The Nevada County picayune., 1918-06-13

him, but he could not by any possible chance have been prepared for wide awake, unblinbing stranger staring at him six feet away. For an instant, only an instant, I saw flicker of fear in his eyes; then, disregarding me. he held the match to cigar stub already between his teeth and drew a long, deep pun
 When we were once more in dark hess, save for the tip of his cigar, he said pleasantly. Good evening"
 I waited l knew that the supersti- tious savage man way down in his heart was telling him that there would not be any answer.
 At last I said with equal pleasant ness, Good evening""
 He sighed with relief.
 "Is this Greens cottage?" he in- quired
 "No," I replied this is merely & shelter overlooking an especially fine view of the lake. You will enjoy 1t in the morning"
 "Oh! Unfortunately I shall not be here. You presume, are taking care of things for Mir Green"
 "Why, yes" I returned. perfectly willing that he should take me for night watchman until l discovered what he wanted and how he got there.
 Il was going to Mir. Greens cottage. but since l have met you 1t will save me the trouble"
 II imagine 1t will," I answered grimly.
 Now wait a minute" he retorted. Don't you jump at conclusions. haven't much time or l could explain 1t all perfectly. I'm not a thief I'm newspaper man on the trail of big story, and there are few questions l want to ask and a couple of photo- graphs want to borrow. It looks fun ny for me to be prowling around at this time of night, but there's an old grouch over at Greens who wouldn't answer my questions over the tele- phone, so I had to get boat to bring me over"
 "Umph!" I pretended to weigh his case judicially. "So you were going to break into MT. Greens cottage to ask a few questions? Well. I guess can answer any questions you want to ask until the sheriff takes you in charge"
 Honest to goodness, man." the re- porter exclaimed. you take yourself seriously, don't you? If you help me Pm willing to cough up a couple of dollars in real money, which Is more than my editor will be apt to stand for in my expense account, but if you don't I'll find out anyway, because it's a way l have, and you'll probably be dis charged for not catching me"
 But 1t seems to me that I have caught you" I interposed mildly
 Hardly" he retortet From the glance I got at your figure when lit the match l should judge that you could run a hundred yards in ten 1at- minutes, that is-while l am some sprinter, as you will have to admit If you watch me during the next few seconds. l am ofr."
 But he wasn't While he was talking had taken the precaution of moving around between him and the door, so that when he started to leave tripped him neatly and sat on his chest This is very effective type of jiujitsu for heavy set man to employ.
 However. l couldn't sit on him all night. For one thing l wanted to sleep. Finally an ingenious scheme solved my difficulty. removed Lis coat without unbuttoning it. which is done by grasping firmly the two tails in the back, one in each hand and pull ing sidewise. Treated in this fashion, even the most expenslyely made gar ment will separate along the back seam and may then be taken off from the front. After had the coat in my pos session l tore fl into strips. which I tied together and made q rope with which bound his ankles and wrists.
 When l had him all done lit match to make sure it was good job.
 You'll be sorry for this" he growl- ed. Mrs. Green has been abducted to UuntIngdon's island and murdered by lake pirates Won't you let me go? will save her. Remember, if you don't I know what you look like and I'll put you in jail for assault
 Tt isn't customary" I com nented, flor men who break into other peoples houses to have any one put in jail. So long,"
 I went out
 (To BE CONTINUED9