The evening world. Newspaper, May 5, 1914, Page 17

id and the eyes themselves were well CHAPTER V. Setting the Trap. OO much contact with police methods, perhaps, will in- duce police thoughts in one’s own brain, Robert Pollard, at any rate, took to police methods that night, for ho organized a system of effective patrol duty. His own tour came first, and his popt was anywhere that commanded a view of the captain's hall door and @ sound of the vibrant snore—a found which suggested the distant roar of a waterfall on the prolonged intake and the explosion of an auto- mobile tire on the exhaust. ‘Yt was an effort for Pollard, too, for his hours, unlike his code of mor- als, were very regular. Except on extraordinary occasions 11 o'clock found him sleeping sweetly, and he Was particularly tired to-night. He had eaten dinner to the clatter © ef East Indian knives; the sinister Jargon of Chinese river pirates had embittered his coffee; the bite of Arabian desert sand had turned his brain raw in the earlier part of tho evening, and the smoke of revolution- ary powder had stifled him later, until midnight struck in a friendly chureh tower and reminded the guest of honor that another day was coming tly. sPrivately Robert Pollard considered Capt. Velvet the most picturesque and mastodonic Har in the annals of humanity; but he had only to think of the big black grip to produce a honeyed simile for the adventurer, a nod, and: “Upon my word, captain! 1 su not another man in the world could have done just that!” He had only to think of tat little it envelope to glow sincerity at the captali “Prob'ly not, Luther; prob'ly not! Next morning, while the captain will slept, Pollard called a council of war. “Now, you're quite wise to what's Going to happen?” he ended. id nodded sourly. 5 hy didn't we take what he had while he was asleep—and beat it?” “And leave him with a hundred thousand for somebody elso to get?” “Robby, before he ca —— Ryan began ee checks—and shut up! the chief divgustedly. ‘This is an- other day, und it’s going to be the big day.” ‘Bob, we're taking risks in staying in this town!" the Snake sald fever- y. “Did yol ever get anything with- out it?” “But he says he wants to go out and fee the sights. We'll be spotted.” ‘The leader of the band turned and atared out of the window, frowning at the peculiarly perfect morning of what logically should be the biggest ay of his criminal life. “I hate to do it,” he said; “but @here’s no help for it. Go out and Le 4 & first-class automobile, Jim, ‘a it back here.” 4 can Tartve?" | “1 certainly can,” said the Snake: “ut I don't the sense of buying ing to drive with. If you'll give me till about noon, when they come downtown shopping, to look @round”"—— “I wouldn’t advise you to buy one if we could risk stealing it—you un- Gerstand that!" Pollard said testily as he brought forth their joint bank- oll and took to stripping off bills. “Don't spend over a thousand dollars for it, and be back here by half past it ‘A thou"—— “And eee that you get a nice-look- fmg car, and one that will make time 4f it has to,” concluded the leader. “Here's the money. Beat it!" “Wait @ second!” said Ryan. this your money or our mone; bed mean Luther—that buys this ens?” is our money. Well?” ruder member sought to speak failed. With just one terrible he turned away and rammed hands in his trousers pockets. aid the youngest of the i you take You get back here in- “You 5o! eide of an hour and have that car with you. It's my private machine— remember that! Now"—— “\He stood erect, breathing rather heavily, as the Snake wrenched loose and vanished. Then he walked into re room. The captain waked. bs ip well?” asked Pollard. “You could drop me over a cliff and ° never wake me once I get to slenp, beamed. “Golng down to * OT hag thought of having {t up nore,” the host anid unemilingly. “Te fa more usual, you know, and we're @ecustomed to It. Moreover, I want to,taik to you privately.” “About wh: ‘Something that concerns you,” Pollard said, as he stepped to the tele- Phewe to summon a waiter. “Ana wren you're done talking we'll } the town?” tha captain asked with } ls childlike smile. “I've