The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-11-07

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"Tut," said Milky, mopping his cut
lip. "Tf you are dead. your spirit
speaks with nm uncommonly lusty
voice! Come, get up. We present to-
gethcr n shameful picture OF defeat"
But he raised Peter Nlburg gently
from the ground and. finding his knees
unstable. from fright or weakness,
stood him against a house wall. Peter
Nlburg, with rolling eyes, felt for his
letter, and. the snlnts he praised,
found Il.
"Ah!" he snId, and straichtcncd up.
after all. II Is not so bad as feared.
They rot nothing"
lie made n manful effort to walk,
hut tottered. recled. Milky caught
him.
Careful ?" he said. "The colossus
was doubles the one who got us
both, and we are likely To feel his
weight for some time. Where do you
liver"
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
Nlbuis's lodging, then, they made a
slow progress.
"These recent gentlemen" said Nix
Ky, as they went along, they are, per-
hnps, personal enemies?"
Peter Nihurg reflected. He thought
not. "But I know why they came" he
said unguardedly. "Some early morn
Ing, my friend. you will hear Of a man
lying dead in the street. That man
will he l."
"The thought has n moral" observed
Milky. ADO not trust yourself out-of-
doors Mt 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.
But, he reflected, many things were
going on in the old city in these trou-
bled days. Came to Milky. all ut 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 II sidelong
glance. Difficult indeed" he said
briefly.
II think" Milky observed, that,
after ! see you safely home, I shall
report this small matter to the police"
But here Peter Niburg turned even
paler. "Not--not the police" he
stammered.
"But why7 You and !. my friend,
will carly their insignia for some days.
I have a mind to pay our debts"
Peter Niburg considered. He stop
ped and faced Milky. II do not wish
the police" he said. perhaps I have
said too little. This Is a private mat
ter. An affair Of Jealousy"
II see ="
Naturally. not n matter for pub
llcity."
Every WELL" Milky assented. But
In his mind was rising dark suspicion.
He had stumbled on something. He
cursed his stupidity that It meant, 80
far. nothing more than a mystery to
him. He did not pride himself on his
intelligence.
"You were not alone, I thinkf'
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
tardlly. And my thanks. But for
you I 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.
Milky inspected himself In the glow
Of a street lamp. Save for some dust,
and a swollen lip, which he could not
see, he was lot unprescntable. Well
enough, anyhow, for the empty streets.
But before he started he looked the
house and the neighborhood over care
fully. He might wish to return to that
house.
For two hours he walked. and re-
sumed his interrupted train OF thought,
At last. having almost circled the city,
he came 10 the Cathedral. 1t was
nearly midnight by the clock In the
high tower. He stopped and consulted
his watch. The fancy took him to 20
up the high steps, and look out over
the city from the colonnade.
Once there, he stood leaning against
a column, looking out. There was
someone coming along the quiet
streets, with a stealthy. shuffling gait
that caught his attention. so. for In.
stance, might a weary or II wounded
man drag along. Exactly so, indeed
had Peter Nlburg shnnbled into his
house but two hours gone.
The footsteps paused, hesitated
commenced n painful struggle up the
ascent. Milky moved behind his col
umn, and waited. Up and up, weary
step after weary step. The shadowy
figure. coming close, took "A form, be