The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-08


told the crowd in no uncertain terms
that he was not = photoplay actor.
Il wish you would tend to your own
affairs Of business" he said angrily.
land not interfere into mine. 1 ain't
no manner Of means Of actor in any
respect Of circumstances. I'm a negro
African colored man taking a peram-
buluattng walk on my own hook"
It's Gubb!" cried the crowd. and for
the first time in history they found no
pleasure in logging his steps. Finn
making was Of newer and more intense
interest. and they hurried away. fear
full lest they might miss something
Mr.. Gubb waited until they were out
of sight. then he slipped in at the
frowsy door Of the tumble down tene-
ment that had once been the River
bank Steamboat Hotel, and was at
once lost in the darkness of the mar
row. dirty hallway. He stopped short
there and listened.
! The lower floor of the building to
the west. was occupied by a low grog-
gerry. and from this came the noise of
voices and glasses. Mr.. Gubb drew
a bulls eye lantern from his pocket
and threw a light down the hall. At
the far end was a door-the door to
the cellar-and Mr.. Gubb opened this
cautiously and went down the filthy
stairs. At the bottom he stood mo-
tionless. listening. Except for the
scraping Of feet and the dulled rumble
Of voices that filtered through from
the barroom overhead there was no
sound. He advanced into the cellar
Along the wall toward the coal yard
he let his lantern throw its beam. fol-
lowing it himself. and suddenly he
stopped short with an exclamation OF
triumph. Low down in the wall was
a hole where the decayed sandstone OF
the foundation had worn, or been cut
away. and here was a hole twice the
size OF a mans largest circumference
The floor Of the tunnel thus made was
worn hard. and hero and there were
small bits Of coal. The hold led d.
rectly under the planl1ing that formed
the floor Of one Of Mr.. widdIe's stor-
age bins. Mr.. Gubb crawled into the
hole on his hands and knees.
At about this moment Mr.. Daggett
his camera tripod in his arms, drew
| up before the low groggery in an auto
mobile.
Well try this one. Reddy."" he said
to the driver. IF the drunken idiot ID
not here. we won't waste any more
time on him." And he jumped from
the car and entered the GROCERY. The
man he sought was there. Mr.. BrAbsy
still in the marvellous makeup OF
Philo Cub. leaned against the bar.
IS all RI. Daggett." he said. I'm
all RI Not $AH taJI
Mr.. Dassett did not believe him.
You idiotI" he snarled. This IL d
nice way to act! I paid you good
money to como to this town and keep
people looking at, you while we did the
job at the bank. and here you are
4 drunk as q sailor. All right. I can't
have anything like you down, there at
the bank; you're q joke. But Listen
to this. tell you: If you don't want
to get twenty years in the pen you be
ready to jump into the automobile
/ when we come by here. Understand
that? Well. you'd better understand
It. I'll give three toots of my horn
and you beat it out and into the auto
mobile when you hear It. And II you
drink another drop TIL smash your
head in!"
|
As he proceeded the hole widened and
grew higher, until he found himself in
a chamber fully a yard high In this
he could not stand erect. but by put
| ting his hands above his head he could
feel the planhing that formed the bot
tom Of Mr.. Widdles coal yard, al
though 1t was so blackened with coal
dust as to be indistinguishable even
in the light Of the lantern. With great
care he investigated this planking. At
one place a small upright extended
from the floor to this plank ceiling,
and Mr.. Gubb jerlzsd at this gently.
The result was entirely unexpected
A trap door fell downward, striking
him on the head and rendering him
momentarily unconscious. and this was
followed by a small avalanche Of egg
coal It descended like miniature
Niagara full upon Mr.. Gubb's back.
hattening him to the floor and cover
ing him with coal. And the only sound
he uttered was UGH" Then all was
silent. He had found the leak in the
coal yard.
How long he lay there he was never
able to say. but there can BE no doubt