San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-14
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| fingers between the spreading
| knuckles?
Juarez Charlie had lodged; and
quick as cat on his feet, stepped
from the cupboard into the room.
Kelsey had Enclosed his hand, and
was Strengthening out the paper. He
could see that there was something
written on it, but the light was too
dim and gray for him to decipher it
He was in the room and at the win
| dow in two strides.
Here he read Hopes message. The
rain was dashing against the window
panes, the wind wailing about the
house.
The uprushing blood darkened his
face. He whirled savagely, and caught
Charlie by the shoulder, shaking him
hard.
"Who are you? One of their men
Did you help take her?"
Il did not" Charlie wriggled like
an eel from that biting grasp and stood
rubbing his shoulder. I'm one of
Rangers men, Juarez Charlie. Do you
get that?"
He staggered, his hands in his
trousers pockets, his head at its most
impudent angle.
1--WE been wandering about with
one-third Of picture puzzle, trying
to piece the rest out of the air. And
you've got the other two-thirds. They
know that I'm on their trail, and that
I've been in Barcelona. They think
you're drowned"
Drowned? Me-" Kelsey repeated
"In heavens name, why?"
"She told them you'd made for the
shore, and q boat. Then, that terrific
storm. Lord. Did you sleep through
that"
Il seem to have slept through
everything, but my own especial
Judgment Day. I'm going through
that now"
"But STILL" Charlie continued,
there's always the chance of your
being alive and at large. So, every
thing considered, they've got a new
situation before them, something they
haven't foreseen."
"But, my God; if you're what you
| say you are, one of Rangers men,
all you have to do is to go out row
and telephone him and the authori-
ties"
"Oh, is it," Charlie retorted with
acrid sarcasm. This thing isn't
quite as simple as it sounds. You
start out to telephone, and you'll be
nabbed sure"
Ealf-convinced, Kelsey gave way
ungraciously.
"What sort of place is this sani-
tarium?" The brusque tang of the
question gave Kelsey the feeling
| that Charlie was really heading some
where and aroused him from his mel
ancholy abstraction.
"Bfistow's?" He looked up. "One
of the best in the country. Only for
the very rich of course thoroughly
modern, splendidly managed, Bris-
tow is an alienist Of the first rank,
with a criminal twist and a craze for
money"
"What were you doing there!'
Kelsey told him. briefly of. his posi-
4 ton as assistant surgeon, and the
circumstances of his detention; of his
first experience with Hope ani OF
the role she was playing; of their sub
sequent meetings and the escape.
| Charles cigarette burned to ashes
in his fingers as he listened, his face
sharpened down until it was wolfish
but he did not once interrupt the
story, or ASK question.
"Bristow. !" He held up one of his
lightning rolled cigarettes, naming
it. But" squirting thoughtfully, as
he laid it on the table. "he couldn't
swing it alone. Too big. Who else
is in it?"
He shot the question at Kelsey
like a bullet from a rapid-fire re
volver.
Miss Copley. She's nurse. Looks
! strikingly like Hope. Passes as ar
older sister in charge of the INSANE
: younger one"
Charlie pursed his mouth in wits
tie.
. ANY one else?"
. "Higgins. An ex-alderman. An OLE
: millionaire. Made fortune in Wal
street, they say"
(. Charlie bounded up with n stiflet
exclamation, his tongue clicking hi
] teeth.
e Hobo Bill! That does settle il
S Hobo Bill! might have known II
t Hobo-The joker in the deck"
81 He bodied about. the room lik