The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-01-31

with him. You can count me out"
He put on his hat and started toward
the door.
Just a minute" said Grand, Il
don't intend to let you go until you've
heard all l have to say"
Get out of the way, Grand" said
the pickpocket, his fingers clinched.
There's only one way to handle
swine Of your breed" sneered Grand.
land that is with a club. Now Wen
indulge In a little plain talk. You are
a couple Of low down sneak thieves.
both of you. or the"
Hold on. Grand" snapped Dick.
None OF that"
o the two, Ernie is the lower. You
miserable. m~isshapen scoundrel, you
are worse han the vilest thief that
I'VE lived. Dick Is an angel COM
pared"
I'll get you for that" quavered
Dick, 80 shaken by rag that he could
scarcely hold himself erect.
mo, you won't" shouted Ernie. "I1l
get him! I'll cut his heart OUT"
Grand reached out with his left
hand and touched a button in the wall.
In the other hand cleaned a revolver.
IF | press either the button or the
trigger it will mean the end of you,
you dogs. Now. listen to me. At the
foot OF the stairs are two policemen
and a couple Of detectives. They are
duped into coming here by the word
that a sucker was to be feeced in
Broadso's rooms tonight. l have moth
Ing to do but to turn you over to them
az a couple of thieves who came here
to rob me"
I'm no thief" shouted Ernie. Dick
was looking about like a rat in a trap.
you fellows are to carry out a plan
| have for landing Braddock. The po-
lice will"
"1ll see you hanged first" grated
Dick Cronk.
Don't let him call the police, Dick"
whtned Ernie. I'm no thief. I won't
so to Jail! | won't. Let me go. Keep
Dick here, but let me out. Dick will
help you. honest he will. I'm no thief.
You wouldn't send me to jail?"
VII, 1 WOulul [, en-. SudrlGu Jn6
other. You'll look fine in stripes, you
will. And nothing under the sun can
save you If | push this button. Ten
years, that's what it will be. The Cronk
brothers, The sick brothers, Why, a
jury would give YOU the full limit. 1t
VIII please your brother. after all
these years, to see you doing time
Hawai- Ilrn,, rI,t ,,,- x-o.tp
Their was a d~eafening report, a
binding flash and a cloud of smoke.
Then a gurgling groan. the ~scrapirg
of a heavy body against the wall ard
Colonel Grand slid to the floor. hin
arms and legs writing in the last
tremendous spasm of death.
Neither of the Cronks moved for a
full half minute. They gazed as If
supefied at the bloody face of the
great gambler; they saw his legs st4f-
fen and his chest swell widely AID
then collapse.
Give me the key" 1t was a whis-
pered Shrek that leaped from the lips
Of the h%unchback. Good God, he's
dead They'll hang u.s."
He sprang to Dicks side and snatch
ed the door key from his stiff fingers.
AS he leaped toward the door through
the powder smoke he stumbled over
the body Of the dead man. He crashed
to the floor, but was up again in a
flash, gasping, grooming with terror.
An instant later he was In the hall.
| Like a cat he sped past the still closed
doorways beyond and reached the
stairway before a human being ap
peared in sight.
Hallway downstairs he met men
rushing upward, attracted by the pistol
shot. He actually tried to clear their
heads In a frantic leap. He was caught
in the air. struggling and kicking flu
riously, to be borne down and held by
| strong arms. Shrieking with rage aad
terror, he fought like a wildcat.
II didn't do it," she screamed, over
and over again, foaming at the mouth,
1T wasn't me! 1t wasn't me! Oh, God!
Oh, Cod"
Some one struck him a violent blow
on the mouth. The foam was red from
that time on. In the hallway above
lllc1e WeIt SIodlo aid IL oophap VI
rushing footsteps. Loud oaths OF
amazement came ringing down the
corridor. A mar in his shirt sleeves
appeared at the top OF the stairs. his
face livid with excitement.
Hang on to HIM" he shouted.
Don't let him get away. We've got
the other one!"
whats the matter up there" grunt-
| ed one of the two officers holding En-
ME, whose Zee were now braced
against the steps in the effort to keep
them from dragging him upward.
Il didn't do it, he painted between
his teeth.
Search me! See II l have a re-
volver. l never carry a gun. Dick al.
ways carries one. Let me go! Let me
| go, Why don't you go and get Dick"
He caught sight of his brother stand.
ing between two men near the body OF
Colonel Grand, beside which a coat.