Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1916-03-09

q 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 I can help
you"
"How can 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 one of
the strongest branches of the 50 called
insurance trust and, as such, deemed
j itself above the law, immune from le-
gal Investigation. Tom turned finally
away, his hands deep In his pockets,
his face wrinkled III somber thought.
He did not notice the skullling figure
in the doorway Of the building which
glided unostentatiously after him. The
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
vestigations. 1.-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 aancee 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 at their word. and if there
was crooked work. heaven help them!
Had Tom Larnigan been present at
a gathering of the remaining leaders
of the fifteen in their private office
that afternoon he might have been a
shade less resolute in his sudden de-
termination. Stanford Stone, as usual
4 was in the presiding chair, and it was
his curtly grim voice which stated the
purpose of the session
"Larnigan is on the trail of the in
surance trust, gentlemen. Unless we
get him first he is certain to deal us
another disastrous blow. l suggest
that we leave Tom Larnigan's fate in
the hands of four picked gun men
whom / have selected for their discre-
ton and craftsmanship. Larnigan can
not escape them. They have orders to
follow him to the death. If our man
escapes, Brother Maxwell. the crisis
must be met by you in this instance
iy,fn tod o,.tI-
Roger Maxwell staggered as he rose
from his chair, and his face was bag,
gard when he passed through the door
Behind him Stanford Stone smiled syn
;cally at his retreating figure.
AS Tom Larnigan left his hotel in O
taxicab to visit Ben Travers he no
ticed that two men were following
him. Once out of sight, Tom spoke tt
the chauffeur.
II want you to change places with
me for an hour" he said coolly. show
ing twenty dollar bill. cts joke
on some friends
For moment the man stared, and
then he winked. Three minutes later
Tom. in 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 seal
and entered the building.
The two gun men fell back with
curses when they found the driver in
side the taxicab. Travers welcomed
Tom warmly and announced that he
had bought the Daily independent t.
fight graft. Tom then changed clothes
with negro beilboy and walked Out
, to the taxicab with a trunk on his
, shoulders. while the two gun men
three feet away. smoked serenely, un
conscious that their victim was al
their elbows. For moment Tom de
; bated whether or not to enter the taxi
, cab himself, but instead walked AROUND
. the corner of the hotel and successful
ly eluded his pursuers. He at once
proceeded to the Accident and Life In
surance companys offices and pushed
his way into Roger MaXwelrs room.
II have come to see your books.
said Tom CURLY, showing his star. g
would like to start my investigation
at once"
For moment Maxwell continued hi!
, wild stare. and then he gathered him
self together with an effort. Certain
ly." he stammered, pressing button
which called secretary. "Show thi.
man to the vaults, Jones'" he ordered
as the call was obeyed Tom bowed
J and followed his conductor outside
Hardly had the door closed when Max
well picked up his telephone. lis tina
: you, Stone?' he whispered hoarsely
: when his connection was established
. young Larnigan is here to ste thu
) books. He has escaped our trap
What shall / do?'
, where is he now?"