The Taney County republican., 1920-03-04

the Bltcnen uOOT neafiy so, anu DellDu
IL Billy, jammed in between the refrig
orator and the set tubs, was complete
ly concealed unless one entered the
room. A low light burned here, suf-
fic!cnt tn show the rooms apparent
emptiness. We calculated that mon
sieur would make dash for the fire
escape when shot off the blank car
fridge from my bedroom and Billy was
then to greet him with the ammonia.
In my own room l stood pressed
against the wall just inside the door
way. In my right hand was the re-
vOlver.
Neither Billy nor uttered sound.
The little metal clock echoed along the
hall, horribly loud. II chimed the half
after seven. | counted tlcks--one min
ute gone. | counted and thought OF
hundreds of things meant to do, ca
had forgotten to do, all the while
counting mechanically. Three minutes
g0ne-four-f1ve--
A key slipped quickly, boldly, re-
gardless OF the noise it made--my
lock Mott couldn't be! The lock
turned. A quick illumination filled my
hall from the gas jet outside and was
gone almost before had realized it.
The door closed. My heart jumped out
and ran about the floor and tried to
hide under the bureau.
remember thinking, suppose II
doesn't come back but stays away!
Then poor Billy's done for-I can't
move muscle without my heart :"
! And all the time was thinking these
idlotlc things, heard the cautious In
domitahe pad, pad, pad Of whispered
footsteps. They paused at the bed
room door for glance withIn-noth-
ing there; paused at the bathroom
dnor-nothing In there; paused at the
kitchen dOor-nothing in there; then
made for the table.
The light blazed up in the dining
room and my heart came back with
plop. Monsieur had turned UP the ligh'
In order to remove the diamonds anc
leave me to discover it, as it might
chance--tomorrow or week from TO
morrow.
With the light, all my fear left sud
denly. popped out of the bedroom
saw monsieur with the hyacinths IN
his hand-fred the blank cartridge
and yelled, GLANDS upW and stood fac
ing him and between him and the dool
with smoking revolver in my hand.
He said, "MOn Dleu i"-took In th'
sltuation-and bolted for the fire es
cape-.gOt a smashing blow from th'
kitchen door as Billy jumped from he
hind II and then half glass OF am
monIn in the face. Two seconds later
we three were a writhing strangllnt
heap on the floor.
The next thing I remember l was
sitting on monsieur amldships ant
Billy was swapping handcuff.
gasped and rolled off on the floor
picked myself up from the !nelegan
position by way of my hands ant
knees, got a wet towel and soppe'
monsleurs face as fast ms | could
though why | performed this humane
act so quickly, can't say; and as soor
as he stopped stranglIng-for q lot o.
the ammonia had gone into his m0utl
and very little In his eyes-Billy and
dragged him to the dining room
propped him against the sideboard ant
opened window.
believe that none Of the three Of
us uttered word during the entlr'
performance-Billy says he can't re
member any; but one Of the stfanges
things was that the firing Of the re
yolyer elected no investigation from
the populous house. All this might
have happened In the center Of Lara
nile plains in snowstorm the day aftel
the fall roundup for the amount OF no
tlce man or beast took Of 1t.
It was n faultless achievement.
And now we had monsleur-we had
captured him, as Billy said we should
all BY our little own selves. He and
silently regarded the crumply creature
sitting against the sideboard and ther
for the first time the idea came into
our heads, "And now that we've go'
him, what are we going to do with
hlmr
1 looked at Billy and he looked a'
me. We asked each other the question
with our eyes. AS for monsieur, his
fears had swallowed up his chngrin al
the indIgnitles heaped upon him
Strange as It may seem. he was thu
first of the three that found his voice.
"Zere has been a great mistake" hi
began, to which Billy retorted:
ut looks that way"
"Ah-c'est yousl" breathed mon
sieur suddenly recognizing Billy.
"Of course. Who did you think 4
wasr returned Billy with a tang oi
pertness, for which he might on thai
occasion be forgiven.
Monsieur repaid II by ignoring hin
and addressing himself to me.
"If madame will permit me chail
and allow me to explain-f'
we couldn't very well refuse him
that--particularly as we didn't know
! yrbat IN do with him aflyWHy-SO we