The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1909-06-17


machine; all the chauffeur can do is
to keep the middle of the road, like
to be beaten as little as any of them;
but I'm not foal. Winter, you are
used to accomplishing things: what Is
your notion of the secret?"
knowing when to stop exhausting
trumps, l reckon-but you don't play
cards"
1T is the same old game whatever
you play" said the railway king. He
did not pursue the discussion; his
questions, Winter had found, invaria.
bly, had purpose, and that purpose
was never argument He lay back on
the big leather cushions of the lounge,
his long, lean fingers drumming on the
table beside him and an odd smile
playing about the corners of his
mouth; his next speech dived into
new waters. He said Have those
men from New York got Atkins, yet?'
"They couldn't find him. answered
the colonel Il have been having him
Swallowed, on my own idea-I think
he stabbed you, though ! have no
proof of it; / take it you have proof
of your matter"
Plenty" said Keatcham. II was
going to send him to the pen In self
defense. II isn't safe for me to have
it creep out that my secretary made
fortune selling my secrets. Besides,
| don't want to be killed. You say they
can't find him?"
Seems to have gone to Japan"
Seems? What do you mean?"
Il am not sure. He was booked for
a steamer; and a man under his name,
of his build and color, did actually
sail on the boat" announced the
colonel blandly.
Hmm He's right here in San
Francisco; read that note.'
Winter read the note, written on
Palace hotel note-paper, In a sharp,
scrawling, Italian hand. The contents
were sufficiently startling.
Dear friend Hoping this find you
we'll Why do you disregard true
Warning? We did write you afore
once for say you give that money or
We shall be unfortunately compel to
kill you quick. No? You lan. God
knows we got have that twenty-five
thousan dol. Yes. And now because
of such great expence 1t is fifty thou
san you shall pay. We did not mean
kill you dead only show you for sure
there is no place so secret you can
Hide no place so strong can defend
you. Be Warn. You come with $780,
10000 in 500 bills. You go or send
Mr. Mercer to the Red Hat; ask for
Louis. Say to Louis For the Black
Hand. Louis will come to you. You
will be forgive all heretobefores. Else
ways you must die April 1920. This
is sure. You have felt our dagger the
other is worse.
You well wishing Fren,
1.-The Black Hand"
Sounds like Atkins pretending to
be Dago," said the colonel dryly. II
could do better myself"
Very likely" said Keatcham.
Does he mean business? What's
he after?"
ITO get me out of the way He
knows he isn't safe until I'm dead.
Then he hasn't been cleaned out, but
he has lost a lot Of money in this
Midland business. The cipher he has
is of no use to him, there, or in the
other things which unluckily he knows
about. With me dead and the cipher
in his hands, he could have made mil
lions: even without the cipher, II he
knows I'm dead before the rest of the
world, he ought to make at least
half-million. l think you will find that
he has put everything he has on the
chance. / told you he vas slick. And
unstable. What do you anticipate he
will do? Straight, with no chaser. as
you say
We'll, straight with no chaser, |
should say !, bomb was the meanest
trick in sight, SO, naturally, he will
choose a bomb
II agree with you. You say the
house is patroled?"
The whole place But we'll put
on bigger force; I'll see Birdsall at
once. Atkins would have to hire his
explosive talent, wouldn't he?" ques-
toned the colonel
'Oh, he knows plenty of the under
world rascals; and besides, for fell
low Of his habits, there is a big chance
for loot. Mrs. Milicent Winter tells
me that your aunt has valuable jewels
with her. II she told me, she may
have told other people, and Atkins
may know He will use other people,
but he will come. too, in my opinion
The Preachers Advice.