The Jackson herald., 1910-11-17

IHdt.
"I-really, Mr.. Blakeley. the events
of the day we're so engrossing-"
We'll" 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, I
found two unattractlve looking cold
chops, some dry bread and 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 q few min.
| utes," he said, with 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 ! had hard work keeping
close. It was relief when he Jumped
on a passing car. although being we'll
behind. IL 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. I suppose he was
passing the time, for he looked at
his watch now and then and when
did once get look at his face II made
me-er-uncomfortab He could
have crushed me like a fyl sir"
had brought MIR. Hotchkiss a glass
of wine and he was looking better
He stopped TO finish II, declining with
wave of his hand to have 1t 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 square or two, and rang a bell.
He had been admitted when got
there. but guessed from the appear.
ance Of the place that It was a board.
ing house.
@I waited few minutes and rang
the bell. When n maid answered It,
asked for Mr.. Sullivan. or course
there was no Mr.. Sullivan there.
81 said I was sorry; that the man
was looking for was a 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 a cousin by that
name I said. I'll go up and see.'
"She wanted to show me up, but
said IL was unnecessary. So after tell
ing me II was the bedroom and sitting.
room on the third floor front, 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 to
leave" put in, to his evident irrita-
tion.
When got to the third story I
took out 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 jerked
the door open. II he had stepped into
the hall he would have seen me fitting
a key into the door before me. But
he spoke before he came out.
"'Nou're acting like maniac lie
said. You know can get those
things some way; I'm not going TO
threaten you. II isn't necessary. You
know me-
"'It would be no use the other man
said. I 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: II you're holding out
expecting me to raise my figure you're
making a mistake. It's my last offer
81 couldn't take il If it was for a
Million said the man inside the room.
I'd do 1t, I expect. If | could. The
best of us have our price
Bronson slammed tSe door then
and flung past me down the hall.
after q couple of minutes
knocked at the door and a tall man
about your size, Mr.. Blakeley, opened
II. He was very blond, with a smooth
face and blue eycs-what ! think you
| would call handsome man
"I beg your pardon for disturbing
you 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
Il thanked him and left, but ! had
had a good look at him and | think
I'd know him readily any place"
lTO BE CONTINUED