The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-10-27

left the decanter there, and took the
whisky into the library across the hall.
Then-he broke into a desk, using
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"
1T was Sullivan" Hotchkiss re-
turned imperturbably And he has
not gone. His boots are by the H.
brary fire"
He probably had a dozen pairs
where he could get them" I scoffed.
And while you and | 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 I stamped into my other
shoe. Il did not say he was gone.
Don't jump at conclusions. It is fatal
to reasoning. AS a matter of fact. he
didn't relish night on the mountains
any more than we did. After he had
Internationally frightened you almost
into paralysis, what would my gentle
storm again? Not if I know the Alice
sit-by-the-f1re 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 a fact, we had
| nothing of the sort. Hotchkiss car
ried the fire tongs, but my sense of
| humor was too strong for me; l de-
clfned the poker
"All we want is a little peaceable
conversation with him." I demurred.
we can't brain him first and con-
verse with him afterward. And any
how, while l can't put my finger on
the place, think your theory is weak.
| If 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
| winded when we got there. 1t was
tower room, reached by narrow
stairs, and well 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?"
He 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 we'll come out
We won't hurt you, If you'll come
| peaceably."
Tell him we represent the law" I
prompted. That's the customary
thing, you know"
But at that moment a bullet came
squarely through the door and fat
tened itself with sharp psf against
the wall of the tower staircase We
| ducked unanimously, dropped back out
of range, and Hotchkiss retaliated with
| a spirited bang bang at the door with
the tongs. This brought another bull
let. 1t 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
for me, my blood was up.
Break the lock-" l suggested, and
| Hotchkiss, standing at the side, out of
range, retaliated for every bullet by a
smashing blow with the tongs. The
shots ceased after a half 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 it swung open
Hotchkiss poised the tongs; 1 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 | just
ly value, l peered around and into the
room. There was no desperate there:
Only a fresh-faced, trembling-lipped
| servant, sitting on the edge of her
bed, with quilt around her 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
divan, l went from one spasm of mirth
into another. becoming sane at inter-
walls, and suffering relapse again every
time saw Hotchkiss' disgruntled
countenance. He was pacing the room,
the tongs still in his hand, his mouth
pursed with irritation. Finally he
stopped in front of me and compelled
my attention.
When you have finished cackling,"
he said with dignity, Il wish to justify
my position. Do you think the-er-
young woman upstairs put a pair of
number eight boots to dry in the H.