The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1911-02-02

6n4I-
I-really. Ar. Blakelsy. the events
q the day were 20 engrossing-"
"Well." said. I'm not going to So
yes drop on the noor from exhaus.
doa. Just wait . minute"
went back to The pantry. only to
- confronted with rows Of locked
aoors and empty dishes. Dovnstairs.
IN the basement kitchen. however. ]
eeand two unattractive looking cold
chops. some dry bread and . piece OF
cake. wrapped in . napkin. and from
IT. surreptitious and gsnerally hang
deg appearance destined for the coach
nan In the stable at tho rear. Trays
thsre were nons-eveHthing but the
chairs and tables seemed under lock
and key and there WAS neither napkin,
knife nor fork to be found.
The luncheon was not attractive in
appearance. but Hotchkiss ate his cold
chops and gnawed at his crusts a.
though he had been famished, while
- told his story.
II had been there only Q few min.
utes." he said. with Q chop in one
hand and the cake in tho other, when
Bronson rushed out and cut across the
street. He's = tall man. Mr.. Blake.
Icy. and l had hard work keeping
close. 1t was a relief when he Jumped
o. q passing car. although being we'll
behind, 1t was hard run for me to
catch him. He had left the lady.
"Once on the car. We simply rode
from one end Of the line to the other
and back again. suppose he was
passing the time. for he looked It
his watch now and then and when I
did once get look at his face II made
ms-er-uncomfortable. He could
have crushed me like = hy. SIR"
I had brought Mr.. Hotchkiss a glass
OF wine and he was looking better.
He stopped to finish It, declining with
. wave of his hand to have it refilled,
and continued:
"About nine o'clock or q little later
he got off somewhere near Washing
ton circle. He went along one Of the
residence streets there, turned to his
left square or two, and rang . bell.
He had been admitted when I got
there. but I guessed from the appear
ance of the place that 1t was . board.
ing house.
Il waited a few minutes and rang
the bell. When a maid answered 1t,
I asked for Mr.. Sullivan. OF course
there was no Mr.. Sullivan there.
II said was sorry: that the man
was looking for was q new boarder
She was sure there was no such
boarder in the house; the only new ar
rival was . man on the third floor
she thought his name was Stuart.
"'My friend has q cousin by that
name.' I said. I'll go up and see.'
she wanted to show me up, but
said 1t was unnecessary. So after tell
ing me II was the bedroom and sitting.
rolL on the third floor front. I went
up.
Il met Q couple Of men on the
stairs, but neither Of them paid any
attention to me. A boarding house is
the easiest place in the world to en-
ter"
They're not always SO easy to
leave" put in, to his evident irrita-
ton.
When got to the third story I
took out bunch Of keys and posted
myself by a door near the ones the
girl had indicated. could hear voices
in one of the front rooms, but could
not understand what they said.
There was no violent dispute, but
a steady hum. Then Bronson jerked
the door open. II he had stepped into
the hall he would have seen me fitting
a key into the door before me. But
he spoke before he came out.
You're acting like q maniac he
said. You know l can get those
things some way; I'm not going to
threaten you. It isn't necessary. You
know me-
"'It would be no use,' the other man
said. I tell you haven't seen the
notes for ten days
"'But you will,' Bronson said, saw
agely. You're standing in your own
way. that's all. II you're holding out
expecting me to raise my figure you're
making mistake. It's my last offer
"T couldn't take 1t II 1t was for
Million said the man inside the room.
I'd do 1t, expect, II could. The
best Of us have our price
Bronson slammed the door then
and flung past me down the hall.
After a couple of minutes I
knocked at the door and tall man
about your size. Mr.. Blakeley, opened
it. He was very blond, with smooth
face and blue eyes-what think you
would call q handsome man
II beg your pardon for disturbing
you.' said. Can you tell me which
is Mr.. Johnson's room? Mr.. Francis
Johnson?'
81 cannot say he answered, civ
lily. I've only been here few days
Il thanked him and left, but I had
had good look at him and I think
I'd know him readily any place."
CTo BE cONTINUED.)