Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-11
CHAPTER vi.
Two Prisoners.

with the letter. He ran through tor
tuous byways of the old city, under
arches into court yards, out again by
doorways set in the walls. twisted.
doubled like a rabbit. And all this
with no pursuit, save the pricking one
of terror.
Rnt at last he halted, looked about.
perceived that only his own guilty
conscience accused him. and took
breath. He made his way to the house
, and finding the doors closed. furked
in the shadow Of the park until an
hour later, Black Humbert himself APP
peared.
He eyed his creature with cold an
ger "Its is a marvel" he sneered
that such fight as yours has not
brought the police in pack at your,
heels" ID
II had the letter." Herman replied
sulkily. TT was necessary to- save
It,"
''You were to see where Niburg took
the substitute"
But here Herman was the one to
sheer. "Niburg" he said. You know
we'll enough that he will take no sub
stitute tonight, or any night. You
strike hard, my friend
The concierge growled, and together
they entered the house across the
street. r
In the absence Of Humbert, his
( niece daughter of milk seller near,
kept the bureau, answered the bell. and
after nine o'clock, when the doors were
bolted; admitted the various occupants
of the house and gave them the tiny
tapers with which to light themselves
upstairs. She was sewing and singing
softly when they entered.
"All right, girl. You may CO." said
Humbert.
Good night to you BOTH" the girl
said, and gave Herman Spier a nod.
When she was gone, the concierge
locked the door behind her.
"And now he said, for look at
the treasure"
He rubbed his hands together as
Herman produced the letter. Heads
close, they examined it under the lamp.
Then they glanced at each other.
A cipher" said the concierge
shortly. ut tells nothing.
"Code!" And. struck the paper with
hairy fist Everything goes wrong.
That blond devil interferes. and now
this letter speaks but of blankets and
loaves!"
The bell rang, and. taking care to
thrust the letter out Of sight, the con-
cierge disappeared. Then ensued, in
the hall, a short colloquy, followed by
humping on the staircase, The
concierge returned.
"Old Adelbert, from the OPERA" he
said. "He has lost his position, and
L. no v,jo o3yA +; 60
grievance. But sent him Off"
Now, as between the two, Black
Humbert furnished evil and strength,
but it was the. pallid clerk who fur
nished the cunning. And now he made
a suggestion.
1T is possible" he said, that he
upstairs-could help"
"Adelbert7 Are you mad?"
1.-THE other. He knows codes. It
was by means Of one we caught him.
l have heard that all these things have
one basis. and a simple one"
The concierge considered. Then he
rose 1T is worth trying" he OBJ
served.
He thrust tho letter into his, pocket.
and the two conspirators went out into
the gloomy Nall. There. on ledge,
lay white tapers, and one he lighted,
shielding 1t from the draft in the hol-
low Of his great hand. Then he led
the way to the top Of the house.
Here were three rooms. One, the
best was Herman Spier's, a poor
thing at that. Next to 1t was old AdelI
bert's.. At the extreme end of the mar
row corridor, in a passage almost
blocked by old furniture, was another
room, sort Of attic, with slanting
roof.
Making sure that old Adelbert did
not hear them, they went back to this
door, which the concierge unlocked.
Inside the room was dark. The tnpe.'
showed little. AS their eyes became
3 accustomed tesz the darkness, The. cut
Zines Of the attic stood revealed, junk
room, piled high with old trunks, and
lin one corner bed.
Black Humbert, taper in hand, APP
preached the bed. Herman remained
near the door. Now, with the candle
lnear. the bed revealed q, man lying
ION it, and tied with knotted ropes; a
young man, with sunken cheeks and
weary. desperate eyes. Beside him,
! ion chair, were the fragments of u
+ meal, q bit OF broken bread. some cold
soup, on which grease had formed q
firm coating.
Lying there, sleeping and waking
: