The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-07-18
CHAPTER ".
The Flat on the
Top Floor

j W 4 AOOA
fcopyrluht. 1914, by Harold Nc
Grathl
Braine crawlcd from HIS uncom-
Portable hiding place. His clothes
were solled and damp. his hat
gone. BY hairs breadth he had
escaped the clever trap laid Tor
him. Hargrcave was alive. he had
escaped; Braine was as certain OF
this fact as he was OF hts own
breathing. He now knew how TO
account for the Pickering light In
the upper story OF the warehouse.
His ancient enemy had been watch
ing him all the time. More than
this, Hargreave and the meddling
reporter were In collision. In the
flare OF lights at the end OF the
xun-play he had caught the profile
OF the reporter. Here was dan.
kerous man. who must be watched
with the utmost care.
He. Braine. had been lured 70
commit an overt act and by the
rnrest good luck had escaped with
nothing more serious than a cold
chill and a CALLING disappointment
He crawied aiong the top OF the
pler. listening. sending his dark-ac-
cuxfomed glance hither and tnitner'
The sky In tho east was growing
paier and paier. In and out among
the bales of wool. bags OF coffee.
and lemon crates he slowly and eau
tiously wormed his way. A watch
nan uatrolled the office side OF the
WAREHOUSES, and Braine found II pos
able TO creep around the other way.
thence into the street. After that
he ssraightened up. sought a second
hand shop and purchased soft hat.
which he pulled down over his
ayes.
He had half q dozen rooms which
h aIvnyr kept In readiness for such
adventures ~ this. He rented them
furnished In small hotels which
never asked questions OF their pa
irons. To one Of these he went as
fnst A his weary legs could carry
him He always carried the key.
Once in his room he donned fresh
wearing apparel linen. shoes. and
shaved Then he proceeded down
stairs. the second hand hat stiil
shading his eyes and the upper part
Of hts face.
Al half past I. Norton entered
che Knickerhocker cafe-restaurant.
ana the first person he noticed was
Braine. reading the mornings pa
per. propped up against the water
carafe. Evidently he had just or
dered. for there was nothing on his
plate. Norton walked over and laid
his hand upon Braine's shoulder.
The man looked up with mild
curiosity.
"why. Norton. sit down. sit
down, Have you had lunch? NOT
Join me-"
Thanks. Came IN for my break
fast" said Norton, drawing out the
chair. Braine was sitting with his
back to the wall on the lounge
seat.
II wonder II ron newspaper men
ever eat real true enough break
fast. I should think the hours you
lead would kill you off. Anything
new on the Harrreave story"
I'm not handling that" the re-
porter lied cheerfu1iy. Didn't want
10. knew him rather intimately.
I've a horror OF dead people. and
don't want to be called upon 70
Identify the body when they find
H."
Then You think they WIN find
~"
II don't know. It's strange mix.
up. I'm not on the story. mind you
but was in the locality OF Dnffy's
warehouse late last night and fell
into a gunman rumpus"
Yes, read about that. VIVA,
were they after7"
You've got me there. No one
seems to know. Some cock and bull
story about there being something
valuable. There was"
What was II? The report in this
paper does not say"
Ten thousand bags OF coffee"
Braine lay back in HIS chair and
laughed.
IF you want my opinion" said
Norton. II believe the gunner were
out to shoot up another gang. and
the police got wind Of H."
Don't you think II about tlms
the police called halt In this gun
men natter"
20, so long as they pot eacf
other the police look the other way
IL saves a long trial and passage
up the river. Besides, whenever
they are robbed some big politician
manages TO open the door for them
Great IA the American voter"
Take Mr.. Norton's order, Luigi, :
said Braine.
"a German pancake, butteret
toast. and coffee" ordered the re
porter.
Man, eat somethingi"
TITS enough for me"
And you'll go all the rest Of IN,
day on tobacco. I know somethln,
OF you chaps. don't see how yol
manage to do H."
food In the least OF our troubles
BY the way, may ! ask you q few
questions? Nothing for print
unless you've got a new book com
ing"
Fire away"
What do you know about tn,
Princess Perfgoff7"
Let me nee. HIM. Met her frs
abort a year ago at reception
given TO Nasimoya. A very attract
I've woman. see quite lot OF her
| Why"
We'll, she claims 10 be . sort o.