Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1910-07-14

He was somewhat embarrassed at |
that.
'I-really. Mr.. Blakeley, 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 minute"
went back to the pantry, only to
be confronted with rows of locked
doors and empty dishes. Downstairs,
in the basement kitchen, however, l
found two unattractive 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 in
appearance, but Hotchkiss ate his cold
chops and gnawed at his crusts as
though he had been famished, while
he told his story.
81 had been there only 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, Mr. Blake
ley, and l had hard work keeping
close. 1t was a relief when he jumped
on passing car although being we'll
behind, it was 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. l suppose he was
passing the time, for he looked at
his watch now and then and when I
did once get look at his face 1t made
me-er-uncomfortable. He could
have crushed me like fly, sir"
had brought Mr.. Hotchkiss a glass
of wine and he was looking better
He stopped to finish 1t, declining with
a wave of his hand to have it refilled,
and continued:
About nine o'clock or little later
he got off somewhere near Washing
ton circle. He went along one of the
residence streets there, turned to his
left square or two, and rang bell.
He had been admitted when l got
there, but guessed from the appear
ance of the place that 1t was board.
ing house.
II waited few minutes and rang
the bell. When a maid answered It.
l asked for Mr.. Sullivan OF course
there was no Mr. Sullivan there.
II said was sorry; that the man ]
was looking for was new boarder
She was 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 cousin by that
name,' / said. I'll go up and see.'
She wanted to show me up, but
said it was unnecessary. So after tell
ing me 1t was the bedroom and sitting
room on the third floor front, l went
up.
81 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 tc
leave" l put in, to his evident irrita
ton.
when / got to the third story
took out a bunch of keys and posted
myself by 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
steady hum. Then Bronson jerket
the door open. If he had stepped into
the hall he would have seen me fitting
key into the door before me- Blu
he spoke before he came out.
You're acting like a maniac hi
said. You know can get those
things some way; I'm not going t.
threaten you. 1t isn't necessary You
know me-
"It would be no use,' the other MAJ
said. 4 tell you haven't seen thu
notes for ten days
"'But you will Bronson said, say
agely You're standing in your owl
way. that's all. If you're holding on
expecting me to raise my figure you're
making a mistake. It's my last offer
al couldn't take it If it was for {
Million said the man inside the room
I'D do it, / expect, If | could. TIT
best of us have our price
Bronson slammed the door thel
and flung past me down the hall.
after a couple of minutes
knocked at the door and tall mai
about your size, Mr.. Blakeley, openet
it. He was very blond, with a smootl
face and blue eyes-what think yol
would call handsome man.
az beg your pardon for disturbing
you / said. Can you tell me whicl
is Mr.. Johnson's room? Mr.. Franci
Johnson"
al cannot say he answered, civ
lily. I've only been here few days
II thanked him and left, but ha,
had a good look at him and l thin