The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-10-13

He was somewhat embarrassed at
that.
I-realIy, Mr.. Blakeley. the events
of the day were so engrossing-"
Well, / said, I'm not going to see
you drop on the floor from exhaus-
| ton. Just wait a minute"
went back to the pantry, only to
be confronted with rows Of locked
doors and empty dishes. Downstairs,
in the basement kitchen. however, |
found two unattractfye looking cold
chops, some dry bread and a piece Of
cake, wrapped in a napkin, and from
us surreptitious and generally hang
dog appearance destined for the coach
man in the stable at the rear. Trays
there were none-eyerything 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 I'm
appearance, but Hotchkiss ate his cold
| chops and gnawed at his crusts as
though he had been famfshed. while
he told his story.
| Il had been there only a few min
utes," he said, with a chop in one
hand and the cake in the other, when
Bronson rushed out and cut across the
street. He's a tall man, Mr.. Blake
ley, and had hard work keeping
close. 1t was relief when he Jumped
on passing car, although being well
behind, it 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. i suppose he was
passing the time, for he looked at
his watch now and then and when 1
did once get look at his face it made
| observation-disclosures. He could
have crushed me like a fly, sir"
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 refIled,
| and continued:
About nine O'Clock or a little later
he got on somewhere near Washing
| ton circle. He went along one of the
residence streets there, turned to his
left q square or two, and rang bell.
He had been admitted when / got
there, but guessed from the appear
ance Of the place that it was a board
ing house.
Il waited a few minutes and rang
the bell When a maid answered it,
l asked for Mr.. Sullivan. OF course
there was no Mr.. Sullivan there.
Il said 1 was sorry; that the man
was looking for was new boarder.
She was sure there was no such
boaFder in the house; the only new ar
rival was man on the third floor
she thought his name was Stuart.
MY friend has a cousin by that
name 1 said. I'll go up and see.'
she wanted to show me up. but
said it was unnecessary. Sc after tell
ing me it was the bedroom and sitting.
room on the third floor front, went
up.
Il met 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" l put in, TO his evident irrita-
ton.
When got to the third story /
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
steady hum. Then Bronson terked
the door open. If he had stepped into
the hall he would have seen me fitting
key into the door before me. But
he spoke before he came out.
You're acting like maniac he
said. You know 1 can get those
things some way; I'm not going to
threaten you. 1t isn't necessary. You
know me-
at would be no USE the other man
said. I tell you l 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
81 couldn't take it If it was for a
million, said the man inside the room.
I'd do it, l expect. If I 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 /
knocked at the door and tall man
about your size, Mr.. Blakeley. opened
it. He was very blond, with a smooth
face and blue eyes-what think yoG
would call handsome man
- beg your pardon for disturbing
you said. Can you tell me which
is Mr. Johnson's room? Mr. Francis
Johnson ...
~ cannot say he answered. civ
lily. I've only been here s few days
Il thanked him and left, but l had
had good look at him and / think
I'd know him readily any place
TO BE CONTINUED
A fiiph jumper,