The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1916-05-26

the insurance company he insisted.
How much did your policy call for|
She hesitated. twenty-five dollars
a week for three mouths In case Of
disability from accident"
Here Is 500. I 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. I am sure that | can help
YOU"
How car ever thank you?"
Don't try" Tom smiled again as
she turned away, but as her wan lit
tie figure vanished the smile faded
from his face. He had work to do
grim work. The company was Il Of
the strongest branches OF the so called
insurance trust aud. as such. deemed
itself above tue law, immune from la-
gal Investigation. Tom turned finally
away. his hands deep in his pockets.
his face wrinkled in sOmber thought.
He did not notice the skutking figure
gltded unostentatiorsly after him. Tho
Fifteen kept their audacious antagonist
under surveillance night and day.
Reaching his rooms, Tom saw in a
newspaper a challenge from the very
concern that was the object Of his In
vastigatl0ns, The Accident and Life
Insurance Company Invites Any In
vestigation Of It's Books and Records
From Any Accredited Source
He knew that Roger Maxwell. father
Of Dorothy. the tiancee OF his brother.
or1ee, vas The guiding spirit OF the
eoncerr Was Roger Maxwell ilnpi.-
Gated III 3 plot t. defraud the publics
TOm Shuddnred and threw the paper
from him. He would take the insur-
nee men at their word. aud il there
was crooked work. heaven help them.
Had Tom Larnigan been present at
. gathering OF the remaining leaders
OF the fifteen In their private office
that afternoon he might have been 4
shade less resolite In his sudden de-
termination. Stanford Stone, a. usual.
was IN the presiding chair. aud 1t wa,
purpose Of tie session
"~Iarnigan is IN tlle trait Of the III.
surance trust. gentlemen. Unless we
get him first he il certain 10 deal u.
another DISASTROUS blow stI-gast
that we leave Tom ldfnigaa's fate ii
the hands of four picked gua men
whom | have selected for tapir i.acre
ton and workmanship Laruigaa ean
not escape them. Thpp have orders "a
follow him 70 the death II 9ur man
! escapes. Brother Maxwell. the crisis
must be me- by you III faf, instance
as the most interested part
Royce Maxwell ,tasseie' as he rose
from dis la,r. ard his face was bag
gard when he passed through the aonr
Behind him st1nford St9ue smilett sya
icaily at his retreHting figure.
AZ Tom larnigan left hia l0tet in d
tasicab To visit Ben Fravrrs ne no
ticcd that two men were following
him. Once out OF sight. Tom spoke e
the chauffeur.
x want you TO change places with
me for an hour" he said cooliy. show
ing i twenty dollar bill. .lt's a joke
on some friends"
For 4 m0nlent the man stared. aud
then he walked. Three minutes Inter
Tom. in the overcoat aud cap OF the
chauffeur. drove slowly np to the en-
trance Of the hotel where Ben Travers
lad Lia rooms. descended from his seat
and entered the building.
The two gun men fell back with
curses when they found the driver in
,{JnZ tho 81, = ,.n /, 49, N 80 sc, 4,Ir,n.,AJ
Tom warmly and announced that be
had bought the Daily independents to
fight graft. Tom then changed clothes
with a negro bei'boy and walked out
to the taytcab with a truni, on his
shoulders. while the two guu men.
three feet away. smoked serenely, un-
conscious that their victim was at
their elbows. For a momen Tom de-
bated whether or not to enter the taxi
cab himself, but instead walked around
the conner )f the hotel and successful
~ eluded his pursuers. He at once
proceeded to tho Accident and Life In
uranc company's Offices and pnshed
hts way into Roger Aazwell's, ROOM.
Il have come to geo your books"
said Tom CURLY. showing his star. -
would like to start my Investigation
at once"
For Z moment Maxwell continued hfs
Wild stare. and then he gathered him
self together with an effort. Certain
~" he sta mmered. pressing a button,
which called I secretary. "Show this
man to the vaults. jones'" he ordered
as the cali was oteyed. Tom bowed
and followed his conductor outside.
Hardly had the door closed when Max
well picked up his telephone. IN that
you, StoneT' he whispered hOarsely
when his connection was established.
Young Larnigan In here to see the
books. he has escaped our trap.
What shall I dor
"Whero u be now 7"