St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-07-13

tbServant OF the OIner ) every nOI1oH
His strength had apparently returned.
He seemed little the worse for his late
encounter. At length came an inter
val. Just for an instant John Steele's
eyes shut The fingers that had held
the pen closed on the edge of the ia
BILE. A quick passing expression OF
ferocity lowered at the corners of the
Observers thick lips. He got up AT
the same time John Steele rose and
stepped abruptly back.
You know how to write your
name?" His voice was firm, unwaver-
ING. The revolver had disappeared
from the table and lay now in his
pocket.
"An right. govnerr' The other
smoke with alacrity 'I'm game.
bargain is bargain, and I'll take your
word for it." leaning over and laborl-
ousIy tracing a few letters on the pa
per. you'll do your part. You'll find
me square and aboveboard, although
you did use me a little rough There;
here's your affadavy."
John Steele moved back to corner
of the room and pulled wire. In
some PARKWAY place bell rang faint
ly. "Are'-he spoke Woman's name,
obviously a sobriquet, land her daugh-
ter still here?"
How
''Never mind; answer!
Eyes: they're here, gov'ner. You'll
want them for witnesses, suppose"
Not long after the paper, duly wit
messed, lay on the table. The land
lady and her daughter had gone. John
Steele only waited for the ink to dry.
He had no blotter or sand. The fluid
was old, thick The principal sigma
| ture in it's big strokes, with here and
| there a sputter, would be uninteligible
| if the paper were folded now. SO he
| fingered. Both men were silent. A
| few tense minutes passed. John Steele
| leaned against the wall His temples
| throbbed. The fog seemed creeping
| into the room. and yet the door was
closed He moved toward the paper.
Still maintaining an aspect of outward
vigilance. he took it and held it before
him as if to examine closer
The other said nothing. made no
movement. When the women had
| come in his accents had been almost
too frank The gentleman had called
on a little matter of business. He,
Tom Rogers, had voluntarily signed
| this little paper, and they could bear
witness to the fact.
John Steele folded the paper and
! placed it in an inside pocket. The
other suddenly breathed heavily. John
| Steele, looking at him, walked to the
door leading to the street. He put his
hand on the key and was about to turn
it. but paused. Something without
held his attention-a crunching sound
as of a foot on a pebble. 1t abruptly
revived misgivings that had assailed
him before entering the place.
Involuntarily he turned his head
Tom Rogers sprang behind in a flash
and seized John Steele by the throat
1t was a deadly, terrible grip. The fin
gers pressed harder. The other strove
hut slowly fell. AS dizziness began to
merge into oblivion Rogers, without
releasing his hold, bent over.
"You fool. Did you think I would
let you get away with the paper
that l couldn't see you were about
done for?"
He looked at the white face and
started to unbutton the coat. AS be
reached in his attention was suddenly
arrested. He threw back his head.
1.-THE traps!"
Voices below resounded without.
$50 that was your game! Well
Bavagely, 81 think 1 have settled with
you
He had but time to run to the real
door, unbolt it and dash out when {
crashing of woodwork filed the place
and Mr. Gillett looked in.
When John Steele began to recover
he was dimly aware that he was in {
four wheeler which ratified along slow
" through streets At his side sat {
figure that stirred when he did, SPOKE
in crisp official accents. The police
agent had come we'll armed and, more
over. had taken the precaution TO
this little journey of providing cal
in front and one behind, containing
} those who knew how to act shoul'
;. the necessity arise.
e Furtively the prisoner felt his peck
; ct. The memorandum book contain
ing the paper that had cost so mucl
t was gone He looked at the agent
Had it been shifted to Mr.. Gillett
! possession, or (dimly he recalled his as
. sailant's last words) had Rogers sue
$ ceeded in snatching the precious ev+
dence from his breast before escaping
In the latter case it had undoubtedl
ere this been destroyed. In the fol
= mer it would presumably soon be tran:
ferred to the police agents employs
= To regain the paper, if it existed
. would be no light task. Yet it was til
pivot upon which John Steele's fol-
tunes hung The principal signer wa
in all likelihood making his way OF
of London now. He would in a fe'
: hours reach the sea and after thu
disappear from the case.