Graham guardian., 1922-11-28

He Recognized Hobart's Voice.
He recognized Hobart's voice. as the
fellow plunged down the steps from
the first floor out into the yard.
ITO HI, of course he's herel" he
stormed. "My Cd, man, he dived
out head first; I saw him. He'll be
dead as door nail now. Come on
with that lantern, Turner. Where In
thunder Is the ladder-does any one
know?"
"You think he lies on the roofT'
"Why not? That's where he must
have struck, amt 1t, Shorty? l don't
know, though; 1t is so steep he'd
most likely roll of. Here, you. let
me take that glim. There's nothing
here in these boxes. All, there's the
ladder; climb up. Shorty, and see II
the guy is stuck anywhere on the roof.
Go on! What are you afraid of: il
he's there, he's stiff all right, be-
lieve me-"
Turner's voice, hoarse and rumbling.
came DhCh lTblll hDuNt.
"There amt nothin' up here. Jim.
D--n me, If I don't believe the cuss
got clean away. Gee, but he was sure
nervy guy, all right"
"Nervy2 Crazy. you mean. But he
never took that fall without busting
something. The bird is lying about
here somewhere You make sure he
amt up there, Shorty
"Well, he amt; | kin see every inch
o. this roof Perhaps he fell In be-
tween them barrels down there
The two evidently searched thor
oughly. the rays Of the lantern dane
ing wildly about, while Hobart saw;
agedly cursed his companion, and re-
iterated his belief that no man could
take that plunge, and escape unhurt.
"It couldn't be done, I tell you;
maybe he could crawl, but that would
be all. Why he went down head first
I saw him 90 out the window. and
that drop would daze cat Say,
Shorty, maybe the stiff dropped down
Into this cellsr-way. Let's take,
The light strc"rtal in t:Jueg.l
narrow opening, ami iohn"t scfam
bled cautiously down thr losted steps
West, drawing himself sect ~ rack
behind the protection of his barrel,
saw the lantern thrust forward, and
face behind it peerng In the slild-
ows. The fellow did not advance
into the room, but Hobart did, press
ing his way roughly past, and stand
ing there full in the glow of light,
staring about into the dim shadows.
He evidently saw nothing to arouse
suspicion, for his voice was angry
with disgust.
mot d-n sign here, Shorty. II
looks like the fellow maybe did get
away. But 1t beats me how. There
amt no place now for us to look but
the alley
"An' IL he amt there?"
"rhen Wen hop this dump mighty
sudden, I'm telling you. With that
guy loose, II won't be healthy for me
hanging around here"
"He amt got the goods on you, has
hep
'No, he amt got the goods, but he
Is dead wise to some things. and he
didn't get out Of that shindy upstairs
without getting hurt. He'll be sore
all right, and will raise all the hi
he can. It's safer to keep out Of the
way"
AN what about that other buck,
Hobart? II won't. do to have him
picked up, II this guy gets the harness
bulls to take look around here"
THAT amt his style, Shorty; he
won't spiel anything to the cops about
this row. He's an ex-soldier, cap
tain, and he's nuts on the girl. That's
why he dipped into this mess--trying
to save her--see2 Maybe he won't be
so keen now, after the song and dance
she gave him upstairs. I'm half in
ciined to think the guy will drop out
entirely, d--n glad TO get Off alive,
now he believes she Is as rotten as
the rest Of us. But amt sure-may-
be he Is the kind that sticks. That's
why l don't take any chances Just
now. Things amt quite ripe for a
get away-see?"
"Sure; she gave him some straight
stuff, hey1"
"She certainly did; she's as smart
as she is good looking. II somehow
don't strike me this guy is going to
bother her any more. I'm figuring
that he's out OF H."
Continued in the Farmer)