United labor bulletin., 1913-11-15

Tom chortled. Enter, q girl, anu
the bludgeon is to be supplemented by
keen. thin blade"
Just SO, old man." drawled his
friend.
But these two puzzled young men
were not afforded much time to ex-
change views upon the newest develop
ment. Without the slightest forewarn-
ing of the gravity of what was about
to happen. Number 1913 gave them
the most startling episode SO far OF
the day.
The door had been closed behind the
girl a minute or such a matter. when
Van Vechten and Phinney saw 1t
jerked partially open and at once
banged violently shut again. In truth.
they both plainly heard the concus-
sion. Van Vechten rose and pressed
closer to the window, his gaze intent
ly upon the door across the way.
"By Jupiter!" he exclaimed under
his breath. Tom, there's scuffie 60
ing on over there. or I'm an Indian!"
And his surmise was promptly af-
firmed. The door flew open with
final jerk and a brawny man could be
seen standing upon the threshold. He
was SO large that he fairly blocked the
doorway; his back was to the street;
but it was plain that he was strug-
Cling with somebody beyond.
Save for themselves, the room was
now once more deserted (since the
passage of the luncheon hour) and
there was nobody else to witness the
abrupt termination of the affair.
Suddenly the man drew back his
gohf CT oh ~ hlOuy
straight from the shoulder.
"Bing" shouted Tom in gleeful ad-
miration. 'Oh, my, Wouldn't hate
| TO get a punch like thati"
Whoever did. obviously had no fur
ther stomach for opposing the trucu-
lent one, for the latter tore loose and
ran down the steps. Van Vechten and
Phinney recognized him as the man
who had arrived at noon-Number
| Twelve, they afterwards called him,
associating him with the hour. He was
painting and considerably disheveled.
though otherwise he appeared to be
none the worse for the struggle.
However, there was no mistaking
| the fact that he was exceedingly
wroth. Once on the walk. he turned
and shook his clenched fist at the al
ready closed portal, with a quivering
aexing OF the arm that signified pas
sion seething and surging for adequate
expression. Then he apparently real
lied the futility of upbrading an unre-
| eponsive door, for he swung round
and made of at a rapid pace.
Quick, Toni" Van Vechten was up
and dragging at his friends arm.
Our hats! We must overtake that
chapi"
With a speed that amazed Tom, Van
| vechten led the way to the street. The
man was walking rapidly. and as they
emerged from the club entrance he
was just rounding the corner into Lex
| ington avenue. The gait of the pur-
suers was almost a run when they
turned the same corner. in spite OF
which they had not gained upon their
quarry. They saw him disappear east
ward into Twenty-third street
Hes not acquainted with the neigh
borhood," Van Vechten ventured:
hes making for the Twenty-third
/ street l. station. Hurryi"
] But by the time they turned into
/ Twenty-third street a good deal had
/ happened. A small group OF people
were gathered at an alley mouth mid
way in the block. and others were to
be seen running toward the same
| point.
Wonder what's doing?" Tom e1-
claimed. Van vechten's response wae
an increased forward pressure on the
others arm and a repetition of the in
| junction.
Hurry"
second later they arrived at the
alley. where knot of excited people
was tightly drawn around the object
of interest. Tom unceremoniously
forced his bulk through the press. be-
ing closely followed by Van vechten.
In a moment they saw and under
stood The young man who had &C
quilted himself so vigorously but
few short seconds previously. was
lying at their feet-dead.