The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-06-03

uICS, anu " uCIdlA JLcL I'LL DclWOO0
could get back to him.
Say the word" said Pardaloe,
land I'll fire the whole dashed joint.
I've got everything laid right here,
and good finder to do it with"
Don't set this place on fire till we
get everybody out of it," exclaimed
Selwood. II must see the inside of
the place. can't plan anything in
the dark"
Here's sash loose" mumbled
Pardaloe, baked Of his prey, "rlght
here. Why don't you"
SelwoOd, knowing the general lay
out of the inside of the big room,
jumped at the chance. "There's a
curtain in front of It," continued Par
daloe.
"Out with the SASH" said Selwood
instantly. Easy, Bill"
1t needed no more than the prying
off Of a sash-stop, which Pardaloe
managed with the blade of his bowie
knife, without making much noise.
He lifted aside the sash. A curtain.
tackled up inside, covered the window
opening; and while Pardaloe nOiseless-
ly ser down the sash, Selwood caught
an edge of the curtain in his fingers
and peered inside.
1t looked like fair chance. The
corner was not dark, but it was not
brightly lighted. A table stood close
to the side of the window through
which Selwood was looking. On one
side of the table sat man leaning
forward, with his head buried in his
arms. as if asleep. His hat lay on
the table. Selwood watched him pref
ty closely for moment-he was the
nearest element of danger - but
reached the conclusion he was stupid
with drink. The curtain was short.
ners, it reached only to the window
apron. Selwood could see men stand
ing in small groups not ten feet away.
but the entire room, probably for rea-
sons of safety, was only meagerly
lighted.
The gambler thought he could make
it. He whispered brief instructions
to Pardaloe.
IF you don't hear any shooting,
Bill, you'll know I'm moving safe. If
you hear one shot, just pay no atten-
ton. Have your shotgun up here on
the sill; the instant you hear two
shots, fire one barrel at that big
lamp" Selwood pointed to the lamp
hanging in the front end of the room.
"Let the other barrel go into the mid
die of the crowd-that will give me
a chance for the front door,"
"John, might hit "" objected Par
daloe in a ferocious whisper.
"If I'm in that crowd, Bill, after
two shots are fired. a few buckshot
more or less won't hurt my feelings"
said Selwood reassuringly. "Just let
60 quick at that lamp-that's the
main thing. I'll make what noise I
can with my gun to help you out.
Now set down your gun and give me
a lift must get in there with my
back to the window and both hands
free"
The mule boss took him under the
armpits, that Selwood's hands might
be free, lifted him, and the next mo-
ment Selwood, watching the nearest
men closely, stood inside the room
with his feet on the floor. Pardaloe
quickly rehung the curtain.
1t was the work Of the next moment
for Selwood to reel to and sink into
an empty chair opposite the sleepy
man, and, peering from under his cap,
to study the scene.
The interior of the place, of motor
ious repute even among case-hard-
ened men, was not wholly unfamiliar
to Selwood, nor had it changed much
in the long interval since he had seen
it. Neither Bunty nor Atkins was in
sight, and Selwood's nervous glance
searched the room vainly for a sight
of the one man he had taken a desper-
ate chance to see-Starbuck. Men
came at intervals out Of the back
room, but each one closed the door
most carefully behind him. 1t was
there. Selwood soon found reason to
believe, that the leaders were closeted
To attempt the inner room meant,
he knew, a showdown. Whatever
eyes might be fooled in the front
room, those in the back room would
not be long in discovering his Identity.
But with fatality either temporal
mental or due to his taking
career, SelwOod made ready to pene-
trate the second room In a search for
Starbuck.
He pushed guardedly at the head of
the man opposite him and found after
a little fussing that he was fast
asleep. The man wore about his neck
a bandanna kerchief. and this, Sell
wood, keeping his eyes we'll on those
about him, gradually disengaged with
one hand-twisting 1t around to
where he could loose the knot and
draw 1t from the mans neck. His
victim having taken this liberty good
naturedly, Selwood DOTTED McAlpln's
queer-looklng cap at moment that
no eyes were turned his way, and
after another moment tried on the