Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-07-20

"A hundred thousand dollars" eon-
fided the Hawk softly to himself.
maybe it wouldn't be, easy to sell,
but it would make a very nice haul
IA very nice haul 1t would tempt
almost anybody. Yes, bad stuff to
3 handle; the fences would be leery
Z probably, because l guess every last
grain on this little old globe is cat
alleged as to ownership, and they'd
be afraid 1t would be an open and
shut game that what they were try
ing TO shove would be spotted as the
stolen stuff-not that It couldn't be
+ done tho, at that! There's always
somebody to take a chance--on a
hundred thousand dollars! And what
about the institution that owns It
coming across big and no questions
usked to- get it back again? Yes, /
guess it would make a nice haul--a
s very nice haul. wonder
The conductor had entered the car.
i had said something that the Hawk
4 had not caught---and now the French
4 specialist was on his feet.
How long did you say?" he de-
manded excitedly.
II didn't say" replied the conduc-
+ tor; Il only guessed-twelve hours
& anyway, and If we're thru under
twenty-four It'll be because some one
has performed a miracle"
Twelve hours--twenty-f our!" ech-
i 0ed the Frenchman wildly. "But,
mon Dieu, have not that to spare
to catch my steamer for Japan in
San Francisco!"
Emit what's wrong. CONDUCTOR"
4 asked the Selkirk doctor, You
haven't told us that"
"Ihe Rainy Fliver bridge is out"
the conductor answered.
The Rainy River bridge! The
Hawk reached into his pocket, with
drew his cigaret case, and made a
critical choice OF one OF the six
& Identical cigarets the cnse contained.
"Cutl How r. the doctor from
Selkirk persisted.
Mo details said the conductor;
except that It was blown up a little
while ago and that they think it's
the work Of the Hawks gang. They
] Just got word over the wire at the
! last STOP"
Jumping whiskers!" yelled the
reporter. Is that right, conductor p
s.ss 1les, guess It's right, fast
enough" said the conductor grimly.
s He turned to the Frenchman TITS
toufyh luck, sir, to miss transpacific
connections: but / guess that's the
mari you've rot to thank for 1.-THE
Hawk. =
"srhe Hawk, What is that? who
= II the Hawk r. The Frenchman had
lost his poise; he was gesticulating
violently now.
IN tell your said the reporter
brislsly. He's the man that's got
your original reign Of terror skinned
! q nile believe me! He's an ex- Sing
Sing convict, and he's the head,
brains and front OF q gang of crim-
mails operating out here compared
with whom. for pure, first-water
deviltry, any one of Satan's cohorts
would look as shy and retiring as a
maiden lady Of 60 who suddenly
found herself In one-piece bathing
suit--in public. That's the Hawk!
Yes, sir-believe mel,
Doctor Meunier waved his hands.
~ tho to ward off q swarm OF buzz
SIM. bees.
II do not underestimate" he splut-
4 tered angrily. X do not care to un-
deri,tard! You do not speak English!
understand only OF the delay" He
caught at the conductors sleeve.
You, monsieur-is there not some
thtrIg that can be done7"".
L.. -.
I ductor. .''We'll be In Sellkirk now in
I n few minutes. and the best thing
you can do is-te see Mr.. Lanson, the
1 superintendent"
The conductor retired.
The Frenchnan sat down in his
Chair, nopped his face with a hand
kerchtef. and stared from one to an
other OF his fellow passengers.
Messieurs, It ..is necessary, it Is
imperative, that catch the steam
erl" he cried frantically. What am
II to dc? 2"
.I4anson's good head; he'll fix
you up some way" said the reporter
'spothingly. Don't you worry. I'm
I mighty sorry for you. Doctor Meu-
mel; upon my soul -but say, this is
some story whale of a climax!
The Frenchrnan g1ared for an in
slant, then, leaning forward, sud
denly shook his fist under the 9TH
Ser's nose.
Young man, damn your storyI"
) he snarled distractedly.
The Hawk retired once more be-
hind his newspaper. The reporter
ysyriu ~ = -.
man. The Hawk was not interested
IN that The message. that single
word which had puzzled, him. was
transparently clear now--and had
been from the moment the conduc-
tor had spoken. The sllrmise OF the
railroad officials, even If it were nc
more than surmise on their part
was Individually correct-barring the
slight detail Of his own participation
in the AFFAIR." The Wire Devils had
blown UP the Rainy River bridge
they were quite capable OF blowing
/ up bridge. or anything else. That
wa, q detail. But they were quite
lncaDable Of doing it without very
good and sufficient reason, and one
that promised returns Of a very ma
terial nature to themselves. What
was the game? Why the Rainy Riy-
er bridge? Why this morning? why
at this time? The Rainy River
bridge was but a few miles west OF
Selkirk, and--the Hawks eyes stray
ed over his newspaper again, and
rested mildly upon the Frenchman's
little black handbag, that was quite
slim. and not over long, that was Of
such a size, in fact, that it might:
I readily be concealed under ones