The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-08-05
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81. VIII
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age for you better than you can for
yourselves: but when the brakes are
broken good driving can't stop the
machine; all the chauffeur can 90 is
to keep the middle of the road. like
TO be beaten as little as any of them
but I'm not a fool Winter. you are
used to accomplishing things; what is
your notion of the secret?"
Knowing when 10 stop exhausting
trumps. 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 n 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, YETI"
They couldn't find him." answered
the colonel. Il have been having him
Swallowed. on my own ideal think
he stabbed you, though I have no
proof OF Il: take II you have proof
OF your matter"
Plenty" said Keatcham. Il was
going TO send him to the pen In self
defense. II isn't safe for mo 10 have
It creep out that my secretary made
a fortune selling my secrets. Besides.
don't want to be killed. You say they
can't find him."
Seems TO have gone 10 japan"
Seems? What do you meanT
Il am not sure. He was booked for
a steamer; and man under his name.
of his build and color did actually
sail on the boat" announced the
colonel blandly.
"Hmnl He's right here In San
Francisco: read that note"
Winter read the note, written on
Palace hotel note-paper. In sharp.
scrawling. Italian hand. The contents
we're sufficiently startling.
Dear friend Hoping this find you
we'll Why do you disregard a true
Warning? We did write you aforo
once for say you give that money or
we shall be unfortunately compel to
XIII yon quick. MOI You Ian God
knows we got have that twenty-five
thousan dol. Yes And now because
OF such great expence II is nifty thou
san you shall pay. We did not mean
kin you dead only show you for sure
there IL 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 we'll wishing Fren.
"The Black Hand"
Sounds like Atkins pretending 10
be Dago," said the colonel dryly. Il
could do better myself"
Very likely" said Keatcham.
Docs 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 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 a
half-million. think you will find that
he has put everything he has on the
chance. / told you he was slick. And
unstable. What do you anticipate he
will do? Straight. with no chaser, as
you say"
well. straight with no chaser.
should say a bomb was the meanest
trick in sight. so. naturally, he will
choose a bomb"
Il agree with you. You say tho
house is patroled7"
THE whole place. But Wen put
on a bigger force; I'll see Birdsall at
once. Atkins would have TO hire his
explosive talent. wouldn't her" ques.
toned the colonel.
"Oh. he knows plenty OF the under.
world rascals and besides. for a Eel.
low Of his habits. there is a big chance
for loot. Mrs. Millicent 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"