gct some } business to attend to later, and”— “If you think it's more important what I'm going to talk about ‘we'll see the town first," Pollard said darkly, “I'm having my car brought around, and, as a matter of fact, we'll probably do both. But any real’ buri- } ness you may have here I shall be * then turn URES 0 pleased to attend to for you,” wested sweetly. The captain emitted a he qus- ed him for a moment, t, rumbling laugh and serious again. “This is no work a delicate, inno- cent city boy like you could handle, Lute,” he sald. “Ask ‘em if break- fast is geady yet.” He was just drawing up bis chair when the Snake appeared. A cap was pulled down over his eyes, hidden behind tremendous goggles; he had acquired a voluminous dust too, and engulfed bimself in depths. And now, he stripped off painfully new yello aunth hi s ) he jooked Pollard in the eye and said sober; ‘L have brought ‘Luther ‘he large yellow car?" “The her amallish sort of ma- roon car,” corrected the Snake. “Keep more than one automobile, Luther?” the captain asked. “Several,” said Pollard carelessly, as the waiter finally backed out and left him to serve. “Captain! ‘m-—yes? ‘I want to tell you something about New York banking and New York financial affairs in general. You know you're not in honest little Santa Chanaza now; you're right here in New York He raised the lately pocketed hand suddenly and displayed the roll of bills that represented their modest all. “And that is what we call money here!” he said rather enigmatically, The captain squinted critically at it. Then the captain brightened. “That's United States money, of course, Lather?” “It's | that,” Pollard said ‘ound the car, ni 2 * won't take that gold of mine here, Luther, Will you § a moa couple eae dolla can get it changed!" tho asked. iit “A coup" —— choked Pollard. “Two thousand’s plent: \f you can spare it, Lute,” the cap- ended, with sudden distress, my boy, and” —. The manner in which Pollard could maintain his poise was no less than wonderful, Smilingly he removed an ch of yellow bank-notes and ran. ‘er the corners indifferently. “Wealthy enough to lend you that Uttle sum, at any rat he mur- mured. He failed to, see the Snake, juat at his elbow, covering his mouth with ene hand to smother a shriek. He did not note Ryan as that gentleman turned pale and clutched the edges of the table. Instead, he smiled at Pol- lard and, having extended a hand, acquired two-thirds of their remain- ing capital. "Thanks, Luther,” he said, stuffed it (n his pocket; “go ot CHAPTER VI. Ready! N, Involuntarily, dropped his elbows to the table and hia large, square face into his hands; further than this, he risked actual ex- tinction by groaning out !oud, and Capt. Velvet turned to bin with real concern, “I was going to tell you about the banking situation here in the city,” said the master mind. “I'm not much Interested in bank- ing, Lute." “You will be in this kind," assured him. “Captain, all that money you're carrying—the checks, I mein—ts money that you mean to spend while you are here, isn't it?’ ‘Here or hereaboutsa—mebbe,” “You needn't be afraid to confide in me, captain,” Pollard sald, win- ningly, and still with a hint of re- proach, “I'm not afraid to confide in you or any other man. or in the devil himself during business hours,” said the captain pleasantly, “because I never see a situation yet where I didn't come out on top, and I never will, This here money belongs to a friend, Luther. That's all,’ Pollard nodded, “And because {t belongs to a friend you're just that much more careful of it, of course.” * the 9 he y “Mike always trusted me, tain sald simply. “Yep, “Then what I am about to tell you * will have just that much more point. It is all in check: You think that are worth @ hundred thousand know they are!” “Just how do “Ig honest and thinks he has the money on deposit here?” Pollard put in quickly, “Of course he i. and of course he put the money 1. “e.” “If you insist. I haven't a doubt in the world that it will astound you, and I don't want to be quoted—yet— 4s making the statement, but—every banking institution in New York City is rotten to the