Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-10

Peter Niburg rejected. he tnOugnC
not. "But 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 be l."
"The thought has moral" observed
Milky. edo not trust yourself out-oa-
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 enc.
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 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.
II think" Milky observed, "that,
after 1 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 why? You ana i, my friend,
will carry their insignia for some days.
1 have 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 private mat
ter. An affair of jealousy"
IT seer'
Naturally, not a matter for pub
licity."
Every WELL" Milky assented. But
in his mind was rising dark suspicion.
He had stumbled on something. He
cursed his stupidity that it meant, so
far, nothing more than mystery to
him. He did not pride himself on his
intelligence.
"You were not alone, Think"
Peter Niburg suddenly remembered
Herman, and stopped II Il II
"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 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 should now" he shrugged his
shoulders.
"Good night, friend" said Milky.
sand better keep your bed tomorrow"
He had turned away and Peter Nj
burg entered the house.
Milky inspected himself in the glow
of street lamp. Save for. some dust,
and q swollen lip, which he could not
see, he was not unpresentable. 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 to the Cathedral. It was
nearly midnight by the clock In the
high tower. He stopped and consulted
his watch. The fancy took him to 60
up the high steps, and look out over
the city from the colonnade.
Once there, he stood leaning against
column, looking out. There was
someone coming along the quiet
streets, with stealthy, shufflins gait
that caught his attention. So. for in
stance, might d weary or wounded
man drag along. Exactly so, indeed.
had Peter Niburg shambled into his
house but two hours gone.
! The footsteps paused, hesitated,
commenced a 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 n form, be-
came a man-became Peter Niburg.
!, Now, indeed, Milky reused Beaten
and sorely bruised, Peter Niburg
should have been In bed. What
stealthy business Of the night brought
him out?
] Fortunately for Nikky's hiding place.
the last step or two proved too much
for the spy. He groaned, and sat
down painfully, near the top. His
head lolled forward, and he supported
it on two shaking hands, Thus he sat.
huddled and miserable. for five min
utes or thereabouts. The chime rang
out the hour.
At ten minutes past the hour, Milky
heard the engine Of an automobile.
No machine came in sight, but the
'throbbing kept on, from which he
judged that a car had been stopped
around the corner. Peter Niburg heard
it, and rose. A moment later a man,
with the springiness of youth, mounted
the, steps and confronted the messen-
ger.
Milky saw a great light. When
Peter Niburg nut his hand to his
breast pocket. there was no longer
room for doubt, nor, for that matter,
time for thinking. As matter Of
fact, never afterward could Milky re-
call thinking at Gil. He moved away
quietly, hidden BY the shadows Of the