The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04

~No SDoAAAS
We'll" l 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 n empty dishes. Downstairs.
in the basement kitchen, however, |
found two u~nattractive looking cold
chops, some dry bread and a piece of
cake wrapped in a napkin, and from
IT'S surreptitious and generally hang
dog appearance destined for the coach.
man in the stable at the rear. TRAYS
mere were none-everything but the
chairs and tables seemed under lock
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.
Il had been there only a few min
utes," he said, with a 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 l had hard work keeping
close. 1t was a relief when he jumped
on a passing car, although being we'll
behind, it 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. | suppose he was
passing the time, for he looked at
his watch now and then and when l
did once get a look at his face it made
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. He could
have crushed me like a fly, sir"
| had brought Mr.. Hotchkiss a glass
of wine and he was looking better.
He stopped to finish it, declining with
a wave of his hand to have it reflled.
and continued:
About nine o'clock or a little later
be got off somewhere near Washing
ton circle. He went along one of the
residence streets there, turned to his
left a 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.
II waited a few minutes and rang
the bell. When a maid answered it.
| asked for Mr.. Sullivan. Of course
there was no Mr.. Sullivan there.
81 said I was sorry: that the man I
was looking for was a new boarder.
She was sure there was no such
hoarder in the house; the only new ar
rival was a mar on the third floor
she thought his name was Stuart.
MY friend has a cousin by that
name | said. III go up and see
She wanted to show me up. but !
said it was unnecessary. So after tel
ing me ii was the bedroom and sittinc.
room on the third floor front, I 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-
ton.
When ] got 70 the third story |
took out a bunch of keys and posted
myself by a door near the ones the
girl bad indicated. | could hear voices
in one of the front rooms. but could
not understand what they said.
There was nc violent dispute, but
a steady hum. Then Bronson jerked
the door open. If he had stepped into
the hall he would have seer me fitting
a key into the door before me. But
he spoke before he came out.
You're acting like a maniac he
said. You know ] can get those
things some way; I'm not going to
threaten you. 1t isn't necessary. You
know me-
"It would be no use the other man
said. I tell you | haven't seer the
notes for ten days
But you WILL Bronson said, saw
agely. You're standing in your own
way. that's all. If 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 IL ii was for a
million said the man inside the room.
I'd do 1T, | expect. If | could. The
best of us have u price
Bronson slammed the door then
and flung past me down the hall.
After a couple of minutes L
knocked at the door and a tall man
about your size. Mr.. Blakeley, opened
it. He was very blond, with a smooth
face and blue eyes-what ! think you
would call a handsome man.
81 beg your pardon for disturbing
you. | said. Car 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 I think
I'd know him readily any place"
(TO De cONTINUED)