core!” “How do you mean—rotten?" the guest demanded quickly. “So rotten thatelf a man gives you check this morning and you don't ash it before the business day is over you're more than likely to find that the tk has gone out of busl- ness to-morrow morning,” Pollard said earnestly, “That's inside in- formation, captain, and 1 wouldn't give it to any one but a friend of father's, believe me, because I'd be blacklisted in Wall atreet; but—you remember the Intercommunal Trust Company, do you not?" “IT never heard of it, Luther,” the captain confessed, “The bank examiner reported it O, K, at noon on a Tuesday—it failed for sixty millions Wednesday after- noon, I lost one of them myself. And you know the story of the Hardpan National, only last week?” ne of the nolidest banks in the country—every one supposed who wasn't on the Inside, Blew up at five A minutes’ not! per cent left’ “Is that possible?" “L'a history, at any rate, Why, cap- tain, you have absolutely no idea of banking conditions here at present. I could name you an even dozen of banks that are doing business, literally, from hour to hour, There's not a man in one of them sure he'll have @ job to-morrow. that may not be a ruined man at any minute, You couldn't get rid of a New York check to-day, outside the bank it's drawn on, to save your life” He nodded with some finality. “So that, captain, ta why we all carry real money around [nour pockets, and when we go down to the office—I want to show you my offices, of course—l'll have the cashier open the safe and give you an idea of what we keep on hand in currency for emergencies.” Listen, Luther!" the captain sald hoarsely. “I'm pretty dumb about the banking business and always have been; but do I take It from what you say that some of those checks may not be good?” Pollard looked dry amusement at him. “There's going to be a big panic inside of a month. It isn't due yet, captain, but—-see here! I'm will- ing to bet you a thousand cigars that {f you walt a week before cashing in yow will not be able to realize fifty d dollars on your checks.” ‘Well, my Lord, Luther!” cried the captain, “What'll I do to save this here money of Mike’s?* And this timo Pollard's soothing, mperturbable gaze rested upon him and not one red cop- Pollard®@;ike a caress. “Obviously, captain,” he sald, “the bost way to save it is to turn It Into cash immediately and tuck the cash into that substantial black bag of yours, isn't it?” A “T guess it Js, Lute, I guess It is! And, say, T hate to bother you, but will you ride me around to the banks in your automobile till I've gathered what can of {t? “Why, It wan the v golng to suggest quietly, “It's really the only thing to do. Of course, I can't go into the institutions with you very well, be- cause I'm known everywhere in financial circles and the situation would be too plain. But I can tell you just what to do, you know, and TH have Jim drive instead of my chauffeur, And as a matter of fact Pollard concluded in an underto “if they actually refuse to cash y: checks anywhere I think I can scare ‘em into it “Luther,” sald the captain, with some emotion, “I don’t belteve I can ever thank you enough!” Breakfast over, they made the round of the banks. Strangely enough, Captain Velvet was able to cash every one of his checks. H denomination bills-- piled the big $100,000 in all—into his bag, the Party ned to the hote: The sleepy and went early His door closed. Beyond it the others heard the grip drop, and, moved by a common Impulse, Ryan and the Saake approached their guid- ing light. Pollard merely nodded. “About two,” he breathed “When he's sound asleep.” And then, in the next room, what resembled the deep tone of a bass clarinet trembled on the alr—rose a Uttle—exploded sputteringly. ‘There came an angry little rour of sound and a far more positive explosion. Followed a genuine, lusty snore that réverberated through thé place, and Pollard smiled quickly. Ryan was listening with all his old keenness the Snake had risen without a sound and approached his chief, and that gentleman brexthed: “Go out by the ladies’ entrance. Come in that way, too. Get the car and leave it about a hundred feet up the block, on that side, Hustle. The Snak» faded like a shadow in the gloom, Silence settled on the suite again, broken only by the cap- tain's regular turmoil, Tense minutes lengthened into & tense quarter hour. The Snake was due. Pollard switched off the light and opened the connecting door. In the faint reflection of the streat lamps Kyan saw him glide into the small corridor and crouch there, looking over the captain's apartment. When NEXT WEEK’S COMPLETE NOVEL @IN THE EVENING WORLD® ry By 8! There isn’t a depositor hi he backed into the room once more the Snake had rematerialized and he was whispering: “Car's ready, Did you get it?" “L haven't touched ft, Jim,” Pollard murmured. "My feet are too he: to risk going in there on a job this, I left it for you. ‘The b: right on the floor beside the b ie istols are on the bed ‘All right.” Get it and come out this wa will stand here and rap him off-chance of his waking up.” lard nodded satisfaction at Pol- Ryan, who had taken his post as if by in atinct. “When we get into the Snake, straight tor Brooklyn by the bridge; then we'll leave her in the first dark street und come back here vy the subway and over to Jersey, And one thing more, Snak hi added, very quietly indeed, as his nd stayed on the other's slim arm. yell?” ‘Remember that you're known all over this country as the stillest, aslickest, lghte quickest thing on two legs, Remember that there's 250,000 apiece for us in this, and that I'm so careful about it I wouldn't trust another man living but you! I wouldn't even trust myself to touch that bag, for fear of some slip or ether. You're the one man tn the world that's dead certain of snatch- bd it and getting away. Go to it, Frankly flattered speech that had sy errand, a warm glow of fessional pride swept through Evans as he crept into the captain's room. And the captain was gurgling and ex- ploding now with delightful, mechan- lcal regularity—and the Snake's fingers crept lovingly about the handle of the mighty grip. And now, since the thing would tax Nis strength to the utmost, he was bet- ter standing than wriggling. Lightly an any cat, he bounced to his feet, steadied himself for an instant and tucked the fingers tichter togethe: and then, with a mighty heave, lifted the bag and aw toward the door. And the grip was snatched back so violently that the Snake sprawled headiong, wild hands outstretched! And there was a crash that set the floor itself to bouncing, altogether the crash seemed to have come from across the room! And there was another, and a fright- ful roar of shattering glass; and with a din that would have drowned the broadeide of a battleship, the whole at the parting him_ on hia Hotel Redborough seemed to be clat- CHAPTER VII. A Treasure ona String. LAME blazed above the Snake, { writhed toward the door at a seventy-mile clip! ‘Things were happening in Pollard, for example, slammed the door and leaped a full yard into the air, He flew, rather than leaped to the crashes he was clutching that gen- Ueman and gasping: “What the"—— tering down about his ears! and consciously or not—he the outer apartment, too. Ryan, and even before the second of And Ryan, blackjack raised, was ery- 4e musta fell! He musta fell! Lie down! Down! The old guy's shoot- ing!" They dropped flat, and not @ tenth of one second too soon, For artillery was crashing in the captain's room with « roar that shook the whole house; thrice, so swiftly that they we yurd apart, bullets whi over thelr heads and splintered plaster across the room And then, with a dreadful gasp, the Snake had writhed straight across their prostrate bodies and tumbled headiong in # heap—and there was a moment of terrific stillness every- where. Down the corridor a woman screamed. felow a ian shouted “Well, L guess | got ye!" the cap tain anid feelingl: Another hyeteri: echoed from a distance. 