St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-07-13
CHAPTER XIV.
THE LAST SHIFT.

~NHE candle burned low. 1t threw
now on grimy floor and wall
shadows of two men, one seat
ed at the table, the other not
far from it. Before John Steele lay
paper and ink, procured from some
niche
where were you on the night this
woman, Amy Gerard, was found
dead?"
A momentary expression of surprise,
of alarm, crossed the bruised and bat
tered face. 1t was succeeded by an
angry suspicion that glowed from the
evil eyes You're not trying to fix
that job on
"You? No"
''Then what did you follow him here
for-to pump me? The Yankee that
got transported is"-
CAS- alive as when he stepped before
you in the ringv'
"Alive?'' The fellow stared. He
looked at Steele closer. Blame if
there isn't something about you that
puzzles me-" he said.
st represent him-the Yankee"
ii
how to use your fists, mister"
Better than this Frisco Pet did
once, eh, Tom?' The man frowned.
sBut to return to the subject in hand
That question you seemed afraid to
answer just now was superfiuous. l
know where you were the night the
woman was shot
John Steele leaned forward and said
something softly.
How'd you find that out?" asked
the man.
THE Frisco Pet knew where you
were all the time but did not speak
because he did not wish to get you
into trouble, also because he did not
know then what he long afterward
learned indirectly-that you could have
cleared him.
Indirectly? I? What do YOU
Through your once having dropped
| q few words. Wine in, wits out
The fellow edged his chair closer.
"Keep where you arer' John Steele's
hand touched the revolver now on the
table before him. Even as he did sc
the room seemed to sway, and it was
only by a strong effort of will he kept
his attention on the matter i'll hand
and fought down the dizziness. "AnC
let's get through with this. I dom
care to waste much more of my time
on you"
you're sure nothing will happen tt
me if The man watched him closer
.'This paper need never be made
public, but it might be useful in Ger
tain contingencies
"And what am l to get if 1 do wha
you
You shall have funds to take vol
out of the country; the alternative,
he bent forward, "about fifteen year
if the traps
The fellow pondered. At last h
answered. For few minutes thel
John Steele wrote, looking up between
words. His head bent now closer t
the paper. then drew back from it, a
if through a slight uncertainty of VI
sion or because of the dim light. TIL
! fellows eyes, watching him, lowered.
''You know-none better-that O
that particular night some one elst
some one besides the Frisco Pet, Ell
I tered your mothers house?"
| Oaths mingled with low filcher
slang, but the reply was forthcomin:
| Other questions. too. were answere
tentatively. sometimes at length, wit
! repulsive fullness of detail
You can state of your own know
5 edge what happened next? job
: Steele spoke sharply. The fellows re
brows suddenly lifted.
5 ''Oh. yes he replied readily.
John Steele's manner became shor
; er. His questions were put fast.
t forced quick replies. He not on
seemed striving to get through h
task as soon as possible, but always
hold the others attention, to perm
his brain no chance to wander fro
the subject to any other. Bat the fl
, low seemed now to have become
tractable as before he had been sulle