The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-09-23

Use to do as | tell you"
You will get off the train at
Rajahmundry," continued Sterne.
land go down the Godavry River
BY native boat to Yonaon. which 10
a French possession. There you
will take ship out OF India and
you will never set foot in this
country again"
AN interesting idea" replied
Smith but showing slight interest.
will you entertain counter
proposition from me-"
Proceed"
Il will give you two hundred
thousand RUPEES in Jewels il you
will 20 down the Godavry River
and leave the country as you
would have me do"
Scarcely enough, old dear"
bantered Stene. but CLEAN came
into his eyes.
You forget" argued Smith.
that You will avoid the necessity
Of killing me and thereby escape
the unpleasantness OF death
penalty hanging over your head.
That surely is worth several lakhs
Of rupees"
Just - - what jewels are
these?"
The loot that your organization
collected and which came into my
hands when I captured your lieu
tenant in Ceylon."
Il had hoped to use the Jewels"
continued Smith. Ito bait a very
beautiful trap for you in Calcutta.
You have been here?"
rs it bargain?" he asked
will you accept the jewels?"
II have made no promise, but
will inspect your dispatch box"
replied Sternc, indicating with his
pistol le2thercovered box OF
considerable size which lay upon
the floor. IF the jewels are there
they are mine again without the
trouble Of making a bargain"
Permit me to open the box
offered Smith. extracting small
key from his pocket and bending
forward rather eagerly.
Sit back" snapped Sterne.
Throw me the key"
Smith tossed over the key and
shrugged his shoulders resignedly
while Sterne glanced from the
dispatch box to Higgins and hest.
tated.
open the box for the gentle
man, Higgins, like good boy"
interposed Smith with what might
possibly have been a gleam OF hope
in his eyes.
Shoot him if he gets on his
seat" said Stern. showing spare
pistol across to Higgins. Smith.
for some reason, you want any
body but me TO open that box and
that is just the reason ! shall open
1t myself"
GO to the devil" growled
Smith
Sterne smiled in amusement as
he dragged the box in front Of his
feet upon the floor. He unbuckled
the leather cover and threw it
back, exposing the top OF the steel
box within. Smith bent forward
a trifie as if TO watch the opening
of the box. In reality it brought
him a few inches nearer to Hig-
gins and allowed his body to as
sumo an attitude that would per-
nit a spring.
NO false move" warned Sterne,
looking up and feeling the gun be-
side him on the seat.
Higgins stood up as Sterne In
serted the key and could not re-
sist glimpsing the operation out OF
the tail Of his eye. Mainly. how
ever. he watched Smith and kept
his gun we'll forward.
Look out for the Jack-in-the-
box when you lift the cover
warned Smith with chuckle. my
trap may be better than yours.
1t was subtle speech and a
most audacious one. Sterne
grunted contemptuously. turned
the key and lifted the steel cover
There was exposed the usual up
per tray containing papers, pens,
pencils and other odds and ends.
"Gracious me-" The ugly face
didn't Jump OUT" jibed Smith.
Hold your tongue!" snarled
Sterne.
On either side Of the tray were
two brass lifters than sank In
slots. flush with the tray. when not
being used for raising It. Sterne
inserted two fingers Of each hand
under these brass loops and lifted.
They rose freely for a good two
inches and then came a violent
clang from within the box while
the loops shot downward. crush
ing the fingers TO the bone and
holding them fast against the
heavy box.
shoot" screamed Sterne.
With the clang and the scream
Smiths body catapulted toward
Higgins while his long right arm
sent his clenched fist straight at
the solar plexus of the man with
the gun. II was desperate at
tempt and might have ended in
disaster had not Langa Doonh
bounded through the door at that
very moment and struck up the
pistol so that the bullet went six
~
inches over Smiths head. The
next instane the blow LANDED and
Higgins crumpled into senseless
heap upon the floor.
After collecting the various
guns Smith turned his attention to
Sterne. whose forehead was
streaming with perspiration from
pain and fury. Unconcernedly ne