The Montgomery tribune., 1910-11-18

canter out of the sldeboard He
poured out the liquor into glass,
left the decanter there, and took the
whisky into the library across the hall.
Then--he broke into desk, using a
paper knife for jimmy"
Good Lord, Hotchkiss," l exclaim-
ed; why, 1t may have been Sullivan
himself! Confound your theories
he's getting farther away every min
ute."
ut was Sullivan" Hotchkiss re-
turned imperturbably And he has
not gone. His boots are by the H.
brary fire."
"He probably had dozen pairs
where he could get them," / scoffed
"And while you and sat and slept
the very man we want to get our
hands on leered at us over that rail-
ing"
Softly, softly, my friend" Hotch-
kiss said, as / stamped into my other
shoe. "I did not say he was gone.
Don't jump at conclusions. It Is fatal
to reasoning. AS a matter of fact, he
! didn't relish night on the mountains
any more than we did. After he had
| unintentionally frightened you almost
| into paralysis, what would my gentle
| man naturally do? Go out in the
storm again? Not If know the Alice
sit-by-the-flre 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. / am aware
that the traditional hero is always
armed, and that Hotchkiss as the low
comedian should have had revolver
| that missed fire. AS fact, we had
nothing of the sort Hotchkiss. car
ried the fire tongs, but my sense of
humor was too strong for me; de-
clined the poker.
"All we want is little peaceable
conversation with him." l demurred.
I'VE can't brain him first and con-
verse with him afterward. And any
how, while I can't put my finger on
the place, think your theory is weak.
If he wouldn't run 100 miles through
fire and water to get away from US,
then he is not the man we want"
Hotchkiss, however, was certain. He
had found the room and listened out
side the door to the sleeper's heavy
breathing, and so we climbed past lux
urious suites, revealed in the deepen
ing 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 we'll above the roof level.
Hotchkiss was glowing.
1T is partly good luck, but not all"
he painted in whisper. "If we had
persisted in the search last night, he
!, would have taken alarm and fed
! Now-we have him. Are you ready?"
He gave a mighty rap at the door
with the fire tongs, and stood ex-
pectant Certainly he was right; some
one moved within.
Hello! Hello there!" Hotchkiss
bawled. You might as we'll come out.
We won't hurt you, if you'll come
peaceably."
Tell him we represent the law" I
prompted. "That's the customary
thing, you know"
But at that moment bullet came
, squarely through the door and fiat
! tened itself with a sharp psf against
+ the wall of the tower staircase. We
!. ducked unanimously, dropped back out
I of range, and Hotchkiss retaliated with
? a spirited bang bang at the door with
' the tongs This brought another bull
let. 1t was ridiculous situation. I'm
q der the circumstances, no doubt, we
4 should have retired, at least until we
had armed ourselves, but Hotchkiss
I had no end of fighting spirit, and as
q for me, my blood was up.
q Break the lock-" I suggested, and
Hotchkiss, standing at the side, out OF
! range, retaliated for every bullet by a
smashing blow with the tongs. The
= shots ceased after half dozen, and
the door was giving, slowly. One ol
us on each side of the door, we were
ready for almost any kind of desper
ate resistance. AS it swung opeI
Hotchkiss poised the tongs; stood
q bent forward. my arm drawn back fol
a blow.
. Nothing happened.
There was not sound. Finally, al
:. the risk of losing an eye which I just
- ly value, peered around and into the
:. room. There was no desperate there
~ Only a fresh-faced, trembling-lippci
- servant, sitting on the edge Of hel
- bed, with a quilt around her shoulder
- and the empty revolver at her feet.
% We were victorious, but conquered
- army never beat such retreat as our
- down the tower stairs and into thu
% refuge of the living room. Taere
> with the door closed. sprawled on thu
p divan. went from one spasm OF mirtl
into another, becoming sane atAinter
walls, and suffering relapse again ever,
time I saw Hotchkiss' disgruntle'
:, countenance. He was pacing the room
4 the torlos still In his hand his mQut]