The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-06-08

what's the big idea in most KILN the
chief"
The man who had been flung across
the table turned over and grOaned.
! Clay would have known that face
among a thousand. 1t belonged to Jer-
ry Durand.
II came in at the wrong door and
without announcin' myself" said the
cattleman, almost lazily, the unhurried
Incidence Of his manner not shaken.
"YOu see I wanted to be on time so as
not to keep you waitin'. I'm Clay
Lindsay"
The more laxative of the gunner
ut the two autOmatics lying on the
floor beside the overturned table. They
might as we'll have been in Brazil for
all the good they were to him.
"Move over to the other side of the
room, Gorilla, and join yore two
friends" suggested the master Of cere-
monies. And don't make any mis-
take. If you do you won't have time
to be sorry for it. I'll 'ce'tainly shoot
to kill" 80
The big-shOuldered thug shuffled
over. Clay stepped sideways, watch
ing the three gunner every foot Of the
way, kicked the automatics into the
open. and took possession Of them
He felt safer with the revOlvers in his
coat pocket. for they had been within
reach Of Durand, and that member
Of the party was showing signs of re-
,, turn to active interest I'm the proceed
ings.
"\Vhen get you right I'll croak you.
BY Cd, WILL" swore the gang lead
err ssivagely, nursing his battered head.
mo big stiff from the bushes can
run anything over on me-"
II believe you." retorte,l Clay easily.
"That is, believe you're tellin' me
yOre Intentions straight. There's no
news fin that to write nome about.
But you'd better make that if instead
Of when. This Is three cracks you've
had ut me and I'm still right healthy
rub.."
don't bank on fool luck, any more.
1'he gorge Of the Arizonan, rose.
"Mebbeso. You're Il dirty dog, Jerry
Uurand- From the beginning you were
a rotten fighter--ih the ringi and out of
1t. You and yOre strOngtarm men
DO yon think I'm afraid of you be-
cause you surround, yoreseM with dips
and yeggmen and hopnutS all scum
Of the gutter and filth of the earth?
Where, l come from men fight clean
and out In the. open. They'd stomp
you ont like u rattlesnake."
He Whipped open! the door, stepped
out, Gosed it, and took the key from
his pocket. A moment, and he had
turned the lock.
FROM within there, came a rush that
s'ooll the panels. Clay was already
busy searching for Kitty. He tore
open door after door, calling her loud
ly byt name. Even ilb the darkness he
could, see that the rooms we're empty
Of furniture.
There was crash of snlintering
panels, the sound Of bursting lock.
Al most as though it were an echo of
it, came Il heavy pounding upon the
street door. Clay guessed thnt the
thirty minutes were up and that the
1tunt WAS bringing the police. He Owed
back into one Of the empty rooms
just In time to miss rush Of Nnen
pouring along the passage to the staaSs
Cut off from the street, Clay tONk
to the ROCKINGHAM. 1t would not do foe
him to he raughtIin the house by the
police. He. climlssl the ladder, pushed
his way Through the trapdoor opening,
and breatiied deeply Of the night air.
But he. had no time to lose. Al
ready he Acould hear the trampling Of
feet up the stairs to the second story.
Lightly Inc vaulted the wall and
came ITO the roof door leading down
to nR.nber 1913. He found it latched.
The caves Of the roof projected so
far Chat he could not from there get
hq'ld on the window castings below.
He made n vain circuit of the roof,
them passed to the next house.
Aga he was out Of luck. The, ten
ants had made safe the entrance
against providers of the night. He
knew that at any moment'now the po-
lice might appear in pursuit Of him.
Thereiwas no tirne to lose.
Het crossed to the last house In the
block-nnd found himself barred out.
AS he rose from. his knees he heard
the voices OF iaefi cianbaring through
the scuttbe to the roof. At the same
time he saw that WHICH brought him
to instant faction. 1T was a rope clothes
line whichN ran from post to post. dam
CLING fromS one corner Of the building
to anOthert and back to the opposite
one. 81 ) IS e. .r,e
No man. in |Manhattan's millions
knew the Values of a rope or could
handle one\ more expertly than this
cattleman. His knife was open be-
fore he had reached the nearest post.
One strong slash Of the blade severed
1t. In six long strides he was at the
second post unwinding the: line. He
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