Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1918-04-12

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enough; that's why she cracked me
on the head. I don't know whether
she's in a state of mind to appreciate
sense or not; but here goes!" he said
to himself
His head was swimming, so he form
ed his sentences hesitatingly and
slowly. "Miss Walton, my name Is
Stanley; I'm the chap Mr. Bracket
sent"
But how am to know? The letter
said that you were the man to watch
for, that you"
what makes you think that ann"
he asked sharply.
"The letter from the head of faith
er's detective agency says So" she
answered. "The letter warned me to
be very careful; 1t gave your descrip-
ton, and you fit it-but, oh. don't
know what to dol"
Her last words were a long shiver
Of fear. doubt, and painful dilemma.
"You get that letter and read It
again." he urged.
His mind was thick, and his phras-
ing spasmodic; so he repeated the
words.
II believe you are drunk" he heard
her say.
my dear girl, IL you had such clip
on the head" he began and stopped.
1t was useless to argue with a girl
whose reason seemed to be unbalanc-
ed temporarily by fear and fright.
eff you get that letter. you'll find
you have the wrong description In
mind" he said quietly. I'm a detec-
tive from"
But the letter said that horrible
man might claim to be detective!"
Stanley groaned in spirit, but fore
ing his weary brain to action, he said,
with as much assurance as he could
assume: "You read the letter again.
You'll find you have the descriptions
mixed"
He could hear her move reluctantly
away.
81 suppose she saw what that letter
was about-then she didn't know
what she was reading. didn't give
her time to see fully, perhaps. before
I knocked, and I'll bet her nerves
went up one hundred degrees"
When he heard her steps leave the
room, he drew his keyring, and with
q skeleton key opened the door. He
found himself in a small living-room,
but the room seemed to be In motion
Knowing that he must have his brain
clear by all means when she appeared
again, he started back to where he
thought the kitchen should be. He 10
Gated 1t, and drank heavily from the
faucet, then turned back.
AS he did SO, slight sliding sound
reached him. He knew what 1t was
the sound paade by a window as II
slides up! Startled but vigilant,
Stanley crept through the entry. and
saw the figure of thin, swarthy-
faced man, with cap low drawn over
hollow eyes, pulling himself in
through the living-room window. STAN,
ley, hidden in the entry. smiled. Be-
yond all doubt IL was Zeider-a bit
late!
AS Zeider's feet touched the floor,
Stanley was upon him. With quick
twist he threw the unp-epared man
solidly to the floor; but, like steel
spring rebounding, the mans body
stiffened after the first surprise; and
Stanley had battle on his hands.
It was fought silently. There was
, no crashing about for the time, just
the slow, terrible, silent straining of
muscle against muscle, as Zeider tried
to break the wise that was forcing his
elbows and arms back of his body,
and Stanley sought to prevent him.
cry broke through the tension of
the struggle Stanley caught sight
Of the horrorstricken girl in the door
way. She was staring at them with
the glance Of one demented. Terror
upon terror, after weeks of fear in
which her fathers life and fortune
had been ruined, shone in her eyes.
Suddenly, she started forward. and
Stanley out of the corner of his eye
saw she had in her hand the piece Of
metal or whatever 1t was with which
she had struck him. This time she
would hit the right man.
LtlutT, III Ouo Wnltc-cycu, SidIius
look. seemed to guess her purpose, for
he redoubled his efforts, and his
strength seemed to triple. Stanley
realized he was losing him, and with
one last grim setting of his waning
power, he rolled him over.
"Hit him!" he gasped.
The blow fell, grazing Stanlsy's
temple as he lodged.
"Great! She's trying to brain mel"
was the thought that snapped through
his mind like an electric spark!
Dodging another blow, he lost his
grip. and Zeider rolled away, sprang
to his feet, and dashed through the
window whence he had come. The girl
watched him with astounded eyes.
Baffled but thoroughly angry, Stan
ley rose and reeled to the window. his
automatic in his hand. Down through
the gray night OF the trees. he saw .
shadow fitting rapidly. He fired once
the shadow kept on; he fired again
the shadow wavered, hesitated. and