The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-09-29

Be Nearly StrangIed.
helpless. was blinded, and so tightly
grasped at the throat as to be nearly
strangled. l only dimly realized that
my asSailant was q man, his grin that
of a giant. Then, to my surprise, the
fellow laughed oddly. swapping out his
light, and releasing his grip.
"Well, If this don't beat ILL.," he
said, in the tone of cheerful disgust.
"Come in here aud let ME look you
over
His hand closed on the sleeve of my
coat, and before scarcely found time
To catch my breath again | had been
dragged through a narrow opening and
became aware that q door shut silent
ly behind me.
The fellow gave me little opportuni.
ty to either act, or think. match
fiared, and was held aloft TO gas let
which Instantly broke into dull flame.
sufficient to render visible the full en-
tent of the small room In which we
stood. In some semi-conscious way
was aware of bare walls, of Il small
table opposite With some writing ma
tertals on Ii, and short bench covered
by blanket 1 suppose l saw these
things, yet all that / seemed to per-
ce-Ve was the man fronting me, who
stnred in my face, a quiZzical smile on
his lips, as though still half uncertain
OF the reality of my presence. He was
tall, trifie angular, but exceedingly
weil-dressed, with closely trimmed
iron-gray beard and peculiar eyes
deeply set In rather chalky face. He
broke the silence, evidently inclined to
look upon this meeting as joke.
Don't recognize me, reckon2 Well,
that mint to be wondered at, for likely
enough you never saw me before.
Beats the devil though why you
should drift In here; now ! suppose 1t
will have to be fifty-fifty."
His words and manner gave me
new lease on life. Whoever the follow
might be he was seemingly friendly.
must meet the fellow In that same
spirit and endeavor to extract from
him some knowledge Of whom he sup
posed me to be.
II do not quite get the drift Of all
this" ventured. "You imply that you
know me-"
"H-ll, yes. Over in Bow Street. on
the other side. The Hartlebury rob-
berry case. I'd been hearing about you
for years and when that came on,
took chance and drifted into court
one day just to see what you looked
like. You've shaved your mustache
tan h,,t
knew you, all right. | never forget a
face. Say, who put you onto this game
-Waldron?'
/ nodded. taking chance. I'D have
bet my life he was the guy ! might
have known he would double cross me
some way. or course a tips tip in
this game, and don't blame you for
horning in. Naturally you never knew
this vas my game-how could yOui
Waldron never said n word about me-
did he?"
Not once"
THAT is how had It sized up, so !
don't hold any grudge against you
Now listen," and he bent forward con
fdentially. lowering his voice, so |
could barely distinguish the words
"We'n talk it all over later, when we'r,
alone. Tain't exactly. snfe here 70,
these walls are thin. and there Is quite
bunch around tonight There's plenty
for the two of us, II we play the caro-,
right, and we'll let Waldron hold tn,
bag Whnt do you say, Daly?"
s. meme was "Daly." Wen, tkal
Lat,
gave me nc new light. Howe rer. moth
; ing remained FOR me to do except ngree
to his Hind proposition.
That's mighty handsome OF you.
What's the tigure?''
"A million - enthusiastically. "Wait
until ] get chance to explain the