The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-07-26

r 1tsHo T%
JCDSoN BACKED AWAY AND STARED AGAIN.
shade was Rankin Hallock he could
not doubt. The bearded chin, the puffy
lips ana the prominent nose were all
faithfully outlined in the exaggerated
shadowgraph. But the hat was worn
at an unfamiliar angle. and there was
something in the erect. bulking figure
that was still more unfamiliar. Judson
backed away and stared again. mutter-
Ing TO himself. If he had not traced Hal
lock almost to the door of Flemister's
quarters there might have been room
for the thin edge of the doubt wedge.
The unfamiliar pose and the rakish
tilt of the soft hat were not among the
chief clerks remembered Characters
tics; but. making due allowance for the
distortion of the magnifled facial out
line, the profile was Hallock's.
Having definitely settled for him.
self the question of identity. Judson
renewed his search for some caves
dropping point of vantage. Riskin;
the moonlight. he twice made the cir.
cult or the occupied end Of the build
ing. There was q line of light show
Ing under the i'll fitting door, and, with
the top step OF the downhiII flight for
q perchfng place, one might lay an ear
TO the crack and overhear. But door
and steps were sharply struck out in
the moonlight, and they faced the min
Ing hamlet. where the men of tho day
shift were still stirring.
Judson knew the temper of the I'll
manyoni miners. To be seen crouch.
ing on the boss doorstep would be to
take the chance of making q target of
himself for the first loiterer Of the day
shift who happened to look his way.
Diminishing the risky expedient. he
made a third circuit from moon glare
to shadow, this time upon hands and
knees. To the lowly come the rewards
or humility. Framed level upon stout
log pillars on the downhill side. the
headquarters warehouse and office
sheltered space beneath fits floor
which was roughly boarded ND with
slabs from the log saving. Slab by
slab the ex-englneer sought for his
rat hole. trying each one softly in its
turn. When there remained but three
more TO be tugged at the loosened ono
was found. Judson swung 1t eau
tiously aside and wriggled through
the narrow aperture left by its remov-
H. A crawling minute later he was
crouehing beneath the loosely jointed
loor or the lighted room. and the ave-
hue or the ear had broadened into n
fair highway.
ALMOST at once he was able to verify
Ills guess that there were only two
men In the room above. At all events
here were only two speakers. They
we're taking In low tones. and Judson
iad no difficulty in identifying the
ather high pitched voice of the owner
u the wire Silver mine. The man
Vnose profile he had seen on the win.
ow shade had the voice which belong
10 the outlined features, but the
stener under the floor had vague
IMPRESSION that he was trying to dis
Use It, Judson knew nothing about
ne letter In which Flemister had
romised to arrange for meeting be-
"een Lidgerwood and the ranchman
roneld. What he did know was that
had followed Hallock almost to the
Dor or Flemister's Office and that he
40 seen a shadowed face on the Of
&c WINDOW shade which could be no
'ner tnan the face of the chief clerk.
was In spite of all this that the i'm
'ession that the second speaker was
yihg 10 disguise his voice persisted.
Ut the ex-engineer of fast passenger
aihs was able to Danish the impress
Oh after the first few minutes of
vesdropping.
Iudson had scarcely found his breath
= space between the floor timbers
q hhd not yet overheard enough to
We him the drift Of the low toned talk
len the bell of the private line tele-
one rang In the room above. 1t was
emister who answered the bell ringer.
heilo! Yes, this is Flemister.
mats that? message about Mr..
norwood? All right; fire away"
who Is it?" came the inquiry in the
'ting voice which fitted and vet did
ut the other man.
me listener heard the click of the
ephone earpicce replacement.
its Goodloe. talking from his sta
oiiice at Little Butte" replied the
ne owner. The dispatcher has Just
led him up to say that Lidgerwood
Angels I'm his service car, running
c1al. Mt $40. which would figure 1t
e at about ii or little later"
Who Is running itT inquired the
er man. rather anxiously, Judson
ided.
Williams and Bradford A fool for
< every time. We might have had
wipe out couple Of our friends"