The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-07-27
CHAPTER x-contInued.

we BnOulu NOT put you " ucalH
asked the German.
Several" replied Tommy. Tool
here, you've been asking me q lot o
questions. Let me ask you one To-
change. Why didn't you kill me of
at once before rezained conscious
nessr'
The German hesitated and Tommy
seized his advantage.
Because you didn't know how
much / knew--and where / obtained
my knowledge. If you kill me now, you
never Will know. How did l get into
this placer Remember what dear old
Conrad said-with your own pass
word. wasn't It'll How did ! get hold
of thatf You don't suppose I came
up those steps haphazard and said the
first thing that came into my headY'
"That is true" said the working
man suddenly, Comrades. we have
been betrayed"
An ugly murmur arose. Tommy
smiled at them encouragingly.
THAT'S better. How can you hope
to make a success of any job II you
don't use your brains?"
"You will tell us who has betrayed
u.s." said the German. But that shall
not save you-oh, mol You shall tell
US all that you know. Boris. here,
knows pretty ways Of making people
speak,"
bah ~ said Tommy scornfully, fight
ing down a singularly unpleasant feel
ing In the pit Of his stomach. you
Will neither torture me nor kill me-"
"And why notY' asked Boris.
Because you'd kill the goose that
lays the golden eggs" replied Tommy
quietly.
what do you meanT
what do you think / mean?" par
ried Tommy, searching desperately in
his own mind.
Suddenly Boris stepped forward,
and shook his fist in Tommy's face
Speak, you swine Of an English
man-speak !"
Don't get so excited, my good fell
low" said Tommy calmly. "That's the
worst of you foreigners. You can't
keep calm. Now. l ask you, do
look as though I thought there were
the least chance of your killing meT'
He looked confidently round, and
was glad they could not hear the per-
sistent beating of his heart which
gave the lie to his words.
mo-" admitted Boris at last sui
lenly, you do not"
THANK God, he's not a mind
reader" thought Tommy. Aloud he
pursued his advantage:
"And why am l so confident? Be
cause l know something that puts me
in position to propose a bargain"
"a bargain?' The bearded man
took him up sharply.
"Yes-a bargain. My life and lib
erty against" He paused.
Against what7"
"The group pressed forward. You
could have heard a pin drop.
Slowly Tommy spoke.
"The papers that Danvers brought |
over from America in the Lusitanla."
trical. Everyone was on his feet. The
German waved them back. He leaned
over Tommy, his face purple with ex-
element.
"HimmelI You have got them,
them"
with magnificent calm Tommy shock
his head.
"You know where they arer per-
sisted the German.
Again Tommy shook his head mot
n the least"
"Then-then-" angry and baffled,
he words failed him.
Tommy looked round. He saw an
,er and bewilderment on every face,
,ut his calm assurance had done its
vork-no one doubted but that some
hing lay behind his words.
II don't know where the papers are
but l believe / can find them. II
produce the papers-you give me my
lie and liberty in exchange. Is It a
argain? p
"And If we refuseT said the Ger
ian quietly.
Tommy lay back On the couch.
"The 29th," he said thoughtfully.
is less than fortnight ahead" l
For a moment the German hest
ated. Then he made sign to Conrad. |
flake him into the other ROOM"
For five minutes Tommy sat ON the (
ed In the dingy room next door. His
cart was beating violently. He had 7
sked all on this throw. How would t
ley decide? S
AT last the door opened, and the a
erman called imperiously to Conrad t
preturn. r
The German was seated once moro a
,hind the table. He motioned to h
ommy to sit down opposite to him. II
1--WE accept" he said harshly. ION "
rms. The papers must be delivered S
us before you go free" F
'Idiotl' said Tommy amably. b
low do you think l can look for B
EN- IL you keep me tied by the leg Ct
rep h
what do you expect, then" W
81 must have liberty to go about al
e business in my own way" a.