Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1916-03-02

Il neafd Mr.. WelSner taking ABOUT
interference with his business" said
Kitty. HE said that if any outsiders
came skulking around the coal mines
they'd better look out-that there was
trouble enough there already without
bringing in any more from outside"
They'll talk in the library" said
Dorothy. IF we slip in there now and
go into the little alcove, we can curl up
in that big settee. If they find us we
can pretend to be asleep"
They put their plan into execution,
and, as they expected, they soon heard
the voices Of the members Of the syn
dicate-the survivors Of the original
fifteen. Stone spoke first.
"Weisner-you needn't worry" he
said 81 saw Larnigan just nowrmet
him as he came from the station. He's
taken his mother and his brother dow
to the country. He explained to me
! that he wanted them to be where it
was safe and quiet, because he had to
go down to Pennsylvania
And you'll keep him away, sup
pose" said Weisner, with sheer.
Mel don't trust you OF your arrange
ments, Stone! You've had plenty of
| chances at these I.arnigans, and you've
messed up every one of them Let
/. him come, say l! I've got ways of tax
p. ing care of him If he turns up!''
| The two girls couldn't hear all Of the
conversation. 1t was Weisner's voice,
/! heavy and powerful, that was most
| plainly audible; Stone, from a more
highly developed sense of caution,
pitched luis tone low, so that only ar
occasional word that he uttered was
clear and distinct And so the two
be in peril even before he left New
York; they thought that for him the
danger would begin to be acute when
he reached the coal fields. AS soon as
they could they stole out and managed
to get away unobserved.
Suppose we went DOWN. suggested
Dorothy. "Down to Pennsylvania I
don't believe Tom realizes the dangers
he will face down there-and we might
save his life! I'm sure we could be of
some USE"
'Tm willing said Kitty, eagerly
Tom, meanwhile, had gone unsus-
pectingly toward his fiat. He meant
to accept Stones invitation. Stone
could, he knew, give him valuable i'll
formation as to conditions in the
coal fields, and he had offered to do so.
He did not see the spy who lurked III
the lower hallway Of his apartment
house; it was with the utmost uncon-
Germ that he inserted his key in the
door. He stopped for q moment, hold
ing the door open with his foot. and
bent down to stroke cat that had
rubbed against his leg. The cat. he
guessed, must belong to his neighbors
Then he Strengthened up, and pushed
the door open. But just then mouse
ran across the doorsill; the cat sprang
after it, in hot pursuit. Instantly there
was binding flash; deafening roar
and great explosion hurled Tom hall
way down the stairs. He was bruised
and shaken, but he was not seriously
hurt; no bones We're broken. And, ever
as he picked himself up the spy, hear
ing the explosion, ran off to report thai
he had walked into the trap.
Stone was appalled, and astonishet
when Tom came, as he had promised
to do. But he was able to conceal his
astonishment and his dismay.
"You must spend the night he told
Tom. "You can get an early mornin.
train-you might as well have on
more night of comfort. I'm afrait
you'll find it pretty rough down il
# the coal fields. The hotels are poor
and everything is upset and disor
: ganiZed by the strike. SO that it vii
= be even worse than usual"
q Tom agreed. and Stone after Ton
had retired, sent for Dunn.
9 He's fooled us again" he said, bit
q care! But-I've arranged last chanc
), for you! He's in this apartment
n asleep! You can get through the wiz
h dow-and this time take no chances!
4 Suppose I'm caught-its murde
J. you're asking me to dor' gasped Dunl
" growing pale.
r. You've done it beforehand i sti
10 have the proofs!'' said Stone, fiercel
If (Which would you rather do-have Ii
% hand those proofs to the prosecute
e with the certainty that you'll be co
,e victed, or take the chance that yc
Is won't be caught? Who is going
to catch you? There's no one to give II
Id alarm except myselfr'
S, Dunn hesitated. But he knew tn
rxA- 4. Il -
Of Stone held the whip hand.
se "I'll do It," said Dunn, gloomily.
K "All right" said Stone. There's Il
way you can get in.''
be And at once he went downstairs al
or notified the han boy that he had se