The Huttig news., 1910-07-09

on my distorted boots.
 T think we have him." he said tri- umphantly. I've been looking around some, and l 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. lie 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 a de canter out of the sideboard. He poured out the liquor into a 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 a jimmy" Good Lord, Hotchkiss," I exclaim- ed; why, it may have been Sullivan himself! Confound your theories- he's getting farther away every min ute"
 Tt was Sullivan" Hotehkiss re- turned imperturbably And he has not gone. His boots are by the li- brary fire
 He probably had a dozen pairs where he could get them," I scoffed. And while you and 1 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 l stamped into my other shoe T did not say he was gone. Don't jump at conclusions It is fatal to reasoning. AS matter of fact, he didn't relish a 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-fire 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. I 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 HUchkiss car ried the fire .ongs, but my sense Of humor was too strong for me; 1 de- clined the poker.
 All we want is little peaceable conversation with him. I demurred We cant brain him first and con verse with him afterward And any how, while I can't put my finger on I ipL fc If he wouldn't run 100 miles through fire and water to get away from us, then he is not the man we want
 Hotehkiss, however. was certain He had found the rooM and listened out side the door to the s6eper'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. It was tower room, reached by narrow stairs, and we'll above the roof level. Hotchkiss was glowing.
 Tt is partly good luck, but not all, 2 he panted in whisper. 'If we had persisted in the search last night, he
 
 Now-w,e have him. Are yosI ready?'
 He gave mighty rap at the door with the fire tongs. and stood ex- pectant. Certainly he was right some one moved within.
 "Helloi Hello thep," Hotchkiss bawled. You might as well come out. We won't hurt you, if you'll come peaceably''
 Tell him we represent the law" prompted. That's the customary thing, you know
 But at that nouent a bullet came squarely through the door and fiat tened itself with, a sharp pst against the wall of the tower staircase We tucked unanimously, dropped back out of range, and Hotchkiss retaliated with spirited bang bang at the door with the tongs This brought another bull let It was a ridiculous situation. Un- der the circumstances. no doubt, we should have retired, at Yeast until we had armed ourselves, bat Hotchkiss had no end of fighting snirit. and as for me, my blood was ,p.
 bredk the LOCK, l SHgEeBteQ, ana Hotchkiss. standing at the side, out of range. retaliated for evexy bullet by a smashing blow with the, tangs The shots ceased after haH dozen, and the door was giving. slowly. One of us on each side of the door, we were ready for almost any kind of desper- ate resistance. As 1t : swung open Hotchkiss poised the fongs; I stood, bent forward. my arm drawn back for blow.
 Nothing happened,
 There was not a sound. Finally, at 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, Ire mbling tipped servant, sitting OF the edge of her bed. with a quilt around kers shoulders and the empty revolver at her feet.
 We were victorious, but conquered army never beat such a retreat as ours down the tower stairs and into the refuge of the living room There, with the door closed, sprawled on the diyan, l went from one spasm of mirth