The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-11-16

"eI9ht into thH Crashing Blow.
ness. wake up, and see to the bar
awhile. I've got some business. Who.
ever comes, you keep them here-un.
derstand All right, gents"
The three stood close behind him
as Mike inserted the key, and opened
the door. The tightly closed room,
with shades drawn at the single win.
dow, was so dark that West could
scarcely discern It's shape and con.
tents Mike without hesitation,
stepped within, his great bulk blotting
out whatever view there was.
"Corne right In, gents" he insisted.
"Von minute, an turn ON the light"
West never understood why he re-
sponded so recklessly to this invita-,
tion ana advanced without hesii tiop.
He had no suspicion of any trick, no
conception Of being In any danger.
He stepped in directly behind the
leader, and Sexton followed. AN in
stant later. the door closed, with the
sharp click of a night latch, and Mike
flashed on the light. AS he did so,
he wheeled about, andShot one mighty
clenched fist straight into Vests face.
This was doF so suddenly, so uneX-
pectedly, the man attacked found no
opportunity to even throw up u hand
In self-defense. The giant Pole flung
his whole weight into the crashing
blow, and the eX-soldier went down
as though struck by polc-aX. For
an instant, he realized that Sexton
was I'm fierce struggle; that his as
sailant stood poised above him ready
to land again If he moved: thea con.
seriousness left him entirely
He woke up, sitting i'm II chair, his
hands bound to the arms with strips
of cloth For a moment everything
about seemed tinged with yellow, the
various objects in sight vague and
| shapeless. It hurt him to move his
head, and his mind functioned duly.
fle could not think, or bring back
to memory recollection Of what had
occurred. Yet slowly the mist cleared
and the objects about him assumed
natural form. He was In room of
| some siZe-nOt the one In which he
had been attacked, he felt sure-fitted
| up with long tnhle, and number
| of chairs. There was no other fur
niture; the walls were bare, and only
small rag rug partially covered the
floor. AT first he perceived no other
occupants; only as. painfully, he
finally twisted his head to the right,
his eyes distinguished two men seated
| against the wall. The sight of their
faces restored instantly his memory
| of what had occurred. The Pole rested
! back, with feet on the table and eyes
! closed, but the other-the younger
man--wns watching him closely, an
/ unlightcd cigar gripped in his teeth.
! "SO you've come out of It," the lat
ter said unpleasantly. "Td begun to
! think Mike had handed you real
Knockout that time. Ready to answer
few questions?'
West, his brain clearing rapidly, sat
up straightcr in the chair, determined
= to play out his part the hest he could
"Perfcctly ready" he replied strug
CLING to control his voice. "Only !
should like to know what all this
means? Why attack me?"
"You'll find that out soon enough,
! Captain; hut first I'll do the ques
floning."
"NOt until I know one thing, at least
what has become of the man who
was with me?'
swell. might ms well tell you
carelessly. ale got hurt the fool com
PEELED me to hit him with q gat i; So
he's out of 1t. and you might as well
come through clean--that guy ISM
going TO helm Won any"
"You mean you killed himT
"Well, he's out Of the game; that's
enough. And as for you, your best pla!
right now Is to talk up straight" He
laughed sneeringly, UNLESS you want
to cali up your friend Karvan, ut the
City hall, you know. HI, but you was
easy!
"EasyT'
"That's what said. knew you all
right when you first blew I'm, only
wasn't quite sure. naturally guessed
your smoke-lnspectof stunt was q
sham. So I ran that Fred Knrvan stuff
In on you. You ate 1t up, which gave
J., you clean away. for never knew an.
guy OF that name. Do, you see tho
I Doinfs Capfaju WeetYs