The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-06-02
ANGEL ESQUIRE
BY EDGAR WALLACE

4 When did this happen?"
IAN hour or so ago." said Jimmy.
Speeding is most active man."
Angel whistled.
"Conventionally? he asked.
"Artistically" responded Jimmy,
nodding his bandaged head. "A run
away motor car that followed my cab
beautifully done. The cab horse was
killed and the driver has a concussion,
but / saw the wheeZe and jumped"
Got the chauffeur" asked Angel
anxiously.
Yes; it was in the city. You know
the citv police? Well, they had him
in three seconds. He tried to bolt, but
that's fools game in the city"
WAS 1t Speddings chauffeur"
Jimmy smiled pityingly.
"Of course not. That's where the art
of the thing comes i'm
Angel looked grave for minute.
| Il think we ought to pull our
friend" he said.
Meaning Spedding?"
| Yes"
IT don't agree with YOU" said Jim
my. 1T would be ever so much bet
ter to finish up the Reale business
| first"
Great minds" murmured Angel, re-
membering his chiefs advice II sup
pose Mr.. SPEEDING will lay for me to-
night"
you can bet your life on that"
said Jimmy cheerfully.
AS he was speaking, servant came
into the room with letter. When the
man had gone Angel opened and read
1T. His grin grew broader as he pc
rused 1t.
Listen" he said. 'It's from Miss
Kent" Jimmy was all attention.
Dear Mr.. Angel: SPEEDING has
trapped me again. Whilst was shop
ping this afternoon, two men came up
to me and asked me to accompany them.
They said they were police officers, and
wanted me in connection with last
nights affair. was so worried that
went with them. They took me to
strange house in Kensington. For
heavens sake, come to mel"
Jimmy's face was so white that Angel
thought he would faint.
"The hounds" he cried. angel we
must"
You must sit down." said Angel, "or
you'll be having a fit." He examined
the letter again. Its beautifully
done," he said. "Scrawled on torn
Diapers bill In pencil. it might very
easily be her writing"
He put the missive carefully in a
drawer of his desk and locked it.
Unfortunately for the success of
that scheme, Mr.. SPEEDING, 1 have four
men watching Miss Kent's house day
and night, and being in telephone COM
munication, / happen to know that that
young lady has not left her house all
day"
He looked at Jimmy, white and shak-
ing.
Buck up. Jimmy" he said kindly.
Your bang on the head has upset you
more than you think
but the letter." asked Jimmy.
"A little fake" said Angel airily.
Mr.. Spedding's little ballon d. essai, SO
foolishly simple that think SPEEDING
must be losing his nerve and balance.
Id like to bet that this house is be-
ing watched to see the effect of the
note" (Angel would have won his bet).
Now the only question is, what little
program have they arranged for me
this EVENING""
Jimmy was thoughtful.
II don't know" he said slowly. "but
l should think 1t would be wiser for
you to keep indoors. You might make
me up bed In your sitting room, and
it."
And whistle to keep my courage
up?" sneered Angel, 'I'll make you up
bed with all the pleasure in life;
but I'm going out, Jimmy, and I'll take
you with me. IL you'll agree to come
along and find man who will replace
that conspicuous bandage by something
less blood curdling."
They found man in Devonshire
Place who was mutual friend of both.
he was specialist In unpronounceable
diseases, a knight commander Of st.
Michael and st. George, fellow of
the two colleges. and the author Of
half dozen works of medical science.
Angel addressed him as Bill"
The great surgeon deftly dressed the
damaged head Of Jimmy, and wisely
asked no questions. He knew them
both. and had been at Oxford with
one, and he permitted himself to in
dulge IN caustic comments on their
mode of life and the possibilities of
their end.
If you didn't jaw so much" said
Angel, I'D employ you regularly; as
1t is, am very doubtful IL shall ever
bring you another case"
For which," said Sir William Far
ran, as he clipped the loose ends of the
dressing. Il am greatly obliged to YOU,
Angel Esquire. You are the sort Of pa
tient ! like to see about once a year
just about Christmas time when / am
surfeited with charity toward mankind.
when need a healthy moral corrective
to tone down the bright picture to its
normal grayness-that's the time you're
welcome, Angel"
''Fine!" said Angel ecstatically. 'Td
like to see that sentence in book, with
Illustrations"
The surgeon smiled good humoredly.
He put final touch to the dressing.
There you are" he said.
THANK you, Bill" said Jimmy.
You're getting fat"
Thank you for nothing" said the
surgeon Indignantly.
Angel struck more serious tone
when he asked the surgeon in an un-
dertone, just as they were taking their
departure
Where will you be tonight?"
The surgeon consulted a little en-
gagement book.
II am dining at the Ritz with some
people at 8. We are going on to the
Gaiety afterwards, and shall be home
by II. Why?"
There's gentleman" said Angel
confidentially, who will make a valiant
attempt to Kill one of us, or both Of us
tonight. and lac might just fail; so 1t
would be as well to know where you
are, II you are wanted. Mind YOU" add
ed Angel with grin, you might be
wanted for him."
You're queer bird" said the sur
geon, and Jimmy's a queerer one Well,
or you go, you two fellows; you'll be
getting my house bad name"
Outside In the street the two ingrates
continued their discussion on the cor
pulency that attends success in life.
They walked leisurely to Piccadilly
and turned towards the circus. 1t is in
apparent reason they struck off into
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