The Weekly Journal. — 1902-10-17 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

CHAPTER XXVII.  TII6 RIVAL DETECTIVES.  "What is it ?" the man said. "Save you from what?" "There are two men in the next room— they forced their way into mine—to—to take me."  "Take you? What do you mean?" "1 don't know—rob, I mean, murder me, perhaps." Her preseive of mind Wll4 coming back to her. "I must be careful," she was thinking. "I must not let him know there is any link between us." . . .  "I listened," 'she went on aloud. "I heard them planning, talking. They meant —may mean still, for all I know—to come here, to you." " Why to me? Are they common robbers do you mean ?" No, they think you are somebody they are after." "Let them come !" "Oh, no. They are desperate, unmanageable men. You don't know." "flow do you know?" "I—i heard them talking, as I said." "Look here! Their one idea now will be to escape—" "No, no," the woman broke in, " for they think you are— oti, no, they will not escape till they have seen yon ; and then they—oh! they have ways—" " How do you know so much about them ?" the man asked, suspiciously. tihe wrung her hands. "Only from what I heard them say."  " they must hare sail a great deal." "They did. All—all the evening they talked."  "It's a vity you didn't get out of your room sooner."  " I couldn't ; they left their door ajar. 1 —I made a rush iu the end."  " ell, I must nubtle them," the man bead, thoughtfully, "bet how Let's see! They will be now—" "Oue on the balcony, the other at the door," the woman put in as he paused. "Just so, and listening." "Yes, but they can't hear if we keep to whispers." "Confound the regulations!" mid the man between his teeth. "If we were allowed to carry arms--"I have it, said the woman, suddenly. "I'll give the alarm." Niu went to the open window, raised her arm cud tired,one, two, threeringing, echoing shuts out into tbo silence of the night. Bang, bang, bang went the pistol shots. Joseph, kneeling outside the door in the passage, started to his feet. "This means the deuce to pay," said he. " It'll rouse the house," said the other.  course." "And before we an get awa?." "Yes," agreed l'rissin, thoughtfully. "What shall we do  "Stay here—from necessity. I have it," said the other, suddenly. "We are detectives come to arrest the Westhaven murderer. The woman, whoerer she is. is an accomplice." "That way we shall get them both," said Joseph. "Ye., and with the help of the inhabitants."  Already there were scoinds in the house, hurrying foot,tcps, voices; in the streets outside, cries; and now from the balcony they heard a woman eali. Help, help, help!" she cried. " This will be a ticklish business," said Joseph. "All right if you keep your head." "He knows you." "Yes. You'd better go in first—when you're supported." "AJJ right. He doesn't know me."  The steps and the voices were near now. Joseph began to shout. "Here! Here! This way. Quick! We want your help." The landlord appeared in his trousers and nightshirt, the landlady in a shawl and dressing-gown; all the inn servants and most of the visitors followed in various stages of deshabille, and a crowd which had collected in the street hesitated whether to come in or remain outside beneath the balcony where the woman still called for I help. In the end about half remained, the other half pressing into the ion, so that the 'passage was crammed with spectators when Josepb began to speak. There were two local police in the crowd, and to these he iuldressed himself. We have been sent down from Scotland Yard," said he, "to arrest a notorious criminal, known to be In this neighbourhood, and who we believe at this moment to be in that room. He and his accomplice are armed, as you can tell from the shots you heard just now. The force, as you know, are not allowed to carry arms, and I appeal to you, citizens and brother officers of the