Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-22
second and, with a

about.
Slowly. No cutting for it, or any
thing like that ordered Tom
The man shot an ugly look over his
shoulder and went into the low.stud-
ded hall and down the stairs.
AT the bottom Mrs. Carey stood,
light in hand. She watched the two
men come down. her little eyes set
upon Kingsbury's face in angry ques-
ton.
What are We after doing in this
house," she suddenly broke forth.
Stop" commanded Kingsbury.
Back up against the wall and stand
STILL As the man obeyed he turned
to the woman. "Did you hear shot
fired?" he questioned.
Il did that, and next second YOU,
was after smashing in ME door and
racin' through the house. What are
We afther, and what do We mean by
coming into respectable woman 5
house like We did,"
who was the man who fired that
shot?" Tom demanded, glancing
from the womans angry face to the
scowling man in the corner.
who fired -- What are We after
asking that question OF me fer?"
scolded the woman.
Because the shot was fired from
this house. from the room upstairs, >
with nod over his shoulder
Mrs. Carey's little eyes narrowed
and she bent forward. Then she
turned to the man in the corner and
an unuttered question was upon her
face.
Come" ordered kinesbury sharp
~, you know the ms and outs Of his
thing. Answer my question Who was
that man."
Mrs. Carey put down her lamp OF
an old trunk, stepped back, and hel
hands rested upon her hips as she
burst forth into a harsh peal of laugh
ter.
"Ah, listen to the likes o. the pool
lad" she chuckled. rocking from sid,
to side. Listen 10 the likes Of him
Sure" 10 the man in the corner, he;
plumb crazy. He amt KNOWN wha
he's afther saying. Be kind to him
be aisy with the likes of him" ant
with a nod to the man to whom hcl
instructions were directed and a pity
ing glance for kingsbury. she started
hastily toward the stairs to the lower
hall
Stop roared Tom; stop where
you are and come back here
But the woman only tossed back a
wilder laugh and went straight down
the stairs.
Tom could only have stopped her al
the risk of allowing the man to gel
away, and he preferred to let her go.
Get back into that ROOM" he or
dered. noddns toward the door from
which the fellow had come to enter
the fight.
Say, you want 10 go
You want to do as l say and be
quick snapped Tom,
He advanced upon the fellow
threateningly. and the man cringins
before the lifted revolver, backed
through the open doorway.
Now snapped Tom. who was
that man? None of Mrs. Carcy's hi
larity from you. Give me the facts
The fellow studied Kinssbury from
under lowered brows.
Il don't know nothing about that fcl
low he growled What in --~--art
you butting in here for. anyhow?
never saw you before"
Tom hesitated He was tempted Il
make the man confess to what HI
knew, but before even such a desir,
came the more urgent wish to know
what had happened in the Farewell
club.
He took a step forward and seiaec
the man by the collar Of his coat
Now, you walk straight he or
dered pressing the revolver againS
the fellows side. "I'll attend to max
ing you talk later. Show me The WI,
from this house TO the Farewell club.
The man, far less pugnacious OF
finding his adversary armed THAI
when he had bolted from bis room
made q feeble effort TO break away,
"Lemme go! You amt got NJ
cause to go for me. ! don't know
thing"
SHOW me The way to the Farewell
club or I'll hand you over to the police
Take your choice
The man was shaken into an nprigh
position. and protesting vigorously
went down the hall and stairs.
Say, you big bloke," he spluttered
stopping in the lower hall, II don
know nothing about
The door under the front stair
opened and Mrs Carey's face. n
longer wreathed in welllegned mirtf
peered out.