The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-05-26
AfllL.L1IO1
(h HudsoND ou8lAs
CHAPTER vII.-Continued.


same Dominic Seager, who had not
flinched before the revolver aimed
at him by the girl on the broken
down runabout, was not lacking in
that physical quality which SO often
enables men of his stamp to brave
bodily danger unmoved. But 1t
must be admitted with equal frank
ness that, as he drew rapidly near
er Duane street, he became men,
tally i'll at ease, his spirit Of valor
Oozed from his finger tips. Had the
trolley on which he had been trav-
cling stopped and returned up town
ere reaching his destination, he
would willingly have stayed in his
seat. But it carried him remorse-
lessly to the point at which he must
alight to reach Arendsen's Office,
and there he got out mechanically.
He licked his dry lips, but turned
west without entering any Of the
saloons In sight, and made his way
toward the river, systematically
reasoning with himself.
II he'll only listen to me-" he
whispered uneasily, slackening HIS
pace, before he flies into Dutch
ft and does anything rash. can
soon make everything right. But
he's such a dangerous devil,
that"
He slowed down still more per-
ceptibly.
"Pooh!" said he, once more step
ping out. "All there is between us
is a mere flea-bite compared with
the stake can share with him
now. I can convince him that 1t
will pay handsomely to let bygones
be bygones. All 1 ask is the ghost
of chance to lay down my cards.
But, will he give me that?"
He once more shortened his foot
steps. hung back unfortunately.
IF there were any other way out.
I'd give half my profits to find It,"
he thought, very ruefully, but |
know only 700 well that there isn't,
and l must have some working
capital or I'll lose all. That would
be worse than anything Black
Dirck can do to me! Now, Domi-
mic, take a deep breath and In you
20. It's we'll worth the risk"
He squared his shoulders again,
and strobe forward without further
parley or halt till he came to a
dingy door bedizened with an un-
clean brass plate bearing the sim
pie statement,
d. ARENDSEN, Inc.
Wholesale Hardware.
and, pushing 1t open, passed
through. in impetuous haste to
ommit himself to the course he de-
sired to follow. AS 1t closed behind
him a noiseless catch dropped down
from the beam above it. holding 1t
fast against further ingress or
egress. And Dominic Seager did
not know that he was already a
prisoner.
There was nothing at all alarm
ing about the scene inside. A shah
by Office interior, much divided by
dirty partitions. dimly lighted by
two dull gas Jets and dusty win
dow. was all Of d. Arendsens es-
tablishment that was visible unit!
small shutter In one Of the near
divisions slipped up and an ink
besmudged face peered blinkingly
out at him.
He bent toward that, and made
known his wishes in an abrupt and
masterful tone.
Tell Arendsen I must see him
at once, about matter Of urgent
Importance" he ordered, and raised
himself as though that were suffi-
cient. But the owlish eyes scrutin-
izing him from the loophole were
not withdrawn.
Mister Arendsen's out-of town. "
responded the youth to whom they
belonged, laying emphasis on the
prefix of courtesy.
"Yeh en- see Mister Braus--or tn
manager--Or--"
81 know, know" the visitor pro-
tested impatiently. you take my
message up to the whole bunch,
see? Tell him I want to see him
about the consignment OF coffin
nails which went wrong on the way
to st. Thomas two years ago. And
bring me an answer quick, dye
heart"
"I'll tell Mister Braus that" the
sentry promised, and the shutter
dropped ere he shuffed away, leav-
ing Dominic Seager prey to emo
lions so mixed that he did not OBJ
serve the single eye which was
staring at him in pronounced as
constituent from another small
peephole opposite.
He heard the boy walk upstairs
and, presently, down again. He was
suddenly smitten with q wild i'm
pulse to make bolt from the
place, but, ere he could find out
that fight was not feasible, saw
the boy reckoning hi mtoward q
low door in the distance. and