Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-05
CHAPTER XXIV-Continued.

Il think we have him." he said. tri-
umphantly. I've been looking around
some and I can tell you this much. just
before we came in through the window
last night another man came. Only-he
did not drop, as you did. He swung
over to the stair railing and then down
The rail is scratched. He was long
enough ahead of us to go into the dining
room and get decanter out of the side
board. He poured out the liquor into a
glass, left the decanter there and took
tie whisky into the library across the
hall. Then-he broke into desk. using
a paper knife for jimmy
Good Lord, Hotchkiss," | exclaimed,
why. it may have been Sullivan him.
self! Confound your theores-hes get
ting farther away every minute.
1T was Sullivan Hotchkiss returned,
imperturbably. And he has not gone.
His boots are by the library fire..
He probably had dozen pairs where
you and 1 sat and slept. the very man we
want to get our hands on leered at us
over that railing"
SOFTLY. softly. my friend Hotchkiss
said. as I stamped into my other shoe.
Il did not say he was gone. Don't jump
at conclusions. 1t is fatal to reasoning.
AS a matter of face. he didn't relish a
night on the mountains any more than
we did. After he had Internationally
frightened you almost into paralysis.
what would my gentleman naturally do?
Go out In the storm again? Not If l
know the Alice-sit-by-the-fir type. He
went upstairs, well up near the roof,
locked himself in and went to bed
And he is there nOw?'
He is there now
We had no weapons. l am aware that
the traditional hero is always armed.
and that Hotchkiss as the low comedian
should have had a revolver that missed
fire. AS fact. we had nothing OF the
sort. Hotchkiss carried the fire tongs.
but my sense OF humor was too strong
for me: / declined the poker.
"All we want Is little peaceable con-
versation with him." ! demurred. I'VE
can't brain him first and converse with
him afterward. And anyhow, while
can't put my finger on the place. I think
your theory is weak. If he wouldn't run
hundred miles through fire and water
to get away from us. then he is not the
man We want"
HotchkisS, however, was certain. lie
had found the room and listened outside
the door to the sleeper's heavy, breathing,
and so we climbed past luxurious suites.
revealed in the deepening daylight, past
long vistas of hall and boudoir. And we
were both badly winded when we got
there. 1t was tower room, reached by
narrow stairs and well above the roof
level. HOtchkiss was glowing.
1t is partly good luck. but not all" he
painted In Il whisper. IF we had per-
sisted in the search last night he would
have taken alarm and fled. Now-we
nave him. Are YOU ready!
He gave mighty rap at the door with
| the fire tongs and stood expectant. Ger
tainly he was right some one moved
within
Hello. Hello there" Hotchkiss bawled.
You might as well come out. We won't
hurt You if youIl come peaceably.'
Tell him we represent the law" l
prompted. That's the customary thing,
you know
But ut that moment bullet came
squarely through the door and fiattened
itself with Il sharp psf against the wall
of the tower staircase. We ducked unani-
mously, dropped back out of range. and
Hotchkiss retaliated with IL spirited bang
at the door with the tones. This brought
another bullet. 1t was ridiculous situa-
ton. Under the circumstances. no doubt,
we should have retired, at least until We
had armed ourselves. but Hotchkiss had