The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-08-21
BEGIN HERE TODAY

JonH AlnSley, man OF education
and breeding, becomes master
crook--preying upon other thieves
In arranging with j "fence" to dis
pose of box of jewels which he
stole from the White Eagle, crook
Ainsley is overheard by Swede
Thomassen, murderer in hiding.
Thomassen comes to Ainsley' s
apartment and demands half of the
jewels. He makes himself complete
ly at home in Ainsley's apartment
and waits for the money. Ainsley
telephones the White Eagle, telling
him that the man who robbed him
and partner will be dividing the
jewels ut 8 o'clock in his-Ainsley's
apartment. Then he tries to hold
Thomassen in his apartment until
the White Eagle arrives.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
And Thomassen was shrewd enough
to realize that any attack upon me
would be better deferred until just
as he was leaving. My servant, de-
spite my instructions to her, might
come to the apartment. Electric
light inspectors, the janitor-some
one like this might call, and if were
not present to receive him, embar-
rassment might arise for the hiding
murderer.
| had persuaded him that he
should stay here until ten O'Clock, SO
l felt fairly confident that he would
make no attack upon me until short
ly before that hour. And the White
Eagle was due at nine.
We dined, the loathsome Thomas
sen and myself, off viands that l pre-
pared. And at a quarter to nine we
had finished and were smoking after
dinner cigarets in my bedroom.
had advised sitting in here, because
y was the most secluded room in the
apartment. And Thomassen, as the
hour for his departure approached,
began to yield to the strain of the
situation. A murderer contemplating
another murder was certain that
he intended to kill me and take all
the Anderson jewels-it did not seem
absurd to him that one room should
be less conspicuous than another. 1t
was the farthest room from the en-
trance door, and anything said or
done was less likely to be heard in
my bedroom. Indeed, he thought
that was playing into his hands.
At just before nine O'Clock | start
ed an argument. ! said that he had
taken the more valuable of the
jewels and that we ought to divide
them again. From his pockets he
produced his share. He was glad for
the dispute. He wanted to work
himself up, cold-blooded though he
was, to a point where my murder
would seem more justifiable. Even
men like Thomassen have their queer
code.
! laid my share with his upon a
table. AS | did so, heard the faint
est sounds, the mere clicking of a
lock as key was turned in it. And
so l raised my voice, drowning the
sound.
damn it, Thomassen," cried,
"you can't get away with this"
His blue eyes, slightly bloodshot,
turned upon me with glare of
sneering wrath.
II can't, eh?" he demanded. His
hand went to his hip pocket. He
was in his shirt sleeves. In pretend
ed fear l backed away from ni.n un-
til ! reached the window. And as
l did SO, the White Eagle, followed
by that companion of his who had
masqueraded as a hunchback the last
time l saw him, Letter, entered the
room.
l uttered an exclamation of simu-
lated surprise. Thomassen whirlcd
and saw the intruders. His gnn
leaped from his pocket, but the
White Eagle fired first. heard
Thomassen's death-cry, and then
went through the window, smashing
the glass. l dropped to the ledge be-
low. l broke the Irvine that secured
the clumsy effigy in place and hurled
it to the ground below. And as it
fell, emitted shrek, the despair
ing cry OF man hurtling to death.
And then my effigy thumped upon
the ground. The books with which
had weighed it made it sound like
a human body.
heard an exclamation from the
room. Clinging desperately to the
ledge, l looked up. The White
Eagles face appeared through the
broken glass. He looked down; in the
shadows below he saw dark mass;
he took it for me. Perhaps you who
read my memoirs understand now
why l had to wait until after dark.
In daylight my bundle of books and
pillows and overcoat would not have
deceived him for a moment. But it
deceived him now.
He uttered an ejaculation of fero-
cious delight. He turned back into
the room. And like a cat rose upon
the ledge, swung to the window sill,
and before Letter could cry warn
ing, l was upon the White Eagle,
had wrenched his revolver from his
hand and dominated the situation.
"The alarm will be raised in five
minutes" told them. but unless
you give me two minutes start, I'll
shoot"
The White Eagle stared at me. His
deep-set eyes were bewildered.
"Nom de Dieu, why this?. 1t is You
who telephoned me to come here.
know your voice. Why?"
l swept the jewels from the table,
stuffed them into my pockets, and
backed to the door.
1T is too long a story, my dear
Duc,'' l answered.
Nevertheless, one day you shall
tell it to me-" he threatened.
From the doorway l laughed at