomery street, and l was soon in
my room AMI in bed for what sleep
[ could snatch
At the earliest light of the morning
1 was once NOR astir, but half-re-
freshed by my sort and broken rest,
and made my sitions for the day.