The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-11-03
CHAPTER VIII.
The Private Car.

EI HATETER misgivings Matt may
IMI have had as to their real deSti-
~" nation We're set at rest by the
" clang of a locomotive bell and
the noise of heavy freight cars being
moved and shunted. What was there
to fear with such men all about them.
busily watchfuI. and likely at any
time to dart up from the unlikeliest
places? Nor was there anything alarm
ing in the sight of the side tracked
car.
Mr.. Kay begged Matt to wait at the
steps while he went inside to announce
their arrival. It was good ten min
uteS before he returned. and then. in
q state of such di>compoSure that Matt
knew not what to make of it. Rasping
ont something that meant to follow
him. he turned again. apparently CON
fident that Matt would obey. Matt
found himself in q narrow passage.
bordercd on one hand by row OF
Statero0mS that ran half the length Of
the car. The door of every one was
closed. and the passage itself endee in
darkness In imagination he saw
crouching figures behind their doors:
huShed and stealthy figures. mutely
signaling from room TO room. and
ready to leap forth as soon as he WAS
Well within their power. Mr.. Kay
PAUSED at the last door, opened it and
beckoned Matt within. 1t was an or
binary Pullman stateroom and bore no
Si1l Of any recent occupancy. There
~, -1,s $A,1-
els overhead The racks We're empty.
and the pegs supported nothing. but
the fact that the blinds were drawn
struck oddly on MATHS attention.
He seated himself and watched Mr.
Kay drawing the baiZe curtain across
the open doorway. That the latter did
not shut the door. but was taking par
ticular pains with the curtain. increas
ed MATHS uneaSinesS. The action was
significant and again suggestive of
stealth and mystery. Even after he
had settled himself opposite Matt Mr..
Kay had TO jump up once more and
again adjust the curtain. as though his
previons efforts had left him disSatis-
fed
said in a voice that shook little. ASK
for the mOon-anything-a We'll get
it for YOU
.In return for something l haven't
cot?" inquired Matt. Cant you get
it into your head once and for all that
don't know the man you're after?
"Broughton. that isn't true
ooh yes. it is
You positively refuse 100000 for
this information"
Il tell you once more I haven't got
it."
But offered you 100000 and you
refused it,
"YeS"
A rustic of the green baiZe made
Matt feel that the question was less
| for Mr. Rays benefit than that OF
| some hidden person. The sensation
was disagreeable. He would have
| given great deal at that moment to
| have had Il loaded revolver in his peck
| ct Mr.. Kay's i'll concealed agitation
| and his almost terrified glances at the
| curtain We're disconcerting. to say the
| least of it.
Would it help at all continued the
| latter. ''Or give us a possible basis fol
agreement if could prove to you thai
you do know the gentleman we arr
| seeking:"
But you couldn't" edsMatt.
''Oh. yes" said Mr.. Kay. producing
something from his pocket. Look a
this. for instance"
Matt. in utter establishment. gazed a
the ring lying in Mr.. Rays palm. Witt
cry. be picked it up and examined 1t
1t was John Morris ring-the ring thos'
rascally jewelers. had filched from him
What do you say to that"' asked
Mr.. Kay. gently. but firmly regainin:
possession of the ring and slipping i
over his little finger.
"Nothingw exclaimed Matt furiously
"Who gave it to you:"
Il shall not tell you"
Matt had risen. He was in a whit
heat at the way be had been victim
lied. at his own helplessness. at tn
deliberate villainy of the whole pro
ceedings Had these people robbed
him of his ring for no other reason
than to make him penniless and t
place him as they thought. at their mel
cy: God only knew how they had go
the ring from Snood & Hargreaves
but there it was. glittering on tina
smooth scoundrel's finger. and as lik
as not an international provocation t
a violence they would craftily turn t
account. But they would learn thei
mistake-learn that all the rings 0
blood money in the world could no