The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-10-16
CHAPTER XXI

CHAPTER XXI
Kelsey woke up slowly. draggingly
from his long, exhausted sleep and
blinked his heavy eyes.
Why, it was daylight
His whole sleep-fogged brain was
reused now. Why was the panel
open? Ali There Hope stood on it
MOI It was a man.
Then he sprang.
The man in the opening ducked.
and raised an arm to shield himself
I'm a friendP' he cried, throwing
himself against the side Of the cup
board. Honest; you can believe me.
A friend Of Rangers"
Kelsey doomed above him, still
threatening; but his lowering glance
had shifted. What was this he was
holding in his, clenched hand-that
bit Of white paper sticking through
his 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
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 darlxened his
face. He whir,ed savagely, and
caught Charlie by the shoulder.
shaking him hard.
Who are your" One of their men?
Did you help take her?"
81 did not" Charlie wriggled like
an eel from that biting grasp and
stood rubbing his shoulder TN
one Of Rangers men, Juarez Charlie
1 Do you get that?'
He staggered. his hands in his
trousers pockets, his head at its most
impudent angle.
i've been wandering about with
one-third of a picture-puzzle, trying
ia piece the rest out of the air. AND
you've got the other two-thirds They
know that I'm on their trail, anC
that I've been in Barcelona. They
think you're drowned"
Drowned? Me?" Kelsey repeated
I'm heavens name, why?"
"She told them you'd made for the
shore, and boat. Then. that terrific
storm. Lord! Did you sleep through
that?"
81 seem to have slept through
everything, but my own especia
Judgement Day. I'm going through
that now"
But STILL Charlie continued
there's always the chance of YOU
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 yot
say you are, one Of Rangers men, al
you have to do is to go out now ant
telephone him and the authorities"
ooh, is ftp" Charlie retorted will
acrid sarcasm. This thing ISM
quite as simple as it sounds. Yol
start out to telephone, and you'll bt
nabbed sure"
Half-convinced, Kelsey gave way
ungFaeiously.
What sort Of a place is this SAM
tarium?" The brusque tang of the
question gave Kelsey the feeling that
Charlie was really heading somewhere
and aroused him from his melancholy
abstraction.
''Bristow's?" He looked up. lone
of the best in the country. Only for
the very rich of course; thoroughly
modern, splendidly managed. Bristow
is an allienist Of the first rank, with
criminal twist and craze for
money"
What were you doing there?"
Kelsey told him briefly of his posi-
ton as assistant-surgeon, and the
circumstances of his detention; Of his
first experience with Hope and of the
role she was playing; of their sub
sequent meetings and the escape.
Charles cigaret 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 a question.
''Bristowr' He held up one Of his
| lightning rolled cigarets, 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
bullet romf a rapid-fire reovlver.
Miss Copley. She's a nurse. Looks
strikingly like Hope Passes as an
older sister in charge of the insane
younger one"
Charlie pursed his mouth in a
whistle.
Amy one else?"
Higgins. An ex-Alderman. An old
millionaire. Made a fortune in Wall
Street. they say"
Charlie bounded up with a stifed
exclamation, his tongue clicking hif
teeth.
Hobo Bill That does. settle it
) Hobo Bill I might have known 1t
Hobo-The joker in the deck.'
He bobbed about the room like cork
swapping his fingers, muttfrine
broken phrases under his brea1A
THE hobo messagesl-Thia body