Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-04-26
CHAPTER XII.
Iron Nerve.

ent from what | had expected.
But I knew now, OF course, that the
policeman was right and that the re-
spectable-loo.ing old gentleman was
no other than the desperate criminal
described as Foxy Grandpa" But
for the Intervention of outside. assist
ancc doubtless Billings and l might
have had our Threats cut by the con-
scienceless old geezer.
He was so absorbed that he did not
see me, nor the two helmets piking
above my shoulder.
up to his old tricks O'keefe
whispered. We've got him in the
act, TIM"
Great" breathed Tim. What
won't the captain say!"
O'Keefe's breath tickled my ear
again and swept my nose. I've never
seen beer or sauerkraut since but
what think of it!
Got your stick ready?' he was say
ing. Best not take any chances;
Braxtons a quick shooter, they say.
When we jump him, better give him
ii. ~lub right off,
i'm whispered an impatient demur.
That's all right; but I'm for coaxing
him out here first. I don't want to
tap him on the gentleman's rugs; II
do, can tell you, It'll ruin EN-,
that's all
He swept his hand across his
tongue and gripped his stick tighter.
jenkins, at one side, bobbed his
head up and down and smiled his ad-
.rirat!on Of this sentiment. He leaned
aearer to me.
Just beckon him out, sir" his Whls-
per advised. Just tell him you want
10 show him something in the hall
cat. or anything will do. Just so you
get him past the furniture and rugs
sir"
I advanced a step into the room. |
expected the old knaye to be bit
dashed, don't you know. Not he; 1t
never disquieted hiHa bit. Just gave
me careless leer and went back to
the ruby. Somehow l began to feel
riled. I'm not often taken that way
but this old scamp's persistent au-
dacity and impudence went beyond
anything I had ever heard of.
What in thunder's the matter with
YOU, SOM" he murmured, squirting
hideously at the jewel. You prowl
around like you had pain" Then
he went right on:
"Say, did you ever see anything so
corking tine?" He looked up, holding
the ruby in the light. And to thinE
how little l dreamed OF scooping any,
thtus Ike that when came In here
tonight"
By Jcve, this was little too much,
even for an easy-going chap like my
self! The jolly worm will turn, you
know.
Dash me, before I knew what | was
doing even, | had moved to his side
and jerked the ruby from his hand.
My face felt like a hot-water bottle as
did it.
You haven't got 1t yet" l said,
land I'll take devilish good care you
don't get It,"
He fell back as though from a blow.
"Why-why, old chap! Why, Light
mutt" he gasped. whats the mat
ter-what makes you look at me like
that?"
your liberties have gone just bit
too far, don't you know" said, look
ing steadily in his fishy old eye. I've
had enough Of you, by Jove, that's
ALL"
He stared at me, and I could hear
him breathing like blacksm1th's BEL
lows. l would never have thought he
had such lungs.
Slowly his hand came out, and dash
me If it wasn't shaking like he had
the delirium what's-its-name. But for
his tan, his face would have been as
white as his hypocritical old whiskers.
rs this some Internal joke" His
face summoned a sickly smile that al
most instantly faded. His hand fell
back to his side. why, old fellow,
you don't think that way about me, do
you? AS for the ruby, II don't want
1t now just want you to accept my
apology for anything I've done, and
and let me get away"
There was a short laugh from the
doorway.
9Iikely enough" said Officer
O'Keefe, his big figure swinging for
ward with long strides. Keep him
covered, Tim!"
He planted himself between us with
grin.
You're 1T again, Foxy! Jig's up.
VIII you 60 quietly?"
1t did me good to see how complete
ly the old scoundrel was taken back.
His wide distended bleary eyes shift
ed from O'Keefe to me and back again.
1t was a perfect surprise.
I motioned to Jenkins to close the
door of my friends bedroom, So far,
he had evidently slept serenely
through all the trouble, and, if pos
sib'e, l wanted to avoid arousing him
now. For fat man, Billings had the
deuce Of temper when stirred up
over anything like an imposition upon
him, and 1t would only add to the con-
fusion for him to appear on the scene
and learn about his wallet and his
treasured ruby that I had rescued.
Foxy Grandpa's face had been rap
idly undergoing a change. From pal
lor to pink it went; and then from
pink to red. Now it was becoming
scarlet He threw hic head hack and