The Columbus journal., 1910-11-23

pIOudUIy uou q oO[Su PsAsAs
where he could get them" I scoded.
And while you and l 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 Il did not say he was gone.
Don't jump at conclusions. 1t is fatal
to reasoning. As a 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 IL know the Alice
sit-by-the-fire type. He went upstairs.
we'll up near the roof. locked himsel
in and went to bed.
And he is there now"
He is there now"
We had TO weapons. I 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 Ho;chkisS car
ried the fire tongs, but my sense OF
humor was too strong for me: de.
clined the poker
"All We want is a little peaceable
conversation with him." l demurred.
we can't brain him first and con-
verse with him afterward. And any
how, while ] can't put my finger on
the place. think your theory is weak.
II 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
! vinded when We got there. 1t was
a 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 a whisper. If We had
| persisted in the search last night. he
would have taken alarm and fed.
| Now-we have him. Are you ready!
lie 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 well come out
We won't hurt you. II you'll come
peaccably."
/ Tell him we represent the law"
prompted. That's the customary
thing. you know.
But at that moment a bullet came
sauarely through the door and fiat
tened itself with sharp psf against
the wall of the tower staircase. We
ducked unanimously. dropped back out
of range. and iiotchEisS retaliated with
a spirited bang bang at the door with
the tongs. This brought another bull.
let. II was a ridiculous situation. I'm
der the circumstances, no doubt. We
| should have retired. at least until we
had armed ourselves. but Hotchkiss
had no end of fighting spirit. and as
LOT DloSu "saS up
Break the lock-" | suggested. and
Ho.chkiss. standing at the side. out OF
range. retaiiated for every bullet by a
smashing blow with the tOnss. The
shots ceased after a half dozen. and
the door WAS giving. slowly. One OF
lis on each side of the door. We were
! ready for almost any kind OF dcsper'
HotchEiss roised the tongs; ! stood
bent forward, my arm drawn back for
a blow.
Nothing happened.
There was not a sound. Finally. al
the risk Of losing an eye which just.
II value. ] peered around and into the
room. There was nc desperate there:
Only a frssh-faced. trembling Tipped
servant. sitting on the edge of hel
bed. with guilt around her shoulders
and the empty revolver II her feet.
We were victorious, but conquered
army never beat such a retreat as ours
down the tower stairs aid into the
; refuge OF the living room. There
with the door closed. sprawled on the
! divan, | went from one SraSm OF mlrth
inio another. becoming sane at inter
walls, and suffering relapse again every
time saw Hotchkiss' disSruntled
c~intonance lie was pacing the room
the tonss still in his hand. his mouth
pursed with irritation. Finally he
stopped in front of HE and compelled
my attention.
When you have finished cacklinS.
he said with dignity. Il wish TO justify
n!y position. Do you think tse-er-
young woman upstairs put pair OF
number eight boots to dry in the Ii
iea-y last night? Do you think she
POURED the whisky out OF that ocean
ter"
They have been known to do II.
. nut in, but his eye silenced me.
Moreover. if she had been the FER
son who poored at you over the gal
lcry railing last night. don't you sup
pose. with Acknowledgment dis
: POSITION. she could have filed You as
full OF lead as 4 window weight?
Il DO" | assented. 1t wasn't Alice
s;t-by-thc fire. ! grant you that. Their
vino was it,"
II ITO EE CONTINUED
q s1@ geo G., SSN-A