Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-12-01

L Ou SuSpCCtSu SOIuGtHl1lS, anu WuuI-
ed to find out if 1t was so. Well. you
came into bad neighborhood We are
not nice to your kind around here
What really caused your seeking me?"
II do not know that l did," West
answered honestly. "In fact l haven't
the slightest idea who you are"
The other laughed
$50 you are as green as that Then
I'll give you the information My
name is Hobart, Jim Hobart am the
| guy you were looking for?"
"Yes," West admitted. seeing no
| reason to refuse an answer.
II thought so. although darned if
| know how you ever located me here
However. the sooner we come to some
understanding. the better. What do
| you know about me?"
Nothing"
as that so! You knew my name
| when spoke it. 1t was the Coolidge
matter that sent you hunting me- You
| thought the girl was here. didn't your"
ST had reason to believe she came
! here"
II see; how did you gain that news?'
"A conversation by telephone was
| overheard"
"Now we are getting down to facts
| And this comprises youl entire infOr-
| nation, doesn't it? Let's check up. You
connected me with the case because
| you were with the uncle and her on
! their call Sunday. You discovered in
| some way that / had since disappeared
| from that neighborhood. Then you ac-
/ cidentally got on to this telephone call.
and decided to run me down. Some
cute little detective, I'll say. But what's
| the object? What is it you are trying
| to connect me up with. What possible
| cause can you have for butting in on
this AFFAIR.""
81 told you before; merely curiosity"
"And who was the guy with your"
"An old servant of the Coolidge fam
ily."
"It was mere curiosity in his case
also, / presume?"
$50 far as l know, yes"
Hobart smiled, showing his teeth
cruelty.
"West," he said slowly, "you are
| id good liar, but am about to spike
your gun. Go on out, Mike, and send
in the first witness"
The two sat silently watching each
other, Hobart pretending a careless
ness he was far from feeling, uncertain
| as to Vests real purpose. The latter
realized now the true seriousness of
his position, yet this only increased
his belief in the reality of the crime
Previously his mind had harbOred
| doubts, but the very fact that Hobart
would resort to such desperate meth
| DDS was ample proof of his apprehen-
| sion of danger. If Percival Coolidge
had committed suicide, this fellow
would surely have nothing to fear; he
could safely ignore any efforts to trap
him; indeed would possess no suspi-
| ciOns along that line. 1t was mis- own
| guilty conscience which drove him to
desperation. Coolidge had been MUIR
of the crime, or else knew the one who
was, and had personal reasons for pro-
tecting the party.
These thoughts took possession of
his mind and were convincing He no
longer questioned bat that he was on
the track of crime, yet his tn ought at
that moment concentrated more vivid.
ly on his own personal peril. How
could he escape? What was he about
to be confronted with? Nothing around
him afforded inspiration. He was bound
helplessly; Sexton had disappeared,
whether dead or a prisoner, he did
not know; the walls OF the room ex.
hibited no signs of weakness, while
Hobart eyed his every movement cold
ly. evidently enjoying his predicament.
Apparently the man comprehended the
nature of his thought.
Perfectly useless. West" he said
carelessly. "This place was construct
ed for the purpose. and you are not
the only one who has tested it's
strength. You will get out when l say
so, and not before"
"Do you intend to say so?"
well. that depends" shrewdly. "Not
II your release means my taking any
chances. But frankly. do not believe
1t will. So far as can see you pos
sess no particular interest in this mat
ter-only the attraction young fellow
always feels in a pretty woman. Have
/ got that doped out right?"
''To an extent, at least"
"Yes. to a very large extent. Of
course, curiosity also played q part
while everybody possesses sneaking
desire to do detective act. Miss
Coolidge filled you up with lot of
bunk; she was good looking, and you
fell for it. Certain things happened
that you failed to understand. so you
rather naturally jumped TO the conclu-
sion that some crime was being con
cocteG. That was what brought you
here Now I take ii that. ordinarily.
you are a man of some sense. Conse-
quently | mean to try to get you to
drop the whole affair, as being none of
your business. If YOU agree to this,
accept your pledge. .he door opens. and
you go free: otherwise" he waved
his hand expressively
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