Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-11
CHAPTER XII.
Two Men in a Locked Room

Some sixth sense OF safety-one tina
comes to many men who live in thu
outdoors on the untamed frontier
warned Clay that all was not we'll
The machine had swung to the RICH,
and was facing from the wind in,
stead of into it. Clay was not very
will acquainted with New York. hu,
he did know this, was not the direc,
ton in which he wanted to go.
Lindsay opened the door. and swun
out on the running board. Were
goin' wrong. Stop the carl" he or.
dered. =, -
The man at the wheel did not turn
He speeded up.
His fare wasted no time in remon.
lstrances. A moment, and the chauf.
feur threw on the brake sharply. Hi:
reason was a good one. The blue
nose of a revolver vas damned hard
against his ribs. He had looked round
once~to find out what it was prod.
ding him !. That was enough to con
vince him he had better stop.
Under the brake the back, wheel.
skidded and brought, up against the
curb. Clay, hanging on, by one hand
was Sung hard to the sidewalk. Tht
cab teetered, regained-its equilibrium
gathered impetus with a snort. ant
leaped forward again.
AS the cattlen1an clambered to hi:
feet he caught II full view Of tn.
chaufeur''s triumphant. vindictive
face. He had seen it before, at &
reception especially arranged for hin
by Jerry Durand m memorable night
It BELONGED to the more talkative 0,
the two gunner he'd had surprised a,
the Pretended poker game. He knew
too. without being told that this mar
and "Slim" Jim Collins were one ant
the same. The memory of Armies
stricken face carried this conviction
home to him.
The rain pelted down as he moved
toward the brighter lighted street tina,
intersected the n where he hac
been dropped. The lights of a saloe1
caught his eye at the corner. II.
went in, got police headquarters Of
the wire, and learned that a car an.
used by his abductor had been head.
ed into Central park by officers ant
that the downtown exits were beine
watched.
Presently he, picked up another taxi
He hesitated whether to- go to tn.
address Annie had given him. or t.
Join the chase uptown. Reluctantly
he decided to visit the house.
Clay paid his driver and looked a
the Gus numbers as he moved vi
the street he wanted. Many OF tn,
residences were used to keep ledger!
in. Others were employed for les.
reputable purposes.
His overcoat buttoned to his neck
Clay walked without hesitation up tn,
steps of the n numbered PAS. H,
rang the bell and waited, his RICH
hand in the pocket of his o~vercoat.
The door opened cautiously a few
inches and a pair Of close-set eve,
in a wrinkled face gimleted Clay.
."Whadva want?""
1.-THE old man sent me with a mes
sage" answered the Arizonan prompt
ly. Got everything ready for tn,
Say, who the HI are youse?"
zone Of Sims friends. Listen. 70,
got the kid-picked her up at a dru,
store"
II don know watcher fairy tale
about"
Clay put his foot against the doc
to prevent it from being closed an,
drew HIS hand from the ,overcoa
pocket. In the hand nestled a blue
nosed persuader.
Unless the eyes peering into tn
might were bad barometers Of thef
owners inner state. he was in
panic Of fear.
Love o. Gawd, d-don't' shoot!" h
Chartered. IT amt nobody but tn
caretaker."
He backed slowly away followe,
by Lindsay. The barrel OF the thirty
eight held his eyes fascinated. B,
the light Of his fash Clay discoyeAe,
the ma to be 9 chalk faced Httl
inconsequent.
Say. don't point that at me,"th
old fellow implored.
Are you Alone?"
You know It."
rs Jerry comiI hfrnself with tn
They don't none Of, them tel, !,
nothin' YIN nobody. I'm only Joey.
Unload what yOu know. Quick
I'nnIIn 4 hurry"
The man began a rambling. whfn
Hing tale.
The Arizonan learned that 4 roor
had been prepared ON the second moo
fora woman. Slim, had made the ii
I~xAneements. Joeyhad heard Dufand'
naI14 mentioned, but knew nothfn
81 the plans.
It'll hook the house over. Mo-,
aleng in front OF meyAnd don't max
aBy a1iistakes. This six-eun Il liabl
~ peripaat4 yoresAnatofny with lad.
d acattten1RnS examined the A1ri
t1Oeg With anMAenscfek view To IN
Eexstts. ~ might haye to leave M
hurry MDo he wanted to knOi
whsresbs 49, gyms The plan ot n
leseolas YER ancthef Aotst y
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