Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-09-06
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND FRIDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER g. 1912

AcoNAtC0 hNunc'
lands hesitated there in the hall.
Tiptoeing up the stairs was a mans
tall, lean form. lands only saw his
spare back and thin legs clad In black
trousers with a loose raincoat Tapping
about his feet.
As the beam from tho pocket lamp
shot athwart the wall at his right the
man leaped upward out of range Of it.
Although danger and perhaps death
lurked there at the head of the stairs,
Lands was determined to end the
mystery that had come upon him with
the burning of the car, He extin-
gulshed the lamp, and, with his re-
volver ready, he crept silently up the
stairs, alert for sound from the man
waiting above.
He saw nothing, heard nothing.
As he reached the head of the stairs
something rushed at him out of the
gloom something that twined long
arms about him and tried to throw
him backward down the stairs.
"Let go or I'll shootr' warned Ian
dis as he struggled with the man.
There was no reply, only his assail-
ant took n fresh hold. Lean fingers
strove to catch at the motorists throat,
but the heavy fur coat served lands
a good turn now. He was enabled to
wrlggle out of Its folds, which he left
In the mans hands. while he plunged
recklessly into the darkness He bang
ed into a solid wall, followed IL down
to an open doorway and turned into
room just as the man came running
lightly after him,
Lnndis snapped on his light and saw
square room with closed door in
the rear wall The door must lead to
another room, and there was a wooden
bar fitted into socket that secured
1t. Two windows In the room were
without glass, and through them the
rain beat relentlessly, and the roar Of
the river was very plain.
lands saw this In one sweeping
glance before his assaIlant appeared
In the doorway-a tall, lean form of Il
man with glarlng black eyes and fierce
smile.
ROBINSON yelled Lands. you?
Why, man, what are you doing hereP
was on my way to take the money
to you"
II know It," laughed the other flend-
lshly. 81 know IT, I've tracked you
from Foxboro. I'll take the money
now-now, lands! Hand 1t over or
by heaven you'Il never leave this
house aliveW
lands stared Was his friend mad
This Robinson was the man he was
going 10 serve-to lend him $4,000,
for which he had the cash in his peck
cts.
you'll get the money In proper form
In Riverbank tomorrow morning, Jim,"
no said calmly.
"Pll have 1t now. | shall never go
back to Rlverbank I'm going to
South America, and 1 need 1t to start
afresh with. II | make a pile you'll
get II back IL don't, you won't be
bothered with me again"
you're crazy" said Lands, turning
to the other door. Come with me-
Jim, and forget your worries You've
had lot of trouble, and guess you're
pretty nervous. Come along, and
walk back to Riverbank"-
"Never!" yelled the crazed financier,
leaping ut Lands. who ducked and
ran for the closed door.
Robinson was upon him Instantly
curved his long fingers around his ben.
efactor's neck and choked him into
half consciousness. Then when Lands
sank Imply TO the floor powerless ia
check his assailant, the others fingers
searched his clothing for the $4,000 In
cash.
He Bnatched at Landls' leather wal
let, and the fallen man watched him IN
helpless anger as the robber opened II
and saw the thick mass Of banknotes.
Still holding II in his hand, Robinson
kicked lands nway from the closed
door, thrust NJ the bar, opened the
door, passed through. slamming the
door behind him.
yell once after that, but the wind and
rain and rush OF the river deadened all
other sounds.
The electric pocket lamp lay on the
floor, Its white glare lighting the bare
boards and throwing the upper part OF
the room In deep shadow Lands lay
there for several hours before he could
arouse himself from the stupor which
had resulted from Robinson's brutal at
tack upon him.
Then the first gray light Of dawn
gave him courage TO rouse himself and
investigate. The first thing he did was
to open the closed door to find where
his assailant had fed.
As It swung inward Lands uttered
a startled cry and stepped back.
The door opened into empty space.
Il 0verhung the rushing river, and the
balcony that had once adorned that
second story room had fallen Off no one
knew when.
Jim Robinson, his false friend, had
stepped through that door into eter-
nifty.
Lands leaned forth, faint and sick
with apprehension.
There was no sign of Robinson, but
caught among the rocks below was
Lands leather wallet, containing the
little fortune.
Hours afterward, when lands arriv.
cd In Riverbank with farmers wag-
on towing what was left OF his little
runabout, he found tho little town In
an uproar Of excitement.
james Robinson. Its principal citi-
zen, had fallen, and his dead body had
Just been washed up on the banks near
the railroad bridge.
They said It was clear case Of sui
eide, but Lands had seen his false
friend walk through the door that sep
arated life from death. and he knew
the truth.