The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-06-09

| tAC SA-pu6AAots AAS AAAuSs ~
tryin' for a roof getaway" He turned
and led the joint forces back up the
stairs.
Thugs and officers surged up after
! him, carrying with them in their rush
the Runt. He presently found himself
on the roof with those engaged In a
! man-hunt for his friend. When Clay
shattered the window and disappeared
inside after his escape from the roof.
Johnnie gave deep sigh Of relief.
This gun-play got on his nerves, since
Lindsay was the target Of it.
The bandy-legged range'rider was
still trailing along with the party ten
minutes later when its scattered men,
bers drew together in tacit admission
that the hunted man had escaped.
The gang leader was in a vile tenn
per. If this story reached the news
papers all New York would be laugh
ing at him. He could appeal to the
police, have Clay Lindsay arrested, and
get him sent up for term on the
charge Of burglary. But he could not
do it without the whole tale coming
out. One thing Jerry Durand could
not stand was ridicule. His vanity
was one Of his outstanding qualities,
and he did not want it widely known
that the boob he had intended to trap
had turned the tables on him, man.
handled him, jeered at him and locked
him in room with his three bench
| men. ..,
Johnnie Green chose this malapropos
! moment for reminding the officers of
the reason for the coming to the
house.
"What about the young lady?" he
asked solicitously.
Durand wheeled on him, looked him
over with an insolent, malevolent eye,
and jerked a thumb in his direction.
"Who is this guy?"
He's the fellow tipped US off his pal
was inside" answered one of the pa
trolmen. He spoke in whisper close
to the ear Of Jerry. Likely he knows
more than he lets on. Shall make n
| pinch?"
The eyes Of the gang leader mar
rowed. $50 he's friend Of this Sec
ond-story bird, is hep
"Y'betcha!" chirped up Johnnie,
land I'm plumb tickled to take his
dust. too. Now, about this yere young
lady"
Jerry caught him hard on the side
Of the jaw with short-arm jolt. The
range-rider hit the pavement hard.
Slowly he got to his feet nursing his
cheek.
what yuh do that for, doggone it?"
he demanded resentfully. ME,
wasn't lookin' for no trouble. Me,
l."
Durand leaped at him across the
sidewalk. His strong fingers closed
on the throat Of the bow-legged
puncher.
The officers pried Jerry loose from
his victim with the greatest difficulty.
He tried furiously to get at him.
lunging from the men who were hold
ing his arms.
The puncher sank helplessly against
the wall.
Hes got all he can carry, Mr.. Du-
randi" one Of the bluecoats said, s0oth-
ingly you don't wantta croak the
little guy. Gimme the word, an III
run him in for a drunk"
Jerry shook his head. "Nope. Let
him go, Pete"
The policeman walked up to the
Runt and caught him roughly by the
arm. Move along outa here. I'd
ought to pinch you. but I'm not gonna
do 1t this time, see? You beat it,"
Durand turned to one Of his follow
ers. Tail that fellow. Find out where
he's stayin' and report"
Helplessly Johnnie went staggering
down the street. He did not under
stand why he had been treated so, but
the instinct of self-preservation car
rled him out of the danger zone with
out argument about it. Even as he
wobbled away hs was looking with I'M
wavering faith to his friend to right
his wrongs. Clay would fix this fell
low Durand for what he had done to
him. 81 r. ~
| - s,1SEg
Clay did his best under the handicap
OF lack Of entente between him and
the authorities to search New York
for Kitty. He used the personal COL
umns Of the newspapers He got in
touch with taxlcab drivers, sticket-sel-
lers. postmen, and station guards. All
the time he knew that In suchsa maze
as Manhattan it would be miracle II
he found her.
But miracles are made possible by
miracle-workers. The Westerner was
a sixty-horse-power dynamo Of energy.
lie felt responsible for Kitty ana he
gave himself with single-minded devO-
ton to the job Of discovering her.
When Clay met Kitty at last it was
! quite by chance. As it happened, Bea'
trice was present at the time.
He had been giving box party at
the Empire. The gay little group was
gathered under the awning outside the
foyer while the limousine that was to
take them to Shanley's for supper was
! being called. Colin Whittord. looking