The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1918-04-10

Milky bent over Peter Niburg.
Bending over made his head ache
abominably.
"Here, mani" he said. "Get upi
Rouse yourself"
Peter Niburg made an inarticulate
reference to a piece of silk of certain
quality, and lay still. But his eyes
opened slowly. and he stared up at
the stars. "a fine night" he said
thickly. "a very fine" Suddenly he
raised himself to sitting posture.
Terror gave him strength "Tve been
robbed" he said. "Robbed. I am
ruined. am dead"
"Tut," said Milky. hopping his cut
lip. "If you are dead. your spirit
speaks with an uncommonly lusty
voicel Come. get up. We present to-
gether a shameful piaure Of defeat"
But he raised Peter Niburg gently
from the ground and, finding his knees
unstable. from fright or weakness,
stood him against house wall. Peter
Niburg. with rolling eyes, felt for his
letter. and, the saints he praised,
found 1t.
"Ah!" he said. and Strengthened up.
"After all. II IL not so bad as feared.
They got nothing"
| He made manful effort to walk.
but tottered. reeled. Milky caught
him.
Careful =! 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
liver
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 a
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 know why they came" he
said unguardedly. "Some early morn
ing, my friend, you will hear Of man
lying dead In the street. That man
will be l."
1.-THE thought has moral" observed
Milky. ado not trust yourself out-of-
doors at night"
But he saw that Peter Niburg kept
his hand over his breast pocket.
Never having dealt In mysteries,
Milky was slow at recognizing one.
Bet. he reflected. many things were
going on In the old city In these trou-
bled days. Came to Milky. all Mt 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 sidelOng
glance. "Difficult indeed" he said
briefly.
81 think" Milky observed. shat,
after l see you safely home, l shall
report this small matter to the police"
But here Peter Niburg turned even
paler. "Not-not the pollcew he
stammered.
"But why? You and l, my friend,
will carry their insignia for some days.
I have a mind to pay our debts"
Peter Niburg considered. He stop
ped and faced Milky. 81 do not wish
the police" he said. "Perhaps 1 have
said too little. This is private mat
ter. An affair of jealousy"
81 seeW
Naturally, not matter for pub
lefty"
Every WELL" Milky assented. But
In his mind was rising dark suspicion.
He had stumbled on something. He
cursed his stupidity that 1t meant. so
far, nothing more than mystery to
him. He did not pride himself on his
intelligence.
"YOu were not alone, l think?"
Peter Niburg suddenly remembered
Herman, and stopped.
"Your friend must have escaped"
"He would escape" said Peter Nj
burg scornfully. "He is of the type
that runs"
He lapsed into sullen silence. Soon
he paused before a quiet house, one
of the many which housed in cavernous
depths uncounted clerks and other
small fry of the city. "Good night to
YOU" said Peter Niburg. Then, rather
tardily. "And my thanks. But for
you l should now" he shrugged his
shoulders.
"GoOd night, friend" said Milky.
"And better keep your bed tomorrow"
He had turned away and Peter Nj
burg entered the house..