American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-01-14
CHAPTER ~.


soiled and damp. his hat gone BY
| hairs breadth he had escaped the
clever trap laid for him. Hargreave
vas alive, he had escaped; Braine was
is certain OF this fact as he was OF
ih own breathing. He now knew
row to account for the pickering light
n the upper story OF the warehouse.
lis ancient enemy had been watch
lng him all the time. More than this.
iargreaye aud the mcddling reporter
we're In collision. In the mare OF
lights at the end OF the gun-play he
lsd caught the profile Of the reporter.
Here was a dangerous man. who must
% watched with the utmost care.
He. Braine. had been lured to com
nit an overt act. and by the rarest
,ood luck had escaped with nothing
more serious than a cold chill and a
CALLING dIsa ppointment.
He crawled along the top OF the
oier, listening, sending his d~ark-accus-
tomed glance hither and thither. The
sky in the east was growing paler aud
psIer. In and out among the bales
II wool. bags OF coffee and lemon
crates he slowly and cautiously
wormed his way. A Waterman pa
trolled the ONCE side OF the ware
house. and Braine found It possible
10 creep around the other way, thence
into the street After that he straight.
med up, sought a secondhand shop
and purchased a soft hat. which he
pulled down over his eyes.
He had half a dozen rooms which
he always kept In readiness for such
adventures as this, lke rented them
furnished In small hotels which never
asked questions of their patrons, To
one OF these he went az fast as his
weary legs could carry him. He nj
ways carried the key. Once In his
room he donned fresh wearing ap
parel, linen. shocs, and shaved. Then
he proceeded downstairs, the second.
hand hat shading his eyes and the
upper part of his face.
At half past twelve Merton entered
the Knic~kerbocker cafe restaurant.
and the FIRST person he noticed was
Braine. reading the mornings paper.
dropped up against the water carafe.
Evidently he had Just ordered. for
there was nothing on his plate. Nor
ton 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? Nor Join me-"
Thanks. Came In for my break.
fast" said Norton. drawing out the
chair. Braine VA sitting with his
back to the wall on the lounge.seat.
u wonder II you newspaper men
ever eat a real, true enough break
fast. ! should think the hours you
lead would kill YOU on. Anything
new on the Hargreave story"
I'm not handling that" the reporter
He'd c%heerfully. Didn't want TO.
knew him rather intimately. I've a
horror OF dead people, and don't want
to be called upon TO identify the body
when they md H."
"Thon YOU think they will find ~"
Il don't know, It's a strange mixup
I'm not on the story. mind YOU: but
was In the locality of Dufy's ware.
house late last night and fell into a
gunman rumpus."
"Yes, | read about that. What
were they after?"
You've got me there. No one
seems TO know. Some cock and bull
story about there being something
valuable. There was"
What was it9 The report In THE
paper does not say
Ten thousand bags of coffee"
Braine lay back In his chair I'M
laughed.
~ o want my opinion said
Norton. II believe the gunner were
= to shoot up enother gang. and
the police got wind OF H."
Don't you think Il about time the
police called a hala In this gunman
matters"
On SO long as they pot each other
the police look the other way. II
a long trial and passage up IN,
river. Besides, whenever thew are
nabbed some big politician
to open the door for them. Great lie
the American voter"
Take MIR, Norton's order. Luigi.
said Braine.
"A German pancake. buttered toast
and coffee" ordered the reporter.
Man. eat somethingi"
IT'S enough for me-"
And you'll 20 all the rest OF the
day on tobacco. I know something Of
you chaps. ! don't see how YOU man.
age to do H."
Food Ia the least of our troublrs
BY the way, may | ask you a few oues.
tsons' Nothing for print. unles.
you've got n new book coming"
Fire away"
what do you know about the
Princess Perigofrr"
Let me see. HIM. Met her nrs,
about a year & at a reception xixen
Nasimova. A very attractive vom-
see quite a lot Of her. Whv,a
Well. she claims to be a sort Of
Aunt to Harsreave's daughter"
she said something I me about