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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 1922)
THE NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE Big CopuriqhV bu William. MacLeod .r,r, ... I His ensy smile tnuntod her. "Oh, no, you don't. You Just titlnk you think It Now, I'm goln to light a shuck. Til bo sayln good-by, Miss Bentrice, until you send for inc." "And that will bo never," she flung at him. lie rose, bowed and walked out of tho room. 'Tho street door closed belilinl him. Beatrice bit , her Up to keep from breaking down beforo sho reached her room. CHAPTER XI A Lady Wears a Rlnfl. Clarendon Bromfleld got tho shock of bis Ufo that evening. Bcatrlco pro posed to him. It wus at the Robcrson dinner-dance, In the Palm room, with in sