The Hattiesburg news., 1910-02-24
CHAPTER xxx.
Finer Details.

Finer Details.
At ten minutes before two the fol-
lowing day, Monday, l arrived at my
Office. l had spent the morning put
ing my affairs in shape, and in trip
to the stable. The afternoon would
see me either free man or a pris-
oner for an indefinite length Of time,
and, in spite OF Johnson's promise to
produce Sullivan, was more prepared
for the latter than the former
BlObS was watching for me outside
the door, and it was clear that he was
in state of excitement bordering on
delirium. He did nothing, however,
save to tip me a wink that meant "As
man TO man, I'm for YOU was too
much engrossed either to reprove him
or TO return the courtesy, but heard
| him follow me down the hall to the.
small room where we kept outgrown
law books, typewriter supplies and, in
cidentally, our wraps. I was wonder
ing vaguely If I would ever hang my
hat on its nail again, when the door
closed behind me. 1t shut firmly, with
out any particular amount of sound,
and / WAS left in the dark. I CROPPED
my way to it, irritably, to find it
locked on the outside. shook it fran
tically, and was rewarded by q sibilant
whisper through the keyhole.
Keep quiet" Blobs was saying
huskily. You're in deadly peril. The
police are waiting in your office, three
of 'em. I'm goin' to lock the whole
bunch in and throw the key out of the
window
"Come back here, yon imp of Sa-
tsn!" l called furiously, but l could
hear him speeding down the corridor,
and the slam of the outer Office door
by which he always announced his
lpresence. And SO stood there in the
ridiculous cupboard, hot with the heat
Iof steaming September day, musty
with the smell of old heather bindings,
Uttered with broken tovershoes and
handleless umbrellas. l was ap0plec-
tic with rage one minute, and choked
with laughter the next. It seemed an
hour before Blobs came back
4 He came without haste, strutting
with new dignity, and passed outside
u NY pTlSOn QOOI-
'"Well, l guess thai will hold them
flor a WHILE" he remarked comfort
ably. and proceeded to turn the key
'Pve got 'em fastened up like sardines
in cant" he explained, worl
the lock. Gee whiz! you'd S-,n. vs
hear 'em!" When he got his breath
after the shaking gave him, he be
4 gan to sputter. How'd l know?' hi
lddemanded sulkily. You nearly broke
4 yourrneck gettin' away the other time
And I haven't got the old key. Its
iiost."
Where's 1t lost?" Il demanded, witt
.another gesture toward his coat col
lEiar.
Down the elevator shaft" There
was q sgleam Of indignant satisfaction
Through his tears Of rzge and humilia
fion. .-....
And so, while he hunted the key n
the debris at the bottom. of the shaft
cQuieted his prisoners with the as
aurance that the lock had slipped, and
that they would be free as lords al
soon as we could find the janitor with
pass'key. Stuart went down finally
and discovered Blobs, with the key in
his pocket, telling the engineer how
he mad tried to save me from arrest
and failed. When Stuart came up he
was almost cheerful, but Blobs did moi
appear again that day
Simultaneous with the finding OF
the key came Hotchkiss, and we went
in together. 1 shook hands with two
men who, with Hotchkiss, made a not
very animated group. The taller one
an o7dish man, lean and hard, an.
nounced his errand at, on -,.;r,d
"A Pfttsburg warrant
unlocking my cigar draw
Yes. Allegheny COZ
Sumed Jurisdiction, tn
where the crime was
in doubt" He seem
spokesman. The ot'
r0tund, kept an ami'
hope you will see t.
ing extradition,"
gave time"
I'll come,
The sooner T.
you to give
men. l thi
Have a Gig
The lea
tund ma
his pocf