The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-07-21
The Nam. or IN. Register
CHAPTER xI


So long as ! Was holding on TO the
notion that the man outside was one
OF ClannhAns thugs. hanging around
60 do the boss a mischief. | thought
! knew pretty well what | should 90
when Il came 60 the pinch. Would
] really have hauled on and shot a
man. IN cold hloOdf That's a tough
question but guess maybe could
have screwed myself up 10 the stick.
Ing point, as the fellow says, with a
sure-enough gunman on the other aide
Of that window--and the boss life al
stake But when | saw that II was
young CollIngwood, that was a horse
OF another color.
What on earth was the presi-
dents nephew doing. prowling around
Major Hendricks house after eleven
O'Clock at night, Juggling a pistol and
peekIng into windowsi could see
him quite plainly now. lie had both
hands on the sin and was trying 10
pull himself up 50 that he could see
into the end Of the room where the
fireplace was.
Just FOR the moment there wasn't
any danger Of blow.up. Unless he
should break the glass In the window,
he couldn't get a line on either the
boss or Mrs Sheila-if that was what
he was aiming 90 do. All the same
/ kept him covered with the auto
matte. steadylng Il against the door
jamb.
While the strain was az its worst.
with the man outside flnttening his
cheek against the wlndow-pane 20 get
the sldewise slant, heard the boss
get out of his chair aud say: I'm
keeping you out Of bed. az usual
look ai that clock Ill 80 and wake
Jimmie, and wen vanish"
Just as he spoke, two things hap
pened a taxi chugged up 10 the gate
and stopped and the mans face dis
appeared from the window ! heard
"a quick padding OF feet as OF some
body running. and the next minute
came the rattle Of latch-key and
voices IN the hall TO tell me that the
major and his folks were getting
home. had barely time to pocket
the pistol and 90 drop into a chair
where could pretend to be asleep
when felt the boss hand on my
shoulder
Come, Jimmie" he said. Its time
We were moving along" and in min
ute or two, after he had said good.
night 20 the major and Mrs kendrick,
we got out.
At the gate We found the taxi driver
doing something 20 his motor. With
the scare from which was still shak-
ing 20 make my legs wohble ] grabbed
at the chance which our good angel
was apparently holding for Us.
Lets ride" suggested; and when
We got into the cab. | saw man
stroll up from the shadow Of the side
walk cottonwoods and say something
60 the driver; something that got him
an Invitation 10 ride to town on the
front seat with the cabby when the
car was finally cranked and started I
I had sight Of our extra fares face
when he climbed up and put his back
60 Us. and ! knew Il was mrbell. But
Mr. N0rcross didn't
When we reached the Bullard ths 4
boss went right up 10 his rooms. but
had q little Investigation 20 make. aut /
I STAYED IN the lobby to put Il over
On the open page u the hotel register 4
In the group % names written just 4
after the arrival ~ our train IRON i
the West az : 80. found the signatur,
that / wus looking for. Howard Col
lingyyood " y Putting this and
that together. concluded that ouf
young rouuder had come in from the
west-whlch vas BIZ pu1zilng, sinc
Il LEFT the inference that be wasn't
direct from New York
Waiting Tor a good chance 81 ths
night clerk. veuturcd a few cues
tious. They were answered promptly
enough. Young Mr. Collingwood had
come In on the ~ But be had been
tn Portal City a week earlier. TOO
stopping over for a single day Nes
b. vas alone. nov. but b. haint beer
an the other occasion There Was
nan with him on ths earlier stop
ever. and BE- also. registered frum
New York The eisrk didn't remem
ter the other mans name, but -
soiiringiy icoked Il up for M in TIE
slisr register. Il vas Bullock. Hear,
Buiiock
! suppose q wAs NJ % NJ % - "a
sed n was late enough. n al con
sclsoce. aEd uoboty kne~ better thar