The Press., 1915-04-21

awhile, seated before the fireplace with his feet resting upon the low mantel above his head Then he stretched himself luxuriantly, an ex precision of great enjoyment upon his hard lined face. and prepared to rol into bed.
 Several minutes later the party gath cred about the rear door, discovered that it was not even bolted, entered g rude kind of hallway and stopped be fore the room ill which Harris was al ready asleep, as his heavy breathing informed them.
 Get your rods ready now," Werner whispered. ''so you can follow me when cave in the door, He drew back across the marrow passageway and rushed against tho door with all of his strength. It broke open before him, and he stumbled into the room, the others following hin with their guns drawn.
 Harris had started up at the noise and mG le an attempt to reach the cor ner of the room in which was a small arsenal, but halted when he saw that he was covered by four or five mer who wore heavy muffiers over theil faces below the eyes.
 Harris stood for a moment gazing a- them.
 "Well, what dye wantY' he growled finally, betraying no signs of fear.
 "You see, we've got you, doc," Wer ner began in a matter of fact manner "Got to hand 1t to you for taking il like that, though. You see, the object of the game is to take you off to 6 till your wife or your manager comes through with what we ask and gets you out of soak. Do you make me?"
 "How much do you think you're go ing to get?" demanded Harris, continu ing to size them up.
 "Well," answered Werner slowly "if you fixed it up. yourself so we could get the coin promptly and without any sort of trouble, why, out of considera ton for your kindness and your show of judgment we might let you down with as little as ten thOusand-and that's the lowest, because, with just little more time, we can get you: wife or that brother-in-law manager of yours to kick in with at least twenty five"
 My wife can't sign check for more that one thousand at most, and my manager isn't allowed to make out one for more than it takes for current ex, penses."
 After pause, during which Harris and Werner looked at each other in the manner of opponents at poker, the latter said: "On the dead, now, ain't the principal reason you don't want to cough up just because you'd rather give up twenty-five thousand willingly than be made to give up ten?"
 MT. Harris grunted in manner that might have signified assent.
 Would you give up twenty-five thousand if you didn't have to come across with ten?' languidly inquired George.
 Yes" growled the other.
 You're onr' George called as he knocked Werner's revolver halfway across the room by a sudden move ment and rapidly waved his own gun from one to the other of the remain ing three, all of whom were taken en. tirely by surprise.
 In an instant Harris had jumped across the room and had armed him. self.
 And now, gov'ner," went on the younger man, ''I'll keep 'em covered while you take their gats."
 MT. Harris finished disarming them and turned to George.
 "What're we going to do with 'em?'' he asked.
 eff it's all the same to you we'll just turn the rummies out and let lem beat it before the going gets worse."
 And having them trying it again or trying to pot me through the window some time, ehw
 '"They won't" returned the other confidently. q got enough on any one of them to have him settled for the rest of his natural Take my word for 1t, they won't start anything, except to start on their way"
 Five minutes later MT. Harris and George stood side by side att the win dow watching four men as they walked away.
 Then the former turned to the younger man.
 ''I promised you the money" he said ''and if you're willing to work I'll give you job, but we'll talk about that i'll the morning, because I'm going back to bed now. You can find some blank cts and skins in that lean-to and make you pallet"
 "All right. sir" said the other. Good night, dad.'
 Good night, son." returned his father.