1 urd, cons centrated worker that he was, hurled ARRIED $160,0 IN- VELVET'S WELCO himaelf across the Snake's quivering body and hissed: “Where is it?" Sy itched it bac! ‘He threw t “ panted the room at me In the blackness the door was still open. He clowed it quickly and pounded with both fista an he cried: “Captain! Captain! What's ti matter? What"— And just there even Pollard dropped Into insignificance ag @ noise-makin, factor; Hades itself seemed to ha’ been let loose in the respectable little hotel. banging, men reading e@creaming an: Doors were and shouting, crying for ce. were pound. ing down theit own corridor and— yea, stopping at the door and pound. iw and kicking there, Pollard, coat and vest and ebirt torn away, in the effort more nearly to resembie a man roused from deep slumber and hur- riedly clothed, etaggered to the door and tore it open—and was swept back before a surging tide of humanity. Hellboya there were and port: a white-faced bookkeeper with ok, of hand grenad and behind the doorkeeper a flock of plain hotel guests in various stages of undress and thé last stage of excitement. But mainly there was a big-bone red-baired man, and an ugly mouth, who acted night clerk of the establishment; and the one to thunder: is it? Where is it? Where's said with diMcult calm. “Then, what happened “[ don't know—yet,” ind said. mand then, since someone seemed to have switched on the lights, he here the master turned to the opening door between W the roomm, Capt. Velvet stood there, uterly calm and with a flood of el tric Mumination behind bim. He wi en smiling, indeed, and in either hand be held a long revol- ver, from which smoke curled upward as from a cigar. “IT think I pinked the son of a gun!" aald the captain. “Who?” erled the red-haired indi- vidual. “The night-prowling dog that tried to steal my son,” replied the night-gowned guest. thought this was a reputable house?” And the before the other could quite assiru! late the picture, sighed: “I ifteen years ago I'd have had that feller like a sieve before he had a chance to jump through the window, I can't seem to shoot good in the dark any more. I-—dunno!” The red-haired man stepped close 3 to him. “If this wi nightmare, sir, I beg your pardon ead tn- cistvely. “It looks to me a good deal more like a drunk, What was the terrific racket in your room, and bow much damage ha’ you done?” He even had the temerity to push past Capt. Velvet and penstrate the room beyond; and there, as Pollard followed, a little ery escaped both. Because the really handsome ma- hogany bureau lay flat, wrecked; and the chiffonier, which matched, also luy flat, and was also wrecked; and, between them, a poor little mahogany desk had been caught, apparently, before It had time to slip out trouble’s way, and {t was wrecked, too. A flying section of bureau seemed to have passed through the wind for fragments still clung to the shat tered pane: another flying section, which chanced to be part of the late mirror's carved border, clung to the captain's bed, ‘There were, approximately, a dozen hullet-holes in walla and ceiling and woodwork, and a thick haze of pow- der smoke drifted laaily at about head-height. Otherwise the room wan quite all right; and when they had finished swars beamed innocent enjoyment you see,” he said, “this grip of mine's valuable, and I rigge: little sort of burglar alarm. turned to the gathering and expand- ed, {And this Is something you want to remember, folks. You take a little bit of Mne—forty feet'll do—and tie It to your bag the way I did. Then you hitch the other end on to your bureau and stick a book or something under the hind legs, no's she'll fall over easy if any one pulls the rope. Sometimes it takes two books to give her the right tilt. Then if you're extra cut- tlou® the way T was, you take your Ine and give a turn around the rest of the furniture and"—— “Wait! sald the red-haired man from the depths of his throat “I'l guarantee that If you rig tt Just right no burglar Hving'll ever get away with what he came for,’ ptain concluded instructively It's a nice thing to know!" the red-haired man said between his teeth. “But”. “It's all of that,” agreed the guest of the house. "I'll tell you who taught it to me; It was Hell-bent Harry Blinn, the greatest feller that ever lived for little stunts like that Anybody here ever know Hell-bent Marry?” He looked them over, tossed his pistola on the bed, and