The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1910-11-03


that.
~"I-really, Mr.. Biakeley, the events
of the day were so engrossing-"
Well" / said. I'm not going to see
you drop on the floor from exhaus-
ton. Just wait a minute"
| went back to the pantry, only to
be confronted with rows Of locked
doors and empty dishes. Downstairs,
in the basement kitchen, however, |
found w unattractiye looking cold
chops, some dry bread and a piece of
cake, wrapped In a napkin, and from
its surreptitious and generally hang
dog appearance destined for the coach
man in the stable at the rear. Trays
there were none-everything but the
chairs and tables seemed under lock
and key and there was neither napkin,
knife nor fork to be found.
The luncheon was not attractive I'm
appearance, but Hotchkiss ate his cold
chops and gnawed at his crusts as
though he had been famished, while
he told his story.
Il had been there only a few min
utes," he said, with a chop in one
hand and the cake in the other, when
Bronson rushed out and cut across the
street. He's a tall man, Mt. Blake
ley, and | had hard work keeping
close. 1t was a relief when he jumped
on a passing car, although being well
behind, it was a hard run for me to
catch him. He had left the lady.
"Once on the car, we simply rode
from one end of the line to the other
and back again. | suppose he was
passing the time, for he looked at
his watch now and then and when l
did once get a look at his face it made
Observation-Disclosures. He could
have crushed me like a fly, sir"
| had brought MI. Hotchkiss a glass
Of wine and ne was looking better.
He stopped to finish it, declining with
a wave of his hand TO have it refilled,
and continued:
About nine o'clock or a little later
he got off somewhere near Washing
ton circle. He went along one of the
residence streets there. turned to his
left a square or two, and rang a bell.
He had been admitted when | got
there, but l guessed from the D
ance of the place that it was a board
ing house.
Il waited a few minutes and rang
the bell. When a maid answered it,
| asked for Mr.. Sullivan. OF course
there was no Mr.. Sullivan there.
Il said ] was sorry; that the man |
was looking for was a new boarder.
She "a sure there was no such
boarder in the house; the only new ar
rival was a man on the third floor
she thought his name was Stuart.
My friend has a cousin by that
name l said. IN go up and see.'
"She wanted to show me up, but l
said it was unnecessary. So after tell
ing me it was the bedroom and sitting
room on the third floor front, | went
up.
IL met a couple of men on the
stairs, but neither of them paid any
attention to me. A boarding house is
the easiest place in the world to en-
ter"
They're not always so easy to
leave" | put in. to his evident irrita-
ton.
When | got TO the third story |
took out a bunch Of keys and posted
myself by a door near the ones the
girl had indicated. | could hear voices
in one of the front rooms, but could
not understand what they said.
There was no violent dispute, but
a steady hum. Then Bronson ierked
the door open. If he had stepped into
the hall he would have seer me fitting
a key into the door before me. But
he spoke before he came out.
you're acting like a maniac he
said. You know | can get those
things some way; I'm not going to
threaten you. 1t isn't necessary. You
know me-
1T would be no use,' the other man
said. Il tell you / haven't seen the
notes for ten days
but you will Bronson said, saw.
agely. You're standing in your own
way. that's all. If you're holding out
expecting me to raise my figure you're
making a mistake. It's my last offer.
81 couldn't take it If il was for a
Million said the man inside the room
I'D do it, expect, if | could. The
best of us have our price
Bronson slammed the door Their
and flung past me down the hall.
After a couple of minutes
knocked at the door and a tall mar
about your size, Mr.. Blakeley, opened
*. He was very blond, with a smooth
face and blue eyes-what l think you
woald call a handsome man.
81 beg your pardon for disturbine
you.' l said. Can you tell me which
is Mr.. Johnson's room? Mr.. Francis
Johnson
81 cannot say he answered. civ
lily. I've only been here a few days.
II thanked him and left, but I had
had a good look at him and thinf
I'd know him readily any place"
cTO BE coNTINUED)