The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-06-06

YAllMl l[AA VIM
Was There or Was There Not a Faint
Note Of Malice in the Girls Voiee7
Come tonight after eleven. I am
locked in the west rear room Of the
second story. Climb up over the back
porch. Don't make any noise. The
window will be unbQlted. A friend is
mailing this. For Gods sake, don't
fail me" III u 2 4. t}@..S
The note was signed Kitty" Be-
low were given the house and street
number. Was it genuine? Or did it
lead to a trap? He could not tell.
It might be q plant or it might be
vail of real distress. There was only
one way to find out unless lie went to
the police. That way was to 60
through with the adventure. He de-
cided to play a lone hand except for
such help as. Johnnie could sgiye him.
Clay took a d0wntown car and rode
to the crOss-street mentioned in the let
ter for a preliminary tour of investi-
cation. The street designated was
one of plain: sbrownstone fronts with
irOn-grilled doors. The blank faces
of the houses invited no confidence.
1t struck him that there was some
thing sinister about the neighborhood,
but perhaps the thought was born of
the fear Number 121 had windows
barred With ornamental grilles. This
might be to keep burglars out. It
would serve equally we'll to keep pris-
oners in. fE..H
The cattleman did not linger in that
street lined with houses Of sinister
faces. .s.He did not care to call atten-
ton tosShis presence by staying too
long. BESIDES. lie had some arrange
ments to make for the night at his
These we're simple and few. He
oiled and loaded his revolver careful
~ leaving die hammer on the one
chamber left empty to prevent acct
dents, after the custom Of all careful
gunmen He changed into the wrinkled
suit he had worn when he reached
the city, nd substituted for his shoes
a. pair:3of felt-soled gymnasium ones.
The bowlesged little puncher
watched his. friend, just as faithful
dog does his master. He asked no
questions. In good time he knew he
would be told all it was necessary for
him tosknow.
AS they rode from the Bronx, Clay
outlined the situation and told his
plans so'sfar as he had any.
$50 I'm gOin' to take whirl at It,
johnnie. Mebbe they're lynn low. up
In that house to get me. Mebbe the
notes the. real thing. You can search
me which it is. The only way to find
out is to go through with the thing
Yore job is to stick around in front
Of the hacienda and wait for me. If
I don't show up inside Of thirty min
utes, get the police busy right away
breakin' into the place. Do you get
me, Johnnie?"' go .'
''Lemme go with you into the house,
Clay" the little man pleaded.
'Nethin' dom, old-timer. This is
ny Job, and i don't reckon I'll let any
body else tackle 1t. Much obliged.
;ust the same ~ You're one sure
enough white man, Johnnie" -.
The little fellow knew that the mat
Ter was settled. Clay had decided and
what he said was final. But john
uie worried about, It. all the way. At
The last moment, when they separated
1t the street corner. he added one last
word. - e -E~ '"
Don't you be too venturesome, son.
Il them guys got you it sure would
break me oil up" 3 .rf~S' 80
Clay smiled cheerfully. '"They're
not goin' to get me, Johnnie. Don't
forget to remember not to forget yore
part. Keep under cover for thirty min
iutes; then If / haven't shown up,
aoller yore head Off for the cops"
They were passing an alley as Clay
lnished speaking. He slipped into It's
friendly darkness and was presently
lost to sight, 1t ran into an inner
court which was the center of tortu-
,us passages. The cattleman stopped
% get his bearings, selected the likeli.
est exit, and brought up in the shell
:ers of. small! porch. This, he felt
sure, must be the rear of the house
leSSwanted. ~ - - : &&Fss" g.
A strip Of lattice work ran up the
side of the entrance. Very carefully,
testing every slat with his weight be-
tore, trusting himself to it, he climbed
up and edged forward noiselessly upon
the root. On hands and knees he
crawled to the window and tried to
peer in. Us, T. r.. 4 .>.~
The blind was down, but he could
see that the room was dark. What
danger lurked behind the drawn blind
he codld not guess, but after a mo
ment, to make sure that the revolver
beneath his belt was ready for In
slant use, he put his hand gently on
the sash. 49,. q T,N..s f4tss
His motions were soundless as the
fall Of sA0wlqke45 The window moved
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