heamed ‘have to tell you all about Harry.” he said. “The first time ever got really acquainted with him was back in the summer of eighty trying to work @ a brig away from the Gold Coast and over to Say, what'n thunder are you wiggling about?" “Tr just want to may that you've done two hundred dollara damage tn here!" the ntgat clerk cred wiltly “just want to aay'=— Pollard spoke with the sofiress of the cooing dove; “Will two hundred dolinrs cover tt, aly “The damage, yer, Tut - “Then will you take this two hun dred and an extra fifty for yourself and Just forget $f, dear old chap?” inquired and his vowe dropped. “Fi have to confess to you, T suppose old chaps a business ‘Thi connection THE SORCERER’S ST By BEATRICE GRINSHAW The Evening World Daily Magazine, Tuesday: May 58, 1914 00, LOOSE IN HIS POCKETS MEL [ofA tonpit mine, and I've been working for a year to get him here to New York. S#ome- body told him about this house, and he insists on stopping here; and if you ask us to leave now—as you're per- fectly justified in doing—he'll steer for home as gure as fate. He's an eccen- tric old cuss, but soll 4 all through. And if you'll just herd all those people out of here I'll get him bet bg & ey were herded presently. They went reluctantly, to be sure, for Cap- tain Velvet was lurid narrative quelled Bt bs last volce behind transoms subsided. Ny a ge Keg Lathe] past 3, and Capt. vet step) in from bis slightly disordered apart- ment to gay: “You were right, Luther!” “You?” Pollard asked rather flatly, “About this town being packed with crooks, boy. I thought you were— why, just nervous, y know, But you were right.” He patted Pollard 5 affectionately on the shoulder, “He won't get away nest time!” “No? “Nope! YT fixed up anoth Harry's queer rige, Lute. I've gun tied on each side o that bag now, and the first fellow that touches it dies! lL ought to have done that ip the first place, anyway. Well—they can clean up in the morning, I guess. Good night, son. As Ryan nm as the trio were alone, a burat out: 6 bad enough. You've got his iil, haven't you?” but"—— Never mind the buts!" snapped Ryan. “We take that and cash it in for 30,000 iron men and quit—see? I know w to get off, Robby. You don't! You've gut this dream of Led ting rich quick, and maybe I had some of it, but I've waked up!" ‘You're losing your head, Brute. @ not going to leave a hundred and twenty or thirty thousand be- hind when’ “1 am “Btay Ryan informed him. bunk ‘ou like, but gimme t Robby, and”"—— Hin steady advance stopped eud- deniy; with some difficulty the Span- tah Brute contrived a f and, baving caught the creak of the hinges, Pollard turned toward Capt. Velvet, just entering again. ‘m sorry to disturb you again, Luther,” he said considerately, “You've got my ring, haven't you?" “It's perfectly Cap," Ryan emiled. “I know that, but I'm not going to have Lute risk bis life taking of my property,” said the Captain. “There's too darned many desperate crooks around New York for that Give me that ring, Luther. I'm going to put it in my bag. I’ve got the guns all rigged.” “Why—I can take care of it for you, Captain,” smiled Pollard as be caught Ryan's eye again. "Well, bleas your good-natured lit- tle heart, I know you can, and I know I'm not going to let you bey bd kindly Captain as vest from a chair. 1t? Yep. Here she He slipped the blazing trinket on his finger and patted Pollard’s shoul- der again. “And now you haven't got that to worry about, and I'll leave you to aleep easier, Luther,” be sald kindly. “Good night, all! Once more he retired to bis own room, almost colliding with Evana, who was hurrying back to the aulte after a short absence. ‘Say—Rob!" murmured Evans, you haven't been to the garage Pollard snapped angrily. re quick and atop this running In and out. No, we're not going to try anything else to-night. I don't yet thought up any— the Snake smiled numbly. care what sort of echeme you've thought up!" “LT haven't acheme, “The The shaky sigh that left his lips ked all of Evans slight anatomy, he whispered, “T guess thie fe our bad night, all right, Somebody has pinched the car! CHAPTER VIII. A Slip of the Hand. LL undisturbed