The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-29

aim before he mas nnlsneO, ana Bei
your money back
The Frenchman hesitated. He look
ed keenly at West. glanced sharply at
his companions to assure himself they
were on the alert to prevent trickery
and escape, then he broke the seals.
He was deliberate as he drew the pa
pers from the envelope. He opened the
first slowly, the others quickly. and lei
the lot fall on to the table.
They were all blank paper.
"Tricked," he cried with a savage
oath.
Both of u.s." said West quickly.
The man standing by the door had
started forward a pace. His attitude
had a crouch in it. like an ANNA,
ready to spring. Lauderdale could be
dealt with later: 1t did not alter the
purpose concerning the man who was
in their power now. It merely empha-
sized the need for quick action. The
man was ready expecting the French
mans signal.
Valentine West knew his peril The
mans attitude convinced him that
murder was intended to be silent,
| strangulation or the knife. 1t had act
been intended to run the risk of inter
ruption from the street by using fire
arms. These two were no more than
hired assassins. experts at their work.
| He knew a false move must prove
fatal. There was just one chance of
salvation and only one He stood per-
| fectly still. calculating distance en1
time in small fractions At the INC
ment he moved he knew the attscx
would come He must make no mis-
take
Suddenly he sprang forward. his arm
1 y. -
the revolver the Frenchman had put
down when he opened the envelope.
! "If you men move I shoot you" said
| West.
The Frenchman, stunned by Lauder
dale's trickery, was wholly taken by
surprise.
| The man by the door moved. and III o
moment had reeled back against the
| wall with a cry of pain. a bullet
through his right arm.
| 1t was no time to take chances. no
| moment for words.
Hands I'D Every one of you'll" West
| cried.
! Then with his left hand he seized
from the table the revolver containing
the dud cartridges and. without turn
ing around. hurled 1t at the window
behind him. The blind stopped 1t from
|
but the glass was smashed, falling oil
the pavement.
Some one passing in the street
shouted excitedly.
Police! Police!" West called at the
top of his voice, paused a moment.
then called again.
For the three men the position had
| suddenly become desperate. The
Frenchman made a pretense of raising
his hands, but instead of doing so
caught the edge OF the table to turn II
upon is assailant to confuse him and
to shield himself at the same time.
At that same instant the other man
sprang to the attack. He was the more
dangerous of the two. and West fired
again. His enemy stopped as IL he
had struck some invisible wall in his
forward rush. stood erect for a mo-
ment, and then pitched backward over
a chair.
Get to the wall" West warned the
Frenchman. crouching behind the up
turned table. It'll give you fve sec
onds"
He obeyed.
He had ample evidence that he was
not dealing with a man of words.
m. West. you are entirely too pre-
cipitate.' he said. as he took his place
beside the wounded man against the
| wall We are both deceived as you
sad. and a word Of explanation--"
You can give that later" was the
sharp answer. Stand still and keep
quiet. that Is all want of you now"
crowd was evidently gathering in
the street below.
shouted.
| ynfr lot s4a HI az
with half a dozen other men entered
the room. Neither of the constabIes
knew West. but a whispered word
made them take prompt action. and
| twenty minutes later West got into a
taxi in oxford street.
There were officials to interview
without delay.
i Next morning Valentine West walk
ed to the War-Once and on his way
he did an unusual thing: he bought a
flower for his buttonhole--a carnation,
and he smiled to himself as the girl
fastened it in place.
The same high Official who had been
-ather short with him yesterday was
exceedingly gracious this morning.
You must accept congratulations
! and thanks, Mr. West
He accepted both modestiy. but did
not suggest that he had small claim
to them nor speak Of any chance in
the success he had achieved. He did
not confess that he had been complete
ly deceived by Lauderdale: that he had
walked blindfly into 4 trap. and that
he had only retrieved his mistake at
the eleventh hour. II was not good
for the Official mind to be told too
much.
Has LauderdaIe come as ussal?" he
asked.
Yes There was nothing to alarm
him in the papers As we arranged
last night they merely stated that a
man unknown had been found dead
in a house off Oxford street"
who he believes is me-" said West.
with a smile. Perhaps you would send
for Mr.. Lauderdaie. / think he will