Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-08-28

What balderdash is thls?" snapped
the man at the desk. Il don't know
who the devil YOU are. but fancy the
best thing Is to call some of my ser.
wants and have you thrown out. By
what right do you break in here. and
what do you want? Is this a hold up?
Who led YOU here?"
Fate said Dual
The man sneered.
do you call that thing on the floor
there fate?"
He pointed to the shopman, who
still lay where he had fallen, the blood
of his torn flesh drying on his skin.
Il perceive that YOU tortured that
carrIon into leading you here. When
| have attended to you he will die"
Stop" said Dual softly as the hand
Of the man crept out toward button
on the end of the desk.
"You will call no one. You will kill
no one. You will listen to me, and do
as ay-and, failing in that you will
die ii speak the word. The nails of
Wong Sing are strong and your neck
is slender. Can you picture yourself
like the thing on the floor"
The creeping hand drew back.
saw the green eyes turn, as against
their will, to the torn throat of his
servant. A sort of involuntary shud.
der shook him.
"You-you seem to have the drop"
he said with an effort. Dual's pose
appeared to have shaken him deeply.
What do you want?'
Isl, down." Semi directed and
bid your two men sit down behind
you
He gestured to Reich and the red.
Tipped man
"You cursed devil you blood
hound" shrieked the former, breaking
the tensenoss of his posture. me
mesis is good name for you, you
hound of the law. Maybe Reyuard
don't know you. but you bet | do.
You're Semi Dual. l make you for
all your fake rags.'
lie turned swiftly to the man by the
desk.
IT'S a frame-up, and by God tt va
got u.s." he went on in half hyslerical
excitement
They sprung Annie and me tor a
shadow. an they got by with the thing.
You thought you had them beaten, you
did. You, the wise guy-you, Reynard.
the fox, as You call yourself You was
just tellin us how you'd put it all over
Connel an this bunch who grabbed the
Lawton kid You was rubin it in on
US for that fall down. An now"
He pointed finger toward Semi.
THAT man is workin' with Connel--
HE'S fly cop. He's the fliest cop |
ever saw. You thought | was easy to
LIT him use needn't you, Bill? Well,
Gow you're up against the guy your
self. It's up to you, old fox,
That's Semi Dual and a Ratchet
nan and the other guinea is Glace for
"a thousand any day You told Us we
was safe in here, that nobody could
reach Us. Well. We are 49, are we?
Why, you amt even safe yourself -
you're grabbed. Who's made fall
Down now"
His voice rose to a shrill yell of
question. He sank into a chair, and
shook and shivered.
"Oh, HE'LL he exclaimed, and FUN
bed in his pocket to draw out a cigar.
cite, while | watched his hand to see
that it wasn't a gun.
The man at the desk, Reynard. turn.
"a his eyes slowly from Reich to Dual.
Fer a minute he seemed to be com.
pletely confused, and in that moment
the strange creature in the golden
Gress sat up and spoke
She lifted her hand to her left breast
and clutched the golden fabric which
sheathed it.. She lifted herself from
the depths of the crimson seat in
which she sat, and saw from the rise
and fall of her bosom that she painted.
Are you of the police?" she cried
ou., leaning forward toward Semi,
Are you? Oh, for Gods sake. tell
me-"
"Mr. Reich is correct in his recogni-
ton said Dual
She rose to her feet and threw out
Ter arms in a wide.flung gesture. as
one who tears loose from bonds.
Thank God oh, thank Cod"
she cried and turned to Reynard.
AT last! AT last" she went on;
"the hour has come that prayed for.
Your hour, Reynard - yours $500 and
mine At last the God have prayed
to has answered and sent the help |
asked. have prayed and prayed. |
have hoped and doubted, and now am