Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-03-22
Down went Milky, and lay still.

were not uncommon, especially In the
neighborhood of the Hungaria. Those
who reused grumbled about quarrel
some students, and slept again.
Perhaps two minutes later, Milky
got up. He was another minute in To-
eating himself. His cap lay In the
gutter. Beside him, on his back, lay
a sprawling and stertorous figure,
with, so quick the downfall, a cane
still hooked to his arm.
Milky bent over Peter Niburg.
Bending over made his head ache
abominably.
"Here. mani" he said. sect up
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 a sitting posture,
Terror gave him strength. "Tye been
robbed" he said. Robbed. I am
ruined. I am dead"
"Tut," said Milky, hopping his cut
lip. eff you are dead, your spirit
speaks with an uncommonly lusty
voicei Come, get up. We present to-
gether a 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 1t.
"Ahl' he said, and Strengthened up.
"After all, 1t is not S 70 bad as l feared.
They got nothing"
He made a 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"
Peter Niburg was not for saying
He would have preferred to pursue his
solitary If uncertain way. But Milky
was no half Samaritan. Toward Peter
Niburg's lodging, then. they made 9
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 unguardedly. "Some early morn
ing, my friend, you will hear of a mar
lying dead In the street. That maj
will be l."
1.-THE thought has a moral" observed
Milky. "Do 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
But, he reflected, many things were
going on In the old city in these trou
bled days. Came to Milky, all at once
| that this man on his arm might be ont
of the hidden eyes of governments
"These are difficult times" he ven
tured, 'for those who are loyal"
Peter Niburg gave him a sidelont
glance. Difficult indeed" he salt
briefly.
81 think" Milky observed, shat
after I see you safely home, l shall
report this small matter to the police.
But here Peter Niburg turned ever
paler. "Not-not the police!" HI
stammered.
"But why? You and I, my friend
will carry their insignia for some days
1 have a mind to pay our debts"
Peter Niburg considered. He stop
ped and faced Milky. ST do not wisf
the police" he said. perhaps I have
said too little. This is a private mat
ter. An affair of jealousy"
81 seei"
Naturally, not a matter for pub
licity."
Every WELL" Milky assented. Blu
in his mind was rising dark suspicion
He had stumbled IN something. HI
cursed his stupidity that it meant, sc
far, nothing more than a mystery t.
ulI1. NE ulu Nv plluo hihlSSAL oh LAS
intelligence.
"You were not alone, 1 thinkT'
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 cavernou;
depths ~uncounted clerks and Other
small fry of the city. "Good night tc
you," said Peter Niburg. Then, rather
tardily. "And my thanks. But fol
you 1 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