The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-05-05

the guard had been relieved
No, sir" said the man, and the clus-
ter Of uniformed men at the door OF the
inner hal confirmed this.
II sent orders this afternoon" said
SPEEDING between his teeth.
N orders have been received. sir"
and the lawyer saw the scrutinizing
eye OF the soldierly sentry pass e
his c~onfederates.
rs this the relief?" asked the guard.
not attempting to conceal the contempt
in his tone.
Yes" said the lawyer.
AS the sentry saluted and disap-
peared into the hall SPEEDING drew
Conner aside.
: This is ruin" he said quickly. THE
safe must be cleared tonight. Tomor-
row London will not hold me-"
The sentry r%eappeared at the door
way and beckoned them in They
shuffled into the great hall, where in
the half darkness the safe doomed up
from its rocky pedestal, an eerie, mys-
ferrous thing. He saw Bat Sands
glancing uncomfortably around the dim
spaces Of the building, and felt the inn
preston of the loneliness.
A man who wore the stripes of a SER
geant came up.
Are we to withdraw, sir? he asked.
Yes said SPEEDING shortly.
will you give VI a written order?"
asked the man.
SPEEDING hesitated, then drew put q
pocket book and wrote a few hasty
words on a sheet, tore it out and hand
ed it to the man.
The sergeant looked at it carefully.
You haven't signed it or dated it
either" he said respectfully, and hand
ed 1t back.
SPEEDING cursed him under his breath
and rectified the omissions.
Now Won NAV pOo
In the half-light. for only one soli-
tary electrolier Illuminated the vast
hall, he thought the mar was smiling.
1t might have been a trick Of the shad-
ows, for he could not see his face.
And am l to leave you alone?" said
the sv sergeant.
rs it safe?" the non-commissioned
officer asked quietly.
Curse you, what do you mean? '
cried the lawyer.
Well" said the other easily, 4 see
thief n blackmailer."
The lawyer was dumb.
And Bat Sands. How dye do, Bat?
How did they treat you in Borstal, or
was 1t ~Parkhurst?' drawled the ser
geant. And there's the gentle Lamby
coat too large for him. That's not the
uniform you're used to wearing. Lam
by. eh?"
From the group OF men at the door
came a genuinely amused laugh.
Guard the outer door, one Of you
again to Spedding's men, Here we
have our respected friend Curt Goyle."
He stopped n picked up a bag that
Bat had placed gingerly on the floor.
What a bag of tricks" the sergeant
cooed, diamond bits and dynamite
/. 10 vt rid roo ~ v,1,,<pr <lS~ Vl&A1~ AIf--
Bat-an ark? 1t is. BY Jove, 1 con
graduate you on the swag."
SPEEDING had recovered his nerve
and STROBE forward. He was playing
for the greatest stake in the world.
You shall be punished for this inso-
lence," he stormed.
Not at ALL" said the im~perturbable
sergeant.
Somebody at the door spoke.
Here's another one, sergeant" and
pushed a queer old figure into the hall,
a figure that blinked and peered from
face to face.
He espied SPEEDING, and ran up to
him almost fawning.
The Safe Deposit-in Lombard
Street." he cackled %joyously. you see,
I remembered. dear friend: and I've
come to tel! you about the book-my
book, you know. Ny munifcent patron
who desired a puzzle word
The sergeant started forward.
My God!" he cried, the professor"
Yes, yes chuckled the old man,
that's what he called me. He bought
a copy Of my book-two sovereigns,
four sovereigns he gave me. The book
what was 1T called?'
The old man paused and clasped both
hands to his head.
IA Study-a Study he said pain
fully, ION the Origin of-the Alphabet,
All"
a,otho,
come forward as the old man began
speae.ing, and to him the sergeant
turned.
Make a note Of that, Jimmy" the
sergeant said.
SPEEDING reeled back as though he
had been struck.
Angel" he gasped.
That's me-" was the ungrammatical
reply. '
Crushed. cowed, beaten Snd power
less, SPEEDING awaited Judgment.
What form it would take he could not
guess, that 1t would effectively ruin
him he did not doubt. The trusted law
yer stood self-condemned; there was no
explaining away his companions, there
could be no m%istaking the meaning Of
their presence.
Send your men away said Angel.
A wild hope seized the lawyer. The
men were not to be arrested, there was
a chance for him.
The Borough Lot needed no second
ordering; they trooped through the
doorway, anxious to reach the open air
before Angel changed his mind.
You may 60" said Angel to Conner.
who still fingered.
IF the safe is to be opened, I'm in
it," was the sullen reply.
CONTINUED Next Week.
-~--
In the Solitude of the City.
Might. and tho So,,p1 oF 1,o;,a. L., a..