The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-05-05
ANGEL ESQUIRE
BY EDGAR WALLACE

to the use OF the master OF the house
was plainly furnished. and on the bare
deal table Common had set his whisky
down whilst he peered through the
rain blurred windows at the streaming
streets.
England for work and Egypt for
pleasure" he muttered; land IL get
my share of the money. and 1t will be
a bigger share than my friend Sped
ding imagines. It's little this cursed
country will see Of Mr. Patrick Con-
nor"
He drained or his whisky at q gulp,
rubbed the steam from the windows.
and looked down into the deserted
street. Two men were walking toward
the house. One, well covered by a
heavy macintosh cloak, moved with q
new overcoat, shuH1ed by his side,
quickening HIS steps to keep up with
his more energetic companion.
speeding said Common, land old
George. What is he bringing him here
for?"
He hurried downstairs to let them in.
"Well?" asked Speeding, throwing
his reeking coat off.
"All's ready" answered Conner.
Why have you brought the old man?"
oh. for company" the lawyer an
II the truth be told, Speeding still
hoped that the old man would re-
member. That day old George had
been exceedingly 'garrulous, almost
lucidly SO at times Mr.. SPEEDING still
held on to the faint hope that the old
mans revelations would obviate the
necessity for employing the borough
lot" and what was more important,
for sharing the contents Of the safe
with them.
AS to this latter part Of the program,
Mr.. SPEEDING had plans which would
have astonished Common had he but
known.
But old Georges Ioquacity stopped
short at the all-important point Of
instructing the lawyer on the question
| OF the cryptogram. He had brought
him along in the hope that at the
eleventh hour the old man would re-
veal his identity.
Unconscious of the responsibility
that lay upon his foolish head, the old
man sat In the upstairs room COM
muning with himself.
I'VE win leave him here" said the
lawyer, he will be safe"
Safe enough. I know him of old.
He'll sit here for hours amusing him
self"
And now, what about the men ?"
asked the lawyer. Where do we meet
them?"
I'VE shall pick them up at the corner
OF Lombard street, and they'll follow
me to the safe deposit"
"Ah!"
They turned swiftly on old George,
who with his chin raised and with
face alert was staring at them.
Safe deposit Lombard street." he
mumbled. And most excellent plan,
too--a most excellent plan.'
The two men held their breath.
And quite an ingenious idea, sir.
Did you say Lombard street-a safe ?"
word? And how to conceal the word.
that's the question. I am man of
honor, you may trust me-" He made
sweeping bow to some invisible
presence. why not conceal your words
thus?"
Old George stabbed the palm Of his
hand with a grimy forefinger.
Why not? Have you read my
book? 1t is only a little book, but
drawings and the signs are most &C.
curate. An eminent gentleman at the,
British museum assisted me I'm its
preparation. 1t Is called-it is called
@" He passed his hand YEARLY over
his head, and slid down into his chair
foolishly.
Speeding wiped the perspiration
| from his forehead
Nearly, nearly!" he said huskily.
"By heavens! he nearly told u.s."
Conner looked at him with suspicion.
Whats all this about the book? ?" he
demanded. This is the second time
old George has spoken like this. It's
to do with old Reale. isn't it?"
SPEEDING nodded.
Come" said Conner. looking at his
watch. its time we were moving.
Well leave the old man to look after
the house. Here, George"
Old George looked up.
You'll stay here and not leave till
we return. Dye hear?"
Il hear, Mr. Conner, SIR said old
George. with his curious assumption
of dignity, land hearing, obey"
AS the two men turned into the
night the rain pelted down and gusty
northwesterly wind blew into their
| faces.
George" said Conner, answering a
question, "oh, we've had him for years.
One OF the boys found him wandering
about Limehouse with hardly any
clothes to his back. and brought him
| to us. That was before I knew the
Borough Lot but they used him as a
blind He was worth the money 1t
/
SPEEDING kept the other waiting
whilst he dispatched a long telegram
| from the Westbourne Grove postoffice.
It was addressed to the master Of the
Polecat lying at Cardiff, and was rea-
sonably unintelligible to the clerk.
They found a 'handsom at the corner
of Queens road, and drove to the bank;
here they alighted and crossed to the
Royal Exchange. Some men In uni
| form overcoats who were standing
about exchanged glances with Conner,
! and as the two leaders doubled back
to Lombard street. followed them at a
distance.
"The guard left at O'clock" said
| SPEEDING, fitting the key of the heavy
outer door. He waited few minutes
| in the inlxy black darkness Of the vesti-
bule whilst Conner admitted the six
uniformed men who had followed them
Are we all here?" said Conner in
a low voice. Bat? Here! Goyle?
Here! Lamby? Here!
| One by one he called them by their
names and they answered.
1--WE may as well have light" said
SPEEDING. and felt for the switch.
| The CLEAN of the electric lamps
showed Speeding as pure a collection
Of scoundrels as ever disgraced the