, 1913-02-20

below were closed. We could see
nothing.
think 1t was then that Burton had
his inspiration.
"Ill bet you a FIVE dollar BILL" he
said, "that II i fire off my revolver
here now not one of those fellows
down there would pay the slightest
attention"
"Ill take that bet" I returned. "T1l
wager that every time anybody drops
a poker since Fleming was shot the
entire club turns out to investigate"
an tell you what III do" said Bur.
ton. Everybody down there knows
me. I'll drop in for a bottle of beer.
and you fire a shot into the floor here
or into somebody across. II you happen
to see any one you don't care for. !
suggest that you stay and fire the shot
because If you went. my friend. ane
nobody heard 1t you would accus mt
of shooting from the back of the build
ing somewhere"
He gave me the revolver and left mt
with a final injunction.
"Wait for ten minutes" he said. "Ii
will take five for me to get out of here
and FIVE more to get into the clubhouse
Perhaps you'd better make 1t fifteen"
He went away into the darkness. ant
/ sat down on an empty box by thu
window and waited. Had any n ask
ed me at that minute how neal NJ
were to the solution of our double n,ys
terry ] would have said we had mad
no progress. save by eliminating WaI
drop. Not for one instant did | dream
that l was within less han half al
hour of a revelation that changed m.
whole conception of the crime. | hat
an idea that 1t would be hare to ex
plain my position. alone in the ware
house, firing a revolver into the fioor
If my W argument was right. ant
the club should rouse to a search. !
looked again at my watch.
Every one who has counted the pass
ing of seconds knows 10Y they drag
With my Eyes on the across. ane
my finger on the trigger, | waited as
best I could. At ten minutes I was
conscious there was some one In tht
fpohA oVci the wa. 'ALI t.sf4l ne CdIue
into view from the side somewhere,
bind went to the table. He had his
Jack to me. and | could only see that
Le was a large with massive
shoulders and dark hair.
Ii was difficult To make out what he
was doing. After a half minute. now.
aver. he stepped to one side. and ]
saw hat he had lighted a candle and
was systematically readin0 and then
burning certain papers. throwing the
tharred fragments on the table. With
the same glance that told me that.
knew the man. 1t vas Schwartz.
l was so engrossed in watching him
that when he came directly to the win.
dow ! stood perfectly still staring at
him. With the light at his back !
lfelt certain | had been discovered. but
was wrong He shook the newspa.
tper that had held the fragments out
tout of the window, lighted a ciga
and turned back into the room.
He was not alone. for he addressed
some one In the room behind.
You are sure you got them an2" nc
bald.
Inc othei party Chhut Wltulu Tdugt
of vision. II was Davidson.
IAN there were. Mr.. Schwartz" he
replied. w were nearly finished be.
fore the woman made u bolt" He
held out a small object on the palm of
his hand.
II would rather have done 1t alone,
MIR. Schwartz" he said. II found this
ring in Briggs pocket this morning. 1t
belongs to the girl"
Schwartz swore and. picking up the
ring. held II TO the light. Then he
made an angry motion to throw It out
of the window. but slid 1t into his vest
pocket instead
you're poor stuff. Davidson" he
said. with a snarl IF she hasn't got
them, then Wardrop has. Tell Nc
lFeely ! want to see him."
Davidson left. for ! heard the door
CLOSE. Schwartz held the ring to the
Hight looked at my watch. The
time was almost up.
A fresh burst of noise came from be
low. ! leaned ont cautiously and look
ed down at the lower windows: they
were still closed and shattered. When
raised my eyes again to the level OF
the room across, | was amazed to see
p second figure In the m woman