The evening world., 1916-03-02
CHAPTER X.

The one shot fred In the courthouse
had already made a commotion. Spike
gaining the foot of the stairs hid
himself Just as clerks. coming In at
the front, ran upstairs to see what
was wrong. And when the coast bo-
low was clear Spike slipped out OF
the open door and walked away.
seagrue, at his window. had been
watching his men In Main Street.
After what seemed an interminable
time no heard steps on the hall stairs.
and the next moment Lug, hurrying
into the room as Seagrue opened the
door for him. threw the book Sf rec
ords on the table.
looked for what he wanted. but while
the index sheets indicated the reg
istry Of the deeds ne failed to find
the pages where they should be.
While he was searching Bill ran in.
WELL" exclaimed Bill, "you got
what you want. We came mighty
, near getting pinched."
Seagrue answered testify: 81 don't
see how I've got what I want. RhNc-
lander's deeds are not In this boolS.
Where are the pages that belong
hsre7"
Go find Spike" directed seagrue
wrathfully. And bring him in
quick"
suppose he won't Gomez" pnrried
Bill.
"Kill him." returned Seagrue with
out hesitation. Bring him anyway"
The men. lettering along Main
Street and drinking. had worked
themselves into an ugly mood even
GRtl LII 1,a
= crowd, was recognized by one and ac-
costed. The man, who was quarrel
some, caught the convict by the coat
.eoilsr. Spike shook himself loose and
was walking aSay when Bill hurried
on the scene.
where are the pages YOU tore out
OF that book nc demanded angrily
OF Spike.
Spike regarded him with assumed
astonisN ms1r
What 10 you mean. telling me I
tore any ling out OF your book" he
asked. You CARVED tho book ont.
didn't YOU? know ] didn't"
Abuse from Bill followed II uv4
returned by Spike with usury.
Across the street on a vacant lot tho
owner OF an adjoining house, white
burning some rubbish was cleaning
his rife. As he jerked tho shells from
the magazine one fell into the fire.
Picking up those that no could find
OF the cartridges he returned TO his
house with the gun. Spike and Bill
were In the midst OF their heated ar
Gument moment later when the re-
port OF rifle startled them. Both
men. as bullet sung past. instinc-
lively lodged. In doing 50 Bill un-
luckily struck projecting awning
hook with his head. The blow was
eharp and the end OF the hook pcnc-
trated his temple. Bill sank TO the
pavement unconscious.
Some OF the idle laborcrs who had
been alarmed at the shot, seeing Bill
go down. came forward. BIZ. bleed
ing at the temple, lay while Spike.
wondering what had happened, stood
by. The Sheriff came up.
There he is," said one Of Seagrue's s
men, pointing TO Spike. There's the
man that did the shooting"
The crowd worked IN ana tho Shor-
'r, despite Spikes protests, lsil his
hand on Spikes shoulder and told him
that he was under arrest.
Tho crowd. angry at Spike, surgad
forward, the Sheriff holding them
back as best he could while he di-
rested his deputy 70 take the prison
er away.
Helen and storm. finishing their
lunch. had gone TO the court house
and were busy with tho Recorder,
who was trying TO find the missing 8
book, when q clerk coming in told
about the fight down the street, and
of a prisoner named Spike the crowd
was trying to take from the sheriff.
Storm and Helen, not waiting TO
pursue their search, left the room 10
ascertain what the disturbance was