The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-02-27

Francisco; read that note"
Winter read the note, written on
Palace hotel note-paper, in q sharp,
scrawling, Italian hand. The contents
were sufficiently startling.
"Dear friend Hoping this find you
well. Why do you disregard q 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 laff. God
knows we got have that twenty-five
thousan dol. Yes. And now because
Of such great expence it 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,.
100000 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,
7''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 mill
lions; even without the cipher, If 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. I told you he was slick. And
unstable. What do you anticipate he
will do? Straight, with no chaser, a.
you say"
well, straight with no chaser, I
should say bomb was the meanest
trick in sight, 80, naturally, he will
choose bomb" -
II agree with you. You say the
house is patroled?"
= 1.-THE whole place, But we'll put
on bigger force; III 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 big chance
for loot. Mrs. Millcent Winter tells
me that your aunt has valuable jewels.
with her. If she, told me, she may
have told other people, and Atkins
may know. He will use other people,
but he will come. too in9my opinion"
+s"1 see, said the c6lonel; Ito make
sure they don't foozle the bomb. But
he'll have his alibi ready all right.
Mr.. Keatchem, did they send you q
previous letter." .4.
"Oh, dear no; that's only part of the
game; makes a better story. So is
using the hotel paper; II it throws
suspicion on anybody it would be your
party; you see Atkins knew Mercer
had Z grudge against me as we'll as
him. He was counting on that.
rather wonder that he didn't fix up
some proof for you toefind." ..:
"By Jove!" cried thsrcolonel; may.
be he did"
"And you didn't find IT,"
'Well, you see was too busy with
you; the others must have overlooked
1t. Hard on Atkins after he took so
much trouble, wasn't IT."
II told you he was too subtle But
It, is not wise to underrate him, or
bombs either; we must get the women
and those boys out Of the house.
But how? You are not really &C.
quainted with my aunt, Mrs. Rebecca
Winter, take It,"
you think she wouldn't 60 II there
was any chance OF danger?"'
You couldn't fire her unless out of
q cannon; hut she would help get
Archie away; Mrs. Melville and Miss
Smith"
"well-ur-Miss Smith, am afraid,
will not be easy to manage; you see,
she knows"
knows? Did you tell herr" asked
Col. Winter anxiously.
well, not exactly. AS the children
SAY, It told itself. There has been .
kind Of an attempt. already. A box
came, marked from q man know in
New York. properly labeled with sx-
press company's labels. Miss Smith
opened it; I could see her, because
she was in the bathroom with the
door open. There was another box
inside. wrapped in white tissue paper.
Very neatly. She examined that box.
with singular care and then she rev
some water in the layatory basin, half
opened the box and put the whole
thing under water in the basin. Then
! thought It was time for me and /
asked her II 1t wasa bomb. Do you
know that girl had sense enough not
to try to deceive me? She saw that
had saen every move Rl1e had made.