Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-07-31

that Dixer had succeeded even be-
fore he, the Hawk, had put it to the
proof by opening the parcel.
A llrch of the cab sent him against
the seat, and scattered the sealed
packages. He gathered them to-
gether again hurriedly. He had only
to slow down the engine little
more, jump to the ground. let the
engine. and car go on, make his own
way back thru the fields, and he
would be safe unless-that strange.
queer smile, half grin. half whimsi-
cal, was Pickering across his lips
unless he cared to risk his life for
that dummy package back there in
the car behind. that contained moth
ing more valuable than neatly trim
med pieces of plotting paper!
The smile lost its whimsicality.
and the grimness gathered until his
lips dropped in sharp, hard lines at
the corners of his mOuth-and.
abruptly, lifting UP the seat, he swept
the packages of banknotes into the
engineers box. leaped across the
cab, and began to claw his way up
over the coal, making for the back
Of the tender.
Twenty five thousand in cash for
me, and twenty years in the pen for
the kid, doesn't look like an even
break mhttered the Hawk. as he
clawed his way up. maybe I'm a
fool guess maybe ! ;lm-but it
doesn't look like an even break. You
rsee," said the Hawk, continuing to
commune with himself, they'll know,
of course, that some one who wasn't
Meridian tried to get the package. but
with the package still there they'll
think that the some one made a
bull OF. it. and tomorrow morning
when they open the package and
spot the finger prints. and get that
bank seal in Meridan's home, they'll
hold him for it cold, because what's
happened around here tonightll only
look like somebody making try for
the goods without knowing they were
already gone. The kid wouldn't have
a hope-r-the Ladybird wasn't dealing
any aces except to himself-the kid
would go UP for having previously
stolen the goods on his own account.
Yes, guess he would-wax, seal and
paper in his house to make dummy
packages with-yes. I guess the kid
would stand hot chance!"
The Hawk rose to his feet at the
rear OF the tender, preparing to ne
sotiate leap down over the orna-
mental brass platform railing of the
MI hi
self back flat on his face ON the coal.
The car door was flung open, and
Lanson, the superintendent, in pa
jamas, revolver in his hand, step
ped out on the platform. He was
closely followed by q young man
Meridian. the bank clerk, obviously
also In pajaInas, but apparently UNI
armed: and, behind Meridian again,
came the negro porter.
Lanson's voice, raised excitedly,
carried to the Hawk:
Damn it, there's no one, in the
cab! What the devil sort of game
IS this.
The Hawk edged up to the top of
the coal again-and the next instant,
with t,atlike agility, he launched
himself forward. Lanson. Chamber
ing over the platform railing. with
the very evident intention OF making
his way via the tender to the throt-
tie, ga8ped audibiy over the racket
of the beating trucks, and in sort
of stunned surprise and irresolution
remained poised inertly on the rail.
ing, as the Hawk, clinging now with
one hand to the rear handrail of the
switcher, his feet planted on. the
buffer beam, thrust the muzzle of his
automatic into Lanson's face.
Drop that gun!" invited the Hawk
in monotone.
The weapon, from Lanson's hand
clattered down, struck the coupling
and dropped to the track.
The Hawk spoke again--with un-
pleasant curtness
You Sambo! Move back, and
stand In the doorway! Yes-there!
Now, you. young man, you stand in
front OF Sambo-your back to him.
And then, as Meridian, too, obeyed
tho more slowly than the porter and
| with a sort Of defiant reluctance, the
Hawk addressed the superintendent:
Nov, you-your names Lanson
isn't it," he snapped. you, Lanson
back up against the young fellow
Yes-tflat's it.! Sambo, put your
| hands on the young fellows shout
ders-and you, young fellow, do the
| same on Lanson's!" The Hawk
swung, over to the car platform
then the Hawk smiled uninvitingly
ITS the lock step backward" he ex-
planned insolently. "You get the
idea, don't you? If either of you two
behind lift your hands, Lanson in
front here pays for it. Now-back
with you!"
They shuffled backward into the
ohserva ton compartment OF the car,
thru this, and thru/a narrow side
corridor, and emerged into the main
compartment of the car. The Hawk,
guiding their movements by the SIM
pie expedient of proddins the muz-
zle of his automatic none too gently
into Lanson's body, here ranged the
three along the side of the car; and
backing over to the opposite side
himself. halted in front of the book
case, and stood surveying his cap
tives with his former insolent stare
The porter was patiently reduced to
state Of nervous terror; Meridian
young, clean-cut was white to the
lips. and his lips Quivered, but his
eyes, IL hard, bitter light in them
never left the Hawks face; Lanson
too. was white, but there was a stern
composure in his face that was alb
sent from the younger mans.
1t wsls Lanson who spoke.
Il presume" he said evenly, that
you are the abandoned scoundrel
known as the Hawk. whom one OF