Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1913-09-18

cannot describe It."
"You don't need to. Come! we're
all right. You don't mind making a
night Of IT."
Not II II is necessary"
THAT We can't tell yet" And with
characteristic shrug and smile. the
detective led the way to taxicab
which stood in waiting at the corner.
A quarter OF an hour OF rather fast
riding brought them into tangle Of
streets on the East side.
When they stopped. which was in a
few minutes. Sweetwater said to
George:
I'VE shall have to walk now for
block or two. II you can manage to
act as II you were accustomed to the
place and Just leave all the talking to
me, We ought to get along flrst-rate.
Don't be astonished at anything you
see. and trust me for the rest; that's
ALL"
They alighted, and he dismissed the
taxicab. Some clock in the neighbor-
hood struck the hour OF ten.
Good! we shall be in time," NUT
tered the detective, and led the way
down the street and round a corner
or so, till they came to a block dark
er than the rest, and much less noisy.
There's a meeting on tonight, Of
the Associated Brotherhood Of the
Anvil, the Plane and the Trowel (what-
ever that means). and 1t is the speak
er We want to see; the man who Is to
address them promptly at ten o'clock.
Do you object to meetings?"
rs this a secret one?"
1T wasn't advertised"
Are we carpenters or masons that
we can count on admittance?"
Hush! must speak to this man."
George stood back, and few words
passed between Sweetwater and a
shadowy figure which seemed to have
sprung up out of the sidewalk.
Baked at the outset" were the en-
couraging words with which the de-
tective rejoined George. 1T seems
that password is necessary, and my
friend has been unable to get 1t. Will
the speaker pass out this way?" he
inquired Of the shadowy figure still
lingering in their rear. ,
He didn't go in by 1t; yet believe
he's safe enough inside" was the
muttered answer.
Sweetwater had no relish for disap.
pointments of this character, but it
was not long before he Strengthened
up and allowed himself to exchange a
few more words with this mysterious
person. These appeared to be OF
more encouraging nature than the
last, for It was not long before the de-
tective returned with renewed alac-
rity to George, and, wheeling him
about, began to retrace his steps to
the corner.
Where they went under this officers
guidance, he cannot tell. The tortu-
Gus tangle OF alleys through which he
now felt himself led was dark as the
neither regions to his unaccustomed
eyes. There was snow under his feet
and now and then he brushed against
some obtruding object. or stumbled
against low fence; but beyond these
slight miscalculations on his own part,
he was q mere automaton in the hands
Of his eager guide. and only became
his own man again when they sud-
denly stepped into an open yard and
he could discern plainly before him
the dark walls Of building pointed
out by Sweetwater as their probable
destination. Yet even here they en-
countered some impeachment which
prohibited a close approach. A wall
or shed cut off their view Of the build
ing's lower story; and though some.
what startled at being left uncere-
moniously alone after just whispered
word OF encouragement from the ever
ready detective, George could quite
understand the necessity which that
person must feel for a quiet recon.
noitering of the surroundings before
the two OF them ventured further for
ward in their possibly hazardous un-
dertaking. Yet the experience was
none too pleasing to George, and he
was very glad to hear Sweetwater's
whisper again in his ear, and to feel
himself rescued from the pool OF slush
in which ne had been left to stand.
1.-THE approach is not all that can be
desired" remarked the detective as
they entered what appeared to be a
low shed. "The broken board has
been put back and securely nailed in
place, and IL l am not very much mis-
taken there is a fellow stationed in
the yard who will want the password
too. Looks shady to me, I'll have
something to tell the chief when get
back"
"But we! What are we going to do
IL we cannot get In front or rear?"
Were going to wait right here in
the hopes OF catching a glimpse OF our
man as be comes out" returned the
detective, drawing George towards a
low window overlooking the yard he
had described as sentinelled. He will
have to pass directly under this win
dovv IN his ray 10 the alley" Sweet