by any such necessity as that of detach- ing Capt. Velvet from his clinging wealth, the sprin, time sun rose gayly once again, and now Pollard was himself again. His first words were an order to Snake to buy another car. “It's the one safe way we can cart him around till we're ready to trim him, of course. You don't want to Jose a hundred and sixty thousand dollars for the sake of spending three of four hundred “How much coin's left? the Snake asked dismaily. “Enough to cover everything. You can get some kind of car for t! hundred and fifty-four hundred at the outside,” sald the leader as he extracted a diminished roll of bills from his pocket. “Then”—— “Say, how much ta there?” manded Ryan, ven hundred and fifty.” Jut of four thousand day before yesterday?” groaned the Snake. and’ “Say, excuse me, Robby,” choked Ryan as he tottered toward the door. “T gotter go downstaira to the gym- nasium!" “The what?" "They've got a little private one hers, back of the barber-shop. I saw it yesterday. I've got to go down and band @ few to the bag or'—- The Spanish Brute tore open the door and vanished When he came back he walked up to Pollard, In evident excitement, and demanded: “Robby, do you know bow you're going to pull the trick?” of “B Author wanted to bet I couldn't etlok round with him? “I certainly do," Pollard. “He was what they called the whit- est white hove, wasn’t he?” R: ked buskily. “That id he ain't yery beavilv. “what ‘wo! one ke fro wy fic Boke. m ine do to an old “We're not to have any the rough uk Bul = = eaid Ryan threateningly, “And on the level, Robb; don't let me try it pa ful a He ended with a significant ebrug, ‘ollard’s jaw hardened, ‘ wir Al, then,” be sald shortly. “Do ptain appeared, rested and ready for another day. Ile wore the general air of a happy boy bursting with the knowledge of a surprise par- ty about to be, and Robert Pollard, watching him, trembled and then forced himself to smile. “I suppose you were half acared to death last night, Luther?” the cap. Kked as they eat down to break~ I'm still shakin the escape you had, The captain atirred “It was th encape, Lut when I think of id Pollard, le coffee. other feller a! i] other feller when he tries fo get the best o' ma. I dunno why it but"-—~ He shrugged his shoulders “But more of @ gunman—not with your fists," “BIL” said the captain iee* like that tone, gravely, I'm eurpriacd at “But you've got no wa: back without shooting me cold blood,” amiled Ryan, “And, by Gad, alr, if you weren't a friend of Luther's, [ would shoot you rad Hs cold blood!” eaid Capt. Vel- jotly. A esa ga interposed Pollard. “You just keep your fi a rl Luther!” cried the “guest,” ot ever seo @ " Mepalel mut" oes ogee “Aw, what is it? What ts Ryan asked wearily. it * wetting down in “You're a young and you've One ey it, but mit sin ut or I'll hammer you geoat= conense ut of ig g00d, Til tell you x “You better talk quick, Bil!” the captain panted. “We'll just Ontsh breakfast, then go. down to thelr Nttis ertasane jum and put on the gleves, Cap, ‘3 chair slid backward. Won't wait to finish breakfast and we won't bother with any gioves, Bill!" he eaid. “Where's the gym- ‘Gentlemen, this ts ridieulous!” eas- eerted Pollard. “It ten't, Luth sured bim. “Bille manners need brushing up mighty bad; he'll thank He eyed “Which way do we got” go right this wa; ih brute, “Better ‘m goin fe eald Capt. Velvet up. Rather sadly he listened to Pollard is they made t! merely y. shook his head gravely as they en- tored tho spacious room reserved for athletic guests of the house and, step- Ding to the far corner, deposited his rip on the floor and waited, The while Ryan removed bis coat and, humming, tucked baok his cuffs an he looked at the Snake end mur- mured: “Now hie just es quick it happen Snake. yeotand arcund Bim te had thinking It over.” “You're going to sleep: “I'll tease him @ bit first,” said the Spanish Brute pleasantly. “Then I want to hand him just one good one that'll last him for about half aa hour, 1 hate to do it, Snake,” sighed Ryan. “On the level, I could hide my face for soaking an old guy like that, but —we've got to get the stuff.” ‘The Snake nodded, “Go to It, Bill,” he murmured. “T'll be glad when It's over.” “It’s over now.” The Spanish Brute grinned wickedly as he turned. “Shed your coat, Cap.” “T never take off my coat Punching people,” the cap’ “I never fare to.” me for this later in life,” Ryan, ow tor eaid. older man he directed one straight and somewhat shamefaced look at Pollard, and Pollard acquiescence. “Let her gol” sighed Poflard, and turned away. And then, even ap he wheeled, he heard the Snake'st “Holy—Mike!