The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-04-28
CHAPTER XXI.
An ominous Messane

An Ominous Message.
Few men bear suspense well; d,
Spain took his turn at 1t very hard
Patience" He repeated the word t,
himself thousand times 10 deader
his suspense and apprehension. Bust
ness affairs took much of his time
but Mans situation took most of hi
thought. For the first time he tolt
John Lefever the story Of Mans find
ing him on Music mountain of he
aid in his escape, and the sequel o.
their friendship. Lefever gave 1t t,
Bob Scott in Jeffries' office.
'What did tell you. John?" de
manded Bob mildly.
mo matter what you told me-" re
torted Lefever, ''The question is
What's he to do to get Nan away from
there without shooting up tile Nor.
gans?
De Spain had gone that morning to
Medicine Bend. He got back late and
after a supper at the Mountainghouse
went directly to his room. The tele
phone bell was ringing when he un,
locked and threw open his door.
SIS this Henry de Spain2' came a
voice, slowly pronouncing the words
over the wire.
"Yes."
II have message for You from Mu
sic mountain"
go ahead"
"The message is like this: Take me
away from here as soon as you can .
"Whom is that message froma"
II can't call any names"
"Who are your"
II can't tell you that. Goodby.'
"Hold on. If you're treating me
fair-and / believe you mean to-
come over to my room q minute
"No."
'Let me come to where you ars7n
"No." ss
LET me wait for ven, assT
1No."
'Do you think that message means
what it says|
II know 1t does
"Do you know what 1t means foH me
to undertaken
II have pretty stiff idea.p
'Did you get it direct from the
party who sent it?"
81 can't talk all night. Take II OF
leave 1t Just where it is"
De Spain heard him close. He
closed his own instrument and began
feverishly signaling central. "This is
101. Henry de Spain talking" he said
briskly. "You just called me. Ten
dollars for you, operator If you ran
locate that call, quick y"
There was a moment of delay at the
central office, then the answer: '.It
came from 2S4-Tenison's saloon.'s
"Give me your name, operator.
Good. Now give me %, and ring The
neck off the bell"
Lefever answered the call ON No.
%. The talk was quick and sharp.
Messengers were instantly pressed
into service from the dispatcher's Of
flee. Telephone wires hummed, and
every man available on the special
agents force was brought into action.
Livery stables were covered, the pub
lie resorts were put under observation.
horsemen clattered up and down the
street. Within an incredibly short
time the town was rounded I'D, every
outgoing trail watched, and search
was underway for anyone from Nor
gan's gap, and especially for the send
er of the telephone message.
De Spain, after instructing Lefever,
fastened to Tensions. His rapid
questioning Of the few habitues of the
place and the bartender ELECTED only
the information that q man had used
the telephone booth within few min
utes, Nobody knew him, or, If they
did know him, refused to describe
him in any but vague terms.
Outside, Bob Scott in the saddle
waited with a led horse. The two men
ADNS bAdlBhL anu udEu OUT on Tue
sinks. The sky was overcast, and
speed was their only resource. After
two miles of riding, they refined up on
ridge, and Scott, springing from the
saddle, listened for sounds. He rose
from the ground, declaring he could
hear the strides of running horse.
Again the two dashed ahead. The
chase was bootless. Whoever rode
before them easily eluded pursuit.
Undeterred by his failure to over
take the fugitive, De Spain rode rap
Idly back to town to look for other
clews. Nothing further was found to
throw light on the message or mes
senger. No one had been found any
where in town from Morgan's gap:
whoever had taken a chance In de-
ivering the message had escaped un-
detected.
Even after the search had been
abandoned the significance of the In
cident remained to be weighed. De
Spain was much upset. A conference
With Scott whose Judgment in aoyl