The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-03-24

round for the danger. Then he missed
q face.
Where is our friend Goyle, our deal
!andlord?" he asked with pleasant
irony.
He hasn't been here today" Ba'
Jimmy looked at Connor standing BY
the door biting his nails, and Common
avoided his eye.
"Ah!" Jimmy's was per
fectly simulated.
Jimmy wants US to send the CIR
back. Common was speaking hurried.
ly. He thinks there'l be trouble, and
his friend the tee thinks there will be
trouble. too"
Jimmy heard the artfully- worded In.
dictment unmoved. Again he noticed
with some concern. that what was tan
tamount to a charge of treachery was
received without a word.
1T isn't what others think, II is what
I think, Connor," he said dryly. 1.-THE
girl has got to go back. I want Reale's
money as much as you, but I have q
fancy to play fair this Journey"
"Oh, you have. have you," sneered
Common. He had seen the cupboard
door behind Jimmy move ever SO
Jimmy sat with his legs crossed on
the chair that had been placed for
him. The light overcoat he had worn
over his evening dress lay across his
knees. Conner knew the moment was
at hand. and concentrated his efforts
to keep his former comrades attentions
engaged. He q guessed the meaning
OF Goyle's absence from the room and
the moving cupboard door. In his pres
ent position Jimmy was helpless.
Common had been to a point
or fncoherence on the way to the
house. Now his voice rose to a strid-
ent pitch.
You're too clever, Jimmy" he said,
and there are too nan 'musts' about
you TO please us. We say that the girl
has got to stay, and by - we mean
it'll"
Jimmy's wits were at work. The
danger was very close at hand, he
felt that. He must change his tactics.
He had depended too implicitly upon
Connor's fear Of him, and had reckoned
without the Borough Lot" From
which Of these men did danger threat
en-? He took their faces in In one
comprehensive glance. He knew them
he had their black histories at his
finger tips. Then he saw q coat hang
ing on the wall at the farther end Of
the oom. He recognized the garment
instantly. 1t was Goyle's. Where was
the owner? He temporized.
II haven't the slightest desire to up
set anybody's plans" he drawled, and
started drawing on a white glove, as
though about to depart. II am willing
to a your views, but I would point
out that l have an equal interest in the
young lady, Connor."
He gazed refiectively into the palm
Of his gloved hand as II admiring the
f1t. There was something 80 peculiar
in this apparently innocent action, that
~ nAr 80 49, A1 rr,r ~ IA -
Quick, Goyle!" he shouted; but
Jimmy was out Of his chair and was
standing with his back against the
cupboard, n in Jimmy's ungloved
hand vas an ugly black weapon that
was all butt and barrel.
He waved them back, and they
shrank away from him.
Let me see you ALL" he commanded,
none of your getting behind one an
other. I want to see what you are
doing. Get away from that coat Of
yours, Bat, or I'll put q bullet in your
stomach"
He had braced himself against the
door in anticipation Of the thrust Of
the man, but it seemed as though the
prisoner inside had accepted the situa-
ton, for he made no sign.
$50 you are all wondering how
jeered. He held up the gloved
hand, and in the palm something flash
ed back the light Of the lamp.
Conner knew. The tiny mirror sewn
in the palm of the sharper's glove was
recognized equipment.
Now, gentlemen" said Jimmy with
a hooking laugh, II must insist on hav-
ing my way. Common, you will please
bring to me the lady you abducted this
afternoon"
Connor hesitated; then he intercept
ed a glance from Bat Sands, and sui
lenly withdrew from the room.
Jimmy did not speak till Conner had
returned ushering in the white faced
girl. He saw that she looked faint and
i'll, and motioned one Of the men to
place a chair for her. What she saw
amidst that forbidding group was a
young man with a little Vandyke beard,
who looked at her with grave, thought
full eyes. He was q gentleman, she
could see that, and her heart leapt
within her as she realized that the
presence Of this man In the %fasionably
cut clothes and the most questionable
pistol meant deliverance from his hor-
rible place.
Miss Kent" he said kindly.
II nodded, she could not trust her.
self to speak. The experience Of the
past few hours had almost reduced her
to a state Of collapse.
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