Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-10-31
CHAPTER III-Continued

SAA1E EN tAA-GOntEnuCQ
8
In bllssful ignorance Of the sad
plight OF the clerk below, two men
were sitting In this room, deep in con
versation. In a chair drawn up close
10 the desk was no less q person than
Charles Latter. NJ. F., and It was he
who was doing most Of the talking
But It was the other man who riveted
attention; the man who presumably
was Mr.. Atkinson himself
AT first he seemed to be afflicted
with an almost phenomenal stoop, and
Il was only when one got nearer that
the reason was clear The man was
hunchback, and the effect II gave
was that Of huge bird Of prey. I'm
like most hunchbacks, his legs were
OF normal length, and as he sat mo-
tionless In his chair a hand on each
knee, staring with unwlnking eyes at
his laxative companion, there was
something menacing and lmplacable
In his appearance. His hair was gray
his features stern and hard; while his
mouth reminded one Of steel trap.
But It was his eyes that dominated
everything grayhlue and piercing,
they seemed able to probe ones inner
most soul. A man to whom Il would
be unwlse 20 lie-a man utterly I'M
serupuious In himself, who would vet
punish double. dealing in those who
worked for him with merciless sever
lty. A dangerous man.
so you went to the police Mr.. Lat
ter" lac remarked suavely. And
what had our friend Sir Bryan john
stone "a say on the matterY'
AT first. count he didn't say much.
In fact he really said very little all
through. But once he looked Mt the
note his whole manner changed.
could see that Instantly. There was
something about the note which In
terested him.
let me see II" said the count
holding out his hand
Il left 1t with Sir Bryan" answered
the other. 4He asked me to let him
keep t. And he promised that
should be all right"
The counts lips curled.
III would take more than Sir Bryan
Johnstone's promise, Mr.. Latter. to IN
sure your safety, 10 you know whom
that note was fromT'
Il thought count" said the other a
little tremuously-' thought II might
be from this mysterious Black Gang
that one has heard rumors about
at was" replied the count tersely.
"Heayensl stammered Latter
'"rheu It's true; they exist"
I'm the last month" answered the
hunchhack, staring hxedly AT hf.
frightened companion, nearly twenty
Of our most useful men have 81 san
peared They have simply vanished
into thin air know. no matter how
that II is not the police the police ara
as mystieed as we are. But the 20
lice. Mr. Latter, whatever views they
may take officially are tn all probable
lty uuoflcially very glad or our
friends disappearance, AZ any rate
until last night"
what do you meanY' asked the
ether.
last Might the police were balked
Of their prey, aud McIver doesn't like
being baked You know ZaboleH was
sent oyer?"
Eyes, az course That Is one OF the
reasons came around tonight. Have
you seen hlmT's
81 have not" answered the count
grlmly The police found out he was
coming"
Mir Lat,ers face hlanched: the
thought OF Zabolen 10 custody didut
appeal 70 him. 1t may he mentioned
thar his feelings were purely selfish
ZaboleG knew too much.
But the Count was speaking again
A faint sneer was an his face; ne had
read the others mind Ike an open
book
And so" he continued did the
black Gang They removed 2aboletT
and our friend Waldoek from under
The very noses * the police and. like
the twenty others, they have dlsap-
peared"
My Cd" There was no doubt
now about Mr, Latter's state ~ mind.
And now they've threatened ma"
And now they've threatened you. "
agreed the count And you, ] am
glad to say, have done exactly what ]
AAOald have b0ia yOu 10 d, had l s4an