* Pollard's eyes bulged from their nocketa, The Spanish Brute, of course, was executing a tactical move of his own-~yet what a move! He lay lightly upon the empty alr, stretched straight out with feet toward the eaptain, More, he moved toward the door, head first, and back to t swiftly sailing dirtgib! And then, since the deor was closed and ratner heavy, ‘a head merely struck the panel with @ re- sounding crash, and Ryan dropped to the floor, bis flight a failure after all: and the murderous Spanish Brute lay there, handa limp upon the boards, eyen closed reestfully, “Dod rat it, Luther! My hand oor, like ONE | Diamond Larger ON BROADWAY Novel Each Week in The Evening Word [a] By Edgar Franklin § N TO me SSeS BOUBLE,” word, T only 1acnot CHAPTER IX. 4 Wee Guy Butts In. alr had @mabe, who had witnesse4 many terrific ring battics, tried thrice before speech ‘would come to his paralysed Mps. Hie usually jaunty been replaced by a@® aspect of stiffening horror such as may be found on the faces of people who have witnessed a sickening eteest . accident; crackled “He—he'a dead! Capt. Velvet laughed rumbliagty® his dry throat all but aloud as he cried hoareely: You killed Bin!* and shook his head, “He'll be all right in half an hour,” he eaid. “I just happened to hit him by accident, anyway. I happened to look righ it at him, and it etruck me how much he resembled @ darned contemptible Spaniard I knew in Argentine tn eighteen-eighty. That foller was the meanest ever tell thing I laid eyes on, and—well, ii you all about it and then you'll understand better why poor Bulle lyt, is there.” The captain chuckled and easily against the reulkine-erae with hie bag resting on top. “You fee, me and this Spanish feller were loft together in one o' those up-coun- try ranchhouses where"—— Robert Pollard returned to life. to hear about it, but I'll have to do seeing to—to get Bill back, firs bur Spanish folded th ried to the basins in the cor- me id tore down the roller towel;!’ he soaked it and hurried back to the Brute. And when he had @ wet cloth about the brutal brow several times, his genuine wo: was relloved by a spasmodic twitel of Ryan's legs. and then a suddenly “Where to he? Where ts hot” D- "Get up run and you'll feel batten =! 4 a A second followed, third, and Ri: ‘and cried: ss waa right here” said the and at his voice jo Brute started filpped, strangely and swiftly, to his hands ran thus reason cl and knees. A dozen yards he before the ordin: brutish imbed back, with some aim. culty, to her throne and gave bim use; and then, rata, hen, & stream of really Blasco ef last “s the swe in past Une of New hyper . tors, who cultivated eoclety of every individual penny until they Srued the Indian on the front by bie, hundred dollars must be credits te dead loss in the ake, »* leered the o uff and be im one T have it all doped out. Evans was scarcely out before Ryan a! od in of she rena “Robby,” whispered Ryan, “you re- Brewn?’ member Lonely Ike 'Who?” “The meaky tittle uy that always works alone. for a wh He was a stool pigeo! ile after he finished his last trick up the river.” “Well?” Pollard quickened. “He's downstairs now, Robby,” * been talking win? choked Ryan. him.” “Why? “This here interview wasn’t any of my doini " the Spanish Brute said bit- terly, “He nailed me coming tn. He's wise.” “Wise? gasped the “Just wise!” sighed all he $300." With a is mind. ir. Ryan, “And nts to keep it quiet, Robby, la groan Pollard fished out his Gwindling roll and gave Ryan the money, Two Men's Amazing Quest of a “‘ Magic” han the Koh-i-noor (To Be Continued.) a} ork “Will you teH us that afterwardt captain?” he asked quickly. ‘I want.