Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-08-07

in the Wire Devils preserves. but he
had always worn a mask, and-there
came twisted grin-they perhaps
would not recognize him without 1T.
And it was quite necessary that they
should recognize the Hawk-if he
was to keep that promise to the
Butcher! 1t might be a farewell, as
far as he was concerned, but he In
tended that 1t should be a memoir
able one, and that no doubt should
be permitted to linger in their minds
as to the identity of the parting
guest they had so lavishly, If I'M
graciously, entertained!
From the same pocket came his
skeleton keys. The Hawk now felt
tentatively with his finger over the
keyhole, nodded his head brisl<iy, ana
from the bunch of keys, still by the
sense of touch, selected one without
hesitation. The Hawk, however, for
the moment, made no effort to open
the door. The rush of the wind was
in his face now: like some black.
monstrous, rncanny wall confronting
him, the tendcr FLASHED and ciat-
tered, and s;wayed in dizzy lurches
before his eyes: while heavenward
the sky was tinged with deep red
glow, and the cab was abla2e with
light from the wide flung fire box
door, and the top of the baggage car
door, and the individual particles of
coal on the top of the tenders heap
stood out in sharp relief against the
background Of the night.
And then the darkness fell again.
The Hawks hand shot forward TO
the keyhole, fingered there an instant,
as he crouchedi again swaying with
the htrch of the train, then the skel-
eton keys were returned to the
pocket in the back lining of his coat
and the Hawk was in action. In a
flash he had opened and closed the
door behind him, and, with his back
against it, ris automatic flung sig
niftcantly forward in his hand, he
stood staring down the length of the
car.
There was a hoarse, startled yell.
that was lost in the roar of the fly
ing train, and the haggageman, from
his chair at one side of the car and
in front OF shelf-lille desk topped
with rack OF pigconholes, leaped to
his feet.
"s;it dowrl." invited the Hawk
coldly.
The man hesitated, but the next
instant Dropped back into his chair.
as the Hawk moved suddenly for
ward TO his side.
what do you want?' he demand :
ed sullenly
''This--to begin with" The Hawk s
voice was an iusolCnt drawl now, as
his def fingers, like u streak OF
lightning, were into ). the Others
pocket and out again with the mans
revolver. ''Iiow long since they've
been arming the basgagemen on this
road? You needn't answer-rHl only
talking to myself, Those are the
cases up there by the forward door,
aren't they? And the big ones got
the green boys-eh?' He was back
ing away from the man now. Don't
move. my bttcko--understan That
chair you're sitting in is the only
health resort in this car"
The mans hands ;clenched, as his
eyes narrowed on thes Hawk.
You damned thief" he rasped
out. It'd like to
quite SOL said the Hawk softly.
II know how you feel about it, and
if it helps any TO set it off your
chest, go to it, Nobodpll hear you
but me, and IT! try and make the
best of it,"
from the doorway were a number of
solidH made, heavy looking cases
that obviously contained the gold
shipment. In front OF these, between
them and where the bagga geman sat,
and acting. too, perhaps. as n screen
when the rear sliding door was open.
as, for instance. it had been at Sell
kirk. was a large, innocent-appear-
ing, flimsily-constructe packing
case. The Hawk, beside this NOW,
moved it slightly. 1t was very light,
so light as to warrant the presump-
ton that it might even be empty.
The bnggagcemon had relapsed into
a scowling silence, his eyes still on
the Hawk. The Hawk took his steel
Jimmy from his pocket shifted his
automatic to his left hand, and in
serted the jirnmy under the cover of
the case. There was n rip and tear
of rending wood: the operation was
twice repeated-and the Hawk threw
the shattered cover on the floor He
glanced inside. At the bottom of the
case lay large paper package,
strongly tied, and heavily sealed with
red wax.
Under his mask, the Hawks lips
parted in a smile as, his eyes on the
baegageman again, he noted that the
other was watching his every move
ment now with sort of intense ex-
pectancy. The Hawk, however. made
no effort to reach down into the
four-foot depth Of the packing case;
he canted the box over, and picked
up the package from the floor of the
car. With the point of his jimmy
he tore rent in the paper wrapper
and his smile broadened,
II apologize" said the Hawk, with
an engaging nod to the sullen figure
in the chair. They're mot green
boys-they're yellow backs!"
you damned thief" said the man,
in q chol1ed voice.
The roar and sway of the train
seemed suddenly to increase, as the
wheel trucks, jolting and beating at
siding switch, set up a sort of in
fernal tattoo. They were passing the
first station after the Junction
Conmore.
The smile Left the Hawks face. A
little further along, and they would
stop the train. There came a sort
Of daredevil set to the Hawks
clamped jaws. He was taking
chances, but he had already weighed
those chances well. The Wire Dew