Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-08-03


denly, unsteadily-and the Hawk
caught at the nearest thing to him,
the table in the center of the room,
.or support a sense Of disaster upon
him. realization that. dashed on as
it might be by force of will, there
was limit to physical endurance,
and that the limit had well-nigh
been reached. His hand brushed
across his eyes, and brushed across
tried to follow the flashlights ray to
where it played jerktly on mas
sively framed picture over the man.
tel. He bit his lips now, bit them
until they bled-and moved forward
and laid his parcel of banknotes on
the floor that he might have the use
of both hands-and climbed upon a
chair, and felt in behind the picture.
Yes--it was there, His fingers closed
on a roll OF paper, twitched and
shook a little as they pulled it out
md small package from inside the
oil fell with d slight thud to the
fnantel. and from the martel bound
cd off to the floor.
The Hawk caught his breath, as he
listened, and descended from the
chair
Clumsy fool" he grtted fiercely,
as he knelt on the floor. IL guess
I'm pretty near the count to do n
thing like that
The flashlight came into play
again, and disclosed metal seal and
several pieces OF dark-green wax
peeping thru the paper wrapper that
had been split apart in the fall. He
picked them up. and put them in his
pocket; then. loosening his vest, he
tucked the roll of wrapping paper in
side his shirt. Well. 1t was done
now; he had only to get back to his
room, and there was surely strength
enough Left for that. Again his hand
swept across his eyes. and pressed
hard against his temples-and then,
STOPPING swiftly. he clutched at his
package of banknotes on the floor
beside him, and stood up. rigid and
tense. Out of the darkness, almost
at bis elbow, with startling clamor
that clashed and shattered thru the
silence, and seemed to set thou
sand echoes reverberating thru the
room, came the ringing Of the teie-
phone.
Some one In the inner room stirred.
The Hawk drew back hurrietfly into
the window recess behind the por-
there's. The telephone rang again.
There came asstep now. and now the
room was flooded with light. and a
woman, q dressing gown flung hast
lily over her shoulders. crossed from
the inner doorway to the table, and
picked up the instrument
Yes? s. Hello, What is it 2"
she asked, a little sleepily. Eyes,
this is Mrs. Meridian - What!
My husband!" Her rbica rang out
In sudden terror. What did you
say?" she cried frantically. Eyes,
yes-the Hawk-my husband-un-
conscious You are telling me all
thestruth,t you are trying to keep the
worst from me-for Gods sake tell
mo the truth! !. Not dangerous?
~ You are sure-vyou are sure
~. Yes. yes, | understand!
Atsthe station in half an hour
1 will be there
mechanically she hung the receiver
on the hook, and clung for a moment
to the tables edge. her face grey and
-bloodless: and then her lips moved,
and one hand clenched until the
tight -Sirawn skin across the knuckles
was an ivory white.
81 pray God they get this Hawk"
she Whispered. II pray God they do.
And l pray God they kill him! The
coward The miserable, pitiful cow
ard"
The Hawks fingers were digging
at the window sill, because somehow
his knees were refusing to support
his weight. What was she saying?
He did not quite understand Well,
1t did not matter, she was gone now
into that other room--only she had
left the light ion. 1t WINS very strange
the way his hand on the window sill