The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-03-18


She hesItated. twenty-five dollars
week for three months in case OF
disability from accident"
Here is 500. | will see you before
that Is exhausted, and we will see
what we can do for your husband"
He rose. Keep up your courage. Mrs
Blake. | am sure that can help
you"
How can / ever thank your
Don't try" Tom smiled again as
she turned away, but as her wan lit
tie figure vanished the smile faded
from his face. lie had work to do
grim work. The company was one OF
the strongest branches OF the so called
insurance trust and. as such, deemed
itself above the law. immune from le
gal Investigation. Tom turned finally
away, his hands deep In his pockets.
his face wrinkled In somber thought
He did not notice the skulking figure
in the doorway OF the building which
glided unostentatiously after him. The
Fifteen kept their audacious antagonist
under surveillance night aud day.
Reaching his rooms, Tom saw In a
newspaper a challenge from the very
concern that was the object. OF his in
vestigations. The Accident and Life
Insurance Company Invites Any In
vestigation OF Its Books and Records
From Any Accredited Source"
He knew that Roger Maxwell. father
OF Dorothy the fiancee OF his brother,
Bruce was the guiding spirit OF the
concern. Was Roger Maxwell implI
Gated in plot to defraud the public
Tom shuddered and threw the paper
from him. He would take the insur-
ance men Mt their word, and IL there
was crooked work. heaven help themt
Had Tom LaFnigan been present att
a gathering OF the remaining leaders
or the fifteen I'm their private office
that afternoon he might have been a
shade less resolute in his sudden de
termination. Stanford Stone. as usual,
was In the presiding chair. and II was
his CURLY grim voice which stated the
purpose OF the session.
"Larnigan IL on the trail OF the In
surancc trust gentlemen Unless we
get him first he ~ certain 10 deal us
another disastrous blow. suggest
that we leave Tom I.arnigan's fate in
the hands OF four picked gun men
whom ] have selected for their discre
ton aud craftsmanship. Larnlgan can.
not escape them. They have orders to
follow him 10 the death. III our man
escapes. Brother Maxwell. the crisis
must he met by you I'm this instance
as the most interested party"
Roger Maxwell staggered IA he rose
from his chair, and his face was bag
gard when he passed through the door.
Behind him Stanford Stone smiled syn
ically at his retreating figure.
As Tom Larnigan left his hotel In n
taxlcab 10 visit Ben Travcrs ho no.
ticed that two men were following |
him. Once out OF sight, Tom spoke Co
the chauffeur
II want YOU 10 change places with |
me for an hour" he said coolly, show
Ing twenty dollar bill, It's u joke |
on some friends
For moment the man stared, and |
then lie winked Three minutes later
Tom Ia the overcoat and cap OF the |!
chauffeur. drove slowly up to the en-
trance OF the hotel where Ben Travers |
had his rooms, descended from his seat
and entered the building
The two gun men fell back with |
curses when they found the driver In.
side the taxlcab. Travers welcomed |
Tom warmly and announced that he
had bought the Daily Independent 10
fight graft Tom then changed clothes
with n negro beilboy aud walked out |
TO the taxlcab with a trunk on his |
shoulders. while the two gun men, |
three feet away. smoked serenely. un
conscious that their victim was at
their elbows. For q moment Tom de
bated whether or not Co enter the taxi |
cab himself, but instead walked around |
the corner OF the hotel and successful |
ly eluded his .pursuers. He at once
proceeded 10 the Accident and Life In
surance company's Offices and pushed !
his way into Roger Maxwelrs room.
81 have come Go see your books"
said Tom CURLY, showing his star. 81
would like 10 start my investigation
at once"
For a moment Maxwell continued his |
Wild stare aud then he gathered him |
self together with an effort. Certain !
w." he stammercd. pressing n button. |
which called secretary. SHOW this |
man 10 the vaults. Jones' he ordered |
as the call was obeyed. Tom bowed |
and followed his conductor outside. |
Hardly had the door closed when Max |
we'll picked up his telephone. Us that
YOU. Stone?" he whispered hoarsely |
when his connection was established !
young IarnIgan T. here 10 see the
books. lie has escaped our trap.
what shall dor
"where II he nowr