The San Francisco call., 1910-03-13
. @ l. F

me aside one day and showed me how could make
lot of money | held at first but alter quarrei
with my father accepted. was Wild to nave inc
means to do as liked be quit OF one and another
that had always held whip over me- had tne
combination to Benham's safe and the man knew H.
WAS that your soft spoken friend VINO was 30
anxious to have you keep cools
Eyes. He's of hanger on and conhdenual
functionary for some big people The hight against
Benham goes pretty far up, guess but never heard
who was back of it. They learned in some way tnat
Benham was keeping lot of his personal securities
here. Benham didn't any risk IN that, Dut II "dS
good enough for them.
This morning it was found that teller had
cleared out with 100000 worth of negotiable bonds
from, the Matrix national They had charges =
irreguarity ready and there run on the oank.
Before Benham could get away to grab his securities
they had him under arrest. Then three the agent
and bruiser and l. were down. Ii it had gone
as planned Benham's messenger would have taken
package out of the safe all right. 1t wouldn't have
held Benhams personal securities, but it would have
held some of the stolen bonds and the messenger
would have been arrested just he delivered the
package Benham. with evidence of participation
in the teller's theft
Carter whistled. Truly nice story, he said
Then he checked further question and listened,
rigidly Something had rasped the steps to the
veranda outside the library door. He caught up the
revolver and the poker
Ralph he whispered, "if you know what's
healthy for you you'll sit right where you and
say nothing"
GUN FIGHT AT THE DOOR
The shock of a heavy body hurled against the door
punctuated his warning. The barricading table gave
a foot and through the opening came the flash and
stunning report of revolver fired random. Carter
that Ralph had been hit for he lay the stairs
directly in line, jumped back behind the scanty pro-
lection of the oak newell post and fired three shots in
rapid succession through the doorway. He was pre-
pared for rush. but it did not He stood ready
alert. There sound from the veranda The
drifting smoke left the opening clear and he could
make out nothing but the moonlit lawn beyond
At that instant he conscious of a cool draft
OF air. He wheeled quickly, but heard nothing. A
vague of uneasiness oppressed him. He did not
understand this suddenly abandoned assault He re-
treated through the library, stepping with At
the doorway into the entrance hall he-dropped to
hands and knees He moved cautiously about the
side wall, feeling and avoiding the furniture. Reach
ing the broad fireplace he crept into it.
Something abroad in the house, something
that crawed with infinite deiberaton upon the pol
ished floors. He could hear the brush of a body
somewhere him. The soft, stealthy advance was
from the direction of the dining beyond but he
could not place more exactly At times it seemed
to be close to him He began dislike his adventure
exceedingly Open fight in hot blood he knew and
could welcome, but to crouch and await the approach
of an unknown, ungauged danger, that seemed to
threaten each instant from the darkness-that was a
thing to sap mans will He grew weak and fearful
After time the sounds ceased He strained his ears
to catch it again.
Then his hand resting on the bar of an andiron,
twisted sharply in his grasp under misplaced weight
the brass gathering against the hearth The next
second huge flying mass fell upon him and he spun
out into the hall, cawing and struggling with an
assaant whose strength he knew the first clasp
FIR greater than his own.
He fought hard, ovekborne and pitched head
long. underneath monstrous thumb closed about
his throat and flashing shock ached through him
With the dim eyes of fading consciousness he saw
the room leap into light for second. A gigantic
figure clutching him. Above oomed the figure
OF Ralph Milton, holding haring match in one hand
and the heavy poker uplifted in the other. Then he
passed into oblivion.
AFTER THE BATTLE
When he came back to consciousness it was bright
daylight and his body thing of pain in every
joint. He was lying divan, with bandaged head
Ralph sat by him, smiling in friendly manner In the
front door, which wide open, stood Scholl shad-
ing his eyes down the drive. A whrr of wheels and
shout from outside and moment later Ben
ham strobe in He began to question the obsequous
Scho but stopped in arhazement catching sight of
the Virginian and his erstwhile secretary
We'll, old man." said Carter, struggling up and
laughing the situation cleared before him. Il guess
you'll find your securities safe, after ALL"
Good heavens, isn't this Carteret?" stammered
Benham bewildered.
"The same" said Carter '"but more heroicaIlv
known as simple member of the garrison Ralph
Milton here, whom commend to your attention, was
the other.."
Rapidly he explained what had occurred, offering
an amended version that left few loose threads.
"But Ralph" exclaimed Benham; what's he doing
here?"
"Oh, Ralphs old friend of mine," said Carter
easily He knew was staying in the town. He got
wind of the plan to scoop your safe and arrived Just
in time to pick me up. We came here together and