The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-04-04

opened slowly, and he stared up Mt
the stars. "A fine night" he said
thickly. "A very fine" Suddenly he
raised himself to a sitting posture.
Terror gave him siren -th. "I've been
robbed" he said. Robbed. I am
ruined. I am dead"
"Tut," said Milky. moppIng his cut
lip. 'If you are dead. your spirit
speaks with an uncommonly lusty
voice! Come, get up. We present to-
gether shameful picture Of defeat"
But he raised Peter Niburg gently
from the ground and, finding his knees
unstable. from fright or weakness.
stood him against a house wall. Peter
Niburg, with rolling eyes, felt for his
letter. and, the saints he praised,
found II.
"Ahl" ne said. and Strengthened up.
"After all, II is not SO bad as feared.
They got nothing"
He made a manful effort to walk,
but tottered, reeled. Milky caught
him.
Careful I" he said. "The colossus
was doubtless the one who got us
both. and we are likely to feel his
weight for some time. Where do you
live"
Peter Niburg was not for saying.
He would have preferred to pursue his
solitary II uncertain way. But Milky
was no half Samaritan. Toward Peter
Niburg's lodging. then, they made
slow progress.
"These recent gentlemen" said Mix
ky, as they went along. "they are, per-
haps, personal enemies"
Peter Niburg reflected. He thought
not. "But I know why they came." he
said Gnguardedly. "Some early morn
ing, my friend, you will hear OF man
lying dead n the street. That man
will be l."
'The thought has a raoral," observed
Milky. "Do not trust yourself out-of.
doors at night"
i But he saw that Peter Niburg kept
his hand over his breast pocket.
Never having dealt in mysteries,
Milky was slow at recognizing one.
But, he reflected, many things were
| Soius ou iu tue Oiu city III thesc uVu-
bled days. Came to Milky, all at once,
that this man on his arm might be one
Of the hidden eyes Of government.
"These are difficult times" he ven.
tured, "for those who are loyal"
Peter Niburg gave him a sidelong
glance. Difficult indeed" he said
briefly.
II think" Milky observed, "that,
after l see you safely home, I shall
report this small matter to the police
But here Peter Niburg turned even
paler. "Not-not the policew he
stammered.
"But why7 You and I. my friend
will carry their insignia for some days
I have q mind to pay our debts"
Peter Niburg considered. He stop
ped and faced Milky. II do not wish
the police" he said. "Perhaps have
said too little. This is q private mat
ter. An affair Of Jealousy"
II seei"
Naturally. not q matter for pub
licity."
Every WELL" Milky assented. But
In his mind was rising dark suspicion
He had stumbled on something. HI
cursed his stupidity that 1t meant, &C
, far, nothing more than a mystery t.
him. He did not pride himself on hii
, intelligence.
"You were not alone, I thinkr
Peter Niburg suddenly remembered
Herman. and stopped.
"Your friend must have escaped"
"He would escape" said Peter nj
burg scornfully. HE Is Of the typ,
] that runs"
He lapsed into sullen silence. Soor
he paused before quiet house, ont
Of the many which housed In cavernoui
. depths uncounted clerks and othel
small fry of the city. "GoOd night t.
you," said Peter Niburg. Then, rathe
. tardily. "And my thanks. But fO
. you l should now" he shrugged hi
. shoulders.
"Good night, friend" said Milky
"And better keep your bed tomorrow.
He had turned away and Peter nj
burg entered the house.
Milky inspected himself In the GLOW
of street lamp. Save for some dust
' and swollen lip. which he could no
see. he was not unpresentable. Wei
enough, anyhow, for the empty streets
But before he started he looked tn
house and the neighborhood over care
fully. He might wish to return to tina
house.
For two hours he walked, and re
sumed his interrupted train Of thought
At last, having almost circled the city
he came to the Cathedral. 1t wa
nearly midnight by the clock In tn
high tower. He stopped and consulte'
his watch. The fancy took him to g
up the high steps, and look out owe
the city from the colonnade.
Once there, he stood leaning agains
a column, looking out. There wa
someone coming along the Quie