The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-06-23
Continued from last issue)

ct didn't know what this joint was
like or I'd never have brought you,"
apologized Clarendon. "A friend of
mine told me about it. He's got n
queer fancy if he likes this frazzled
dive"
Clay acquitted Bromfield of con.
spiracy. He must have been tailed
here by Durands men. His host had
nothing to do with it. What for?
They could not openly attack him.
"Slim" Jim's eyes fell on him. He
nudged Dave. Both Of them, standing
near the entrance, watched Lindsay
steadily.
Some one outside the door raised
the cry, "The bulls are comm"
Instantly the room leaped to fren.
Zfed excitement. Men dived for the
doors, bets forgotten and chips scat
. tered over the floor. Chairs were
smashed rs they charged over them.
tables overturned. The unwary were
trOdden underfOOt.
Bromticld went into panic. Why
had he been fool enough to trust
Durand? No doubt the fellow would
ruin him MS willingly as he would
Lindsay. The raid was fifteen min
utes ahead of schedule time. The
ward politician had betrayed him, He
felt sure Of it. All the carefully pre-
pared plans agreed upon he jettisoned
promptly. His sole thought was to
save himself. not to trap his rival.
Lindsay caught him by the arm.
LETS try the back ROOM"
He followed Clay, Durand's gang
men Mt his heels.
The lights went out.
The weSterner tried the window, II
was heavily barred outside. He turned
to search for door.
Brought up by the partition, Brom-
field was whimpering with, fear rs he
too CROPPED for way of escape. A
pale moon shOne through the window
upon his evening clothes.
In the dim light Clay knew that
tragedy impended. "Slim" Jim had
his automatic out.
1--WE got you good" the chauffeur.
snarlcd.
IN frenzied terror as Clay dashed for
ward. A chair swung round in
sweeping arc. AS it descended the
splitting Of the gun slashed through the
darkness n second time.
"Slim" Jim went down, rolled over,
lay like log.
Some one dived for Lindsay and
drove him against the wall, pinning
him by the waist. A second figure
Joined the first and caught the cattle.
mans wrist.
Then the lights flashed on again.
Clay saw that the man who had flung
him against the partition was Gorilla
Dave. A plain-clothes man with n
star had twisted his wrist and was
clingng to it. Bromfeld was nowhere
to be seen, but an open door to the
left showed that he h ad found Mt least
temporary escape.
A policeman came forward and
stopped over the figure, Of the pros
trate man.
"Some ones croake& atguy." he said.
Gorilla Dave spoke fupIquickly. "This
fellow did 1t. Witl4 chair. I seen
him."
There was NOM mt before Lindsay
answered quietly. "He shot twice.
The gun must bel lying under him
where he fell"
Already men hahi crowded forward
to the scene Of the tragedy, moved by
the morbid curiosity n crowd has in
such sights. Two policemen pushed
them back andj turned the still body
over No revolver was, to be seen.
"Anybody llnow/who' this isTH zone Of
the officers asked.
"Collins-'Slinr jim" answered big
Dave.
well, he's 4got his this time" the
policeman SAID. "Skull smashed"
Clay's hear sank. In that noise ,of
struggling mon and crashing furniture
very likely the sound of the shots had
been mulcd. The revolver gone. false
testimony against him, proof that he
had Threatened Collins available, Clay
knew that he was In desperate straits.
"There was another guy here with
him in them glad rags" volunteered
one Of the gamblers captured in the
raid. Il
"Wlto was he?" asked the plain.
clothes man Of his prisoner.
Clay was silent. He was thinking
rapidly. His enemies had HIM trapped
ut last with the help Of circumstance.
Why bring Bromfield into It? It would
mean trouble and worry for Beatrice.
Better speak up, young fellow, me
lad" advised the detective. 1T won't
help you any to be sulky. You're up
against the electric chair sure"
The Arizonan looked at him with
the level, unafraid eyes Of the hills
II reckon I'll not talk till I'm
ready" he said in his slow drawl.
The handouts clicked on his wrists.
HLAprER fYNI