Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-06-09

shouted, you haven't any warrant
You are simply trying to get in here
and rob met Now then, Mr.. Jenkins.
I'll give you five seconds to get out
the way you came in. I shall fire
through the door when ] count FIVE.
Ready! One two
"Goodby," he called. you win see
me again-and wish you had been
more civil"
"Three four :"
/ heard him scrambling onto the
dumb-waiter and then the eumber-
some cloggy sound it makes when it
goes down loaded. waited till it had
reached bottom and then unlocked the
door and peeped in over the chain-bolt.
He was gone-there was no pretense
about it.
Quick, monsieur" I said, snatching
up his coat, put on your things and
CO."
/ thrust the ice pick in his hand,
threw off the chain-bolt, dashed for
the dumb waiter and began pulling it
up. hand over fist, as fast as / could
go.
Mon Dieul What shall dO?"
"Skipl Get down into your own fiat
and hide. That man will be back here
WITH a police officer in FIVE minutes"
The top of the dumb waiter had
come up level with the sill, but at my
words monsieur's nerve seemed to for
sake him entirely.
'He will be back-after he is gone
wisout to find me?-and he brings re
rolice?"
"Of course he will-just to justify
himself to me if for nothing else-and
to satisfy himself that you're not here
in hiding. You heard him say he'd
traced you here"
zen ! am loss-and my little Claire
IS lost"
He seemed about to sink down in a
heap again.
mo, you're not. Where's your hat?
Get it,"
He brought his hat from the dining
room, jamming it on his head and
whispering, as he looked at the dumb
waiter: "How shall l make my escape
wis zis? I have never in my life"
"Get on" I commanded. Don't stop
to talk about it-unless you wish to
be found here and arrested. You
haven't a minute to lose"
He hesitated, murmuring, mon
Dieu-how can 1 make my descent"
tits your only chance to save your
self and Claire" / urged. Let your
self down to your flat and pry open
| the door. Hold her steady-go slow
| count the doors and don't miss yours,
| whispered as a parNag warning, and
he began his descent.
At that moment caught the sound
| of the elevator coming up-it might or
might not be the detective, but took
no risks. Leaving the dumb waiter
door just as the Unknown had left II
! ] slipped softly to the kitchen door,
closed and locked it and put up the
chain-bolt again. To the casual eye
| the kitchen was as II had been five
minutes before, untouched. unopened.
AS | stepped into the dining room
the front bell rang long and loud.
let it ring and ring again, and
heard a voice, "Yes-she's there"
The fourth ring was followed by the
pounding of heavy hand.
/ had been listening to the dumb
waiter and it had now stopped.
thought it safe to make a move on my
side, so walked noisily along the hall
and called through the door, "Who's
there?"
Police officer. Open the door
please"
'What precinctf"
There was a grunt before he an
swered, "Thirty-six."
"Oh, ali right" opened the door
or tie chair bolt.
There stood a broad-shouldered ions
of the finest" and off to one side o.
him, looking very pale and insignia
cant, my detective.
"Oh, it's your / exclaimed affably
addressing the officer and taking M
notice OF the detective.
IF yen open the door" he sug
gested very politely.
'with pleasure" and ! took of tn
chain-bolt and threw the door wild
open.
"step in" said I. snow, officer
what is the troubleT
well. you see, this gentleman her
believes you're hiding a party he
got a warrant fer"
Help yourselves" said CURLY
moving aside to let them pass.
The Unknown darted along the din
ing room; the officer followed;
brought up the rear. A glance showe'
that both the dining room and m
udy opening into it were empty.
He went back to the bedroom-eas'
ing a glance at the kitchen door as h
passed, which was chain-bolted as Il
told him IL was-and looked unde
the bed. After that he peered into IN
bathroom and returned for final SUI
: vey of the double room before UNLOCK
ing the kitchen door. As he threw
: open the first thing that caught his ey
was the dumb-waiter door, gapin
wide the way he'd left 1t, and as n
stepped across the threshold / shot o.
: at him. Il hid your man in the refrie
erator-be sure to look there"
I And he pulled open the refrigerato