The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-08-25


/ cided to play a lone hand except for
such help as Johnnie could give him.
Clay took downtown car and rode
| to the cross-street mentioned In the let
ter for preliminary tour Of inyesti-
cation. The street designated was
one of plain brownstone fronts with
| iron-grilled doors. The blank faces
| of the houses invited no confidence.
| II struck him that there was some
thing sinister about the neighb0rhood,
but perhaps the thought was born OF
the fear. Number 121 had windows
barred with ornamental grilles. This
might be to keep burglars out. 1t
would serve equally well to keep pris-
onefs in.
The cattleman did not linger In that
street lined with houses of sinister
faces. He did not care to call atten-
tion to his presence by staying too
long. Besides, he had some arrange
ments to make for the night at his
| rooms.
These were simple and few. He
oiled and loaded his revolver careful
ly, leaving the hammer on the one
chamber left empty to prevent acct
dents, after the custom OF all careful
gunner. He changed into the wrinkled
suit he had worn whea he reached
the city, and substituted for his shoes
pair Of felt.soled gymnasium ones.
The bowlegged little punchcr
watched his friend, just as a faithful
dog does his master. He asked no
questions. In good time he knew he
would be told all 1t was necessary for
him to know.
As they rode from the Bronx, Clay
outlined the situation and told his
plans SO far as he had any.
$50 I'm goin' to take whirl at 1t,
johnnie. Mebbe they're lynn low up
in that house to get me. Mebbe the
notes the real thing. You can search
me which 1t 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
don't show up inside of thirty min
utes, get the police busy right away
breakin' into the place. Do you get
me, JohnnleT
"Lemme go with you into the house,
Clay" the little man pleaded.
"Nothin' dom, old-tfmer This -
my Job, and l don't reckon I'll let any
body else tackle 1t. Much obliged,
Just the same. You're one sure
| Tah
The little fellow knew that the mat
ter was settled. Clay had decided and
what he said was final. But John
. ME worried about 1t all the way. At
the last moment, when they separated
at the street corner, he added one last
word.
Don't you be too venturesome, son.
If them guys got you 1t sure would
break me all up"
Clay smiled cheerfully. They're
!. not goin' to get me, Johnnie. Don't
: forget to remember net to forget yore
: part. Keep under cover for thirty min
> utes; then II haven't shown up
: holler yore head off for the cops"
They were passing an alley as Clay
finished speaking. He slipped into 1T
friendly darkness and was present.!
: lost to sight. It ran into an inner
court which was the center Of tortu
GUS passages. The cattleman stopped
to get his bearings, selected the likeli
= est exit, and brought up In the shell
ter of small porch. This, he fel
t sure, must be the rear of the hous
he wanted.
y A strip of lattice work. ran up tn
side of the entrance. Very carefully
3 testing every Stat with his weight be
fore trusting himself to it, he climbe,
d up and edged forward noiselessy upo
d the roof. on hands and knees h
n crawled to the window and tried t
o peer in.
The blind was down, but he coul
1t see that the room was dark. Wha
)? danger lurked behind the drawn bin
he could not guess, but after me
ment. to make sure that the revolve
y beneath his belt was ready for II
| slant use, he put his hand gently o
the sash.
His motions were soundlesS as III
fall of snowHakes. The window move
| slowly, almost lmperceptibly, under I'll
pressure Of his hands. Warily he If
ed one leg into the room. His hea
q followed, then the rest of his bod
I He waited, every nerve tensed.
There came to him sound thu
p sent cold finger-tips playing tattc
7 up and down his spine. 1t was the II
take Of some ones cautious breathin
} His hand crept to the butt Of Il
! revolver. He crouched, poised fl
/ either attack or retreat.
4 A bath OF light flooded the room al
| swallowed the darkness. Instant
| Clay's revolver leaped to the air.