The Huttig news., 1910-08-13
CHAPTER xxx.
Finer Details.

Finer Details.
 At ten, minutes before two the fol lowing day. Monday, 1 arrived at my office. 1 had spent the morning put ing my affairs in shape, and in trip to the stable. The afternoon would see me either a free man or a pris- oner for an indefinite length of time, and, in spite of Johnson's promise to produce Sullivan. was more prepared for the latter than the former
 Blobs was watching for me outside the door, and it was clear that he was in state of excitement bordering on delirium. He did nothing, however, save to tip me wink that meant As man to man, I'm for you I was too much engrossed either to reprove him or to return the courtesy, but I heard him follow me down the hall to the small room where we kept outgrown law books, typewriter supplies and, in- eidentally. our wraps. l was wonder ing vaguely if 1 would ever hang my hat on it's nail again. when the door closed behind me. It shut firmly with out any particular amount of sound, and was left in the dark l groped my way to it. irritab1y, to find it locked on the outside. l shook it fran tically, and was rewarded by sibilant whisper through the keyhole.
 Keep quiet" Blobs was saying huskily. You're in deadly peril The police are waiting in your office, three of 'em. I'm goin to lock the whole bunch in and throw the key out of the window"
 Come back here you imp of sa- tani" l called furiously. but | could hear him speeding down the corridor, and the slam of the outer office door by which he always announced his presence. And so l stood there in the ridiculous cupboard, hot with the heat of steaming September day, musty with the smell of old leather bindings. Uttered with broken ovefshos and handleless umbrellas. I was apoplec- tic with rage one minute, and choked with laughter the next It seemed an hour before Blobs came back
 He came without haste, strutting with new dignity, and passed outside my prison door
 Well. guess that will hold them for while.' he remarked comfort ably, and proceeded to turn the key. I've got 'em fastened up like ssrdines in can!s he explained working with the lock Gee whizi you'd ought to hear 'eml" When he got his breath after the shaking gave him. he be- gan to sputter. How'd l know2" he demanded sulkily. You nearly broke your neck gettin away the other time. And I haven't got the old key It's lost'
 Where's it lost2" I demanded, with another gesture toward his coat col
 Down the elevator shaft" There was a gleam of indignant satisfaction through his tears of rage and humiIia- tion.
 And so, while he hunted the key in 1 the debris at the bottom of the shaft, i I quieted his prisoners with the as surance that the lock had slipped. and that they would be free as lords as soon as we could find the janitor with T pass key. Stuart went down finally and discovered Blobs, with the key in his pocket, telling the engineer how he had tried to save me from arrest was almost cheerful, but Blobs did not appear again that day.
 Simultaneous with the finding of the key came Hotchkiss, and we went in together I shook hands with two men who with Hotchkiss. made not very animated group. The taller one, an oldsh man, lean and hard an nounced his errand at once.
 "A Pittsburg warrant?' I inquired, unlocking my cigar drawer.
 ''Yes. Allegheny county has as sumed jurisdiction, the exact locality where the crime was committed being in doubt" He seemed to be the spokesman. The other, ssortor and rotune, kept aa amiahle silence We hope you will see the wisdom of waiv- isg extradition," he went on. s"It will save time"
 '1'n come. of course" I agreed. The sooner the bet;cs. But l want you to give me an hour here. gentle | men. IHlnk We Cdn tHleItSI 5ou. Have a cigar?"
 The lean man took a cigar; the TO tund man took three, putting two in his pocket
 "IIow about the catch Of that door ?'' he inquired joyially. Any danger of it going off again?@ Really, consider ing the circumstances, they were re markedly cheerful. Hotchkiss. how ever was not He paced the loor un- easily, his hands under his tails. The arrival of Mcknight created di- version; he carried long package and a eorkscrew, and shook hands with the police and opened the bottle | with single gesture.
 q always want something to cheer on these occasions" he said Where's s the water. BlaEe'ey? Everybody eady?e Then in French he toasted the two detectives.
 gro your eternal discontinue. he l ,,~ ;,,,t-lv Nav