The Dolores star., 1921-10-28
CHAPTER Xl
The Name on the Register


So long us | was holding on 10 the
notion that the man outside was one
of Clanahan's thugs, hanging around
TO do the boss mischief, / thought
] knew pretty well what | should do
when it came to the pinch. Would
really have hauled of and shot 4
man, In cold blood? That's Il tough
question, but | guess maybe l could
have screwed myself up to the stick
ing point, as the fellow says, with a
Sure-enough gunman on the other side
of that window-and the boss life at
stake. But when | saw that II was
young CollingwoOd, that was a horse
Of another color.
What on earth was the presl-
dents nephew doing. prowIinG around
Major Hendricks house after eleven
O'Clock at night, Juggling pistol and
pcrklnE into windows? | could see
him quite plainly now. He had both
hands on the sill and was trying to
pull himself up so 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 line On either the
boss or Mrs. Shcila-if that was what
he was aiming TO do. All the same
| kept him covered with the auto
matte. steadying it against the door
jamb.
While the strain was at Its worst,
with the man outside tiattening his
cheek against the windowpane to get
the sidewise slant, l beard the boss
get out of his chair pnd say: I'm
keeping you out Of bed as usual !;
look at that clock II! go and wake
Jimmie, and Wen vanish"
Just as he spoke. two things hap
pened: a taxi chugged up to the gate
and stopped, and the mans face dis
appeared from the window. l 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 tho
major and his folks were getting
home. | had barely time to pocket
the pistol and to drop into chair
where | could pretend to be asleep
when | felt the boss hand on my
shoulder.
Come, Jimmie" he said. "It's time
we were moving along" and in min
ute or two, after he had said good
night to the major and Mrs. Kendrick,
we got out.
AT the gate we found the taxi driver
doing something to his motor. With
the scare from which was still shnk-
ing to make my legs wobble, grabbed
at the chance which our good angel
was apparently holding for us.
Lets ride" l suggested; and when
we got into the cab, saw man
stroll up from the shadow of the side
walk cottonwoods and say something
10 the driver; something that got him
an invitation to ride to town on the
front seat with the cabby when the
car was nnally cranked and started.
mad sight of our extra fares face
when he climbed up and put his back
to us, and | knew IL was Tarbeu But
Mr. Norcross didn't.
When we reached the Bullard the
boss went right up to his rooms, but |
had little investigation to make. and
stayed in the lobby to put it over.
oh the open page of the hotel register.
IN the group of names written lust
a1ter the arrival of our train from
the West at 30 found the signature
that ! was looking for, Howard COL
lingwood. N. Y" Putting this and
that together, l concluded that our
young rounder had come in from the
West-whlch was bit puzzllng, since
II left the inference that he wasn't
direct from New York.
Waiting for good chance at the
night clerk. ventured few oues.
IONS. They were answered promptly
enough. Young Mr.. Collinpwood had
come in on the Z 80. But he Ind been
In Portal City q week earlier too
stopping over for single day. Yes.
he was alone, now. but he hadn't heen
on the other occasion. There was a
man with him on the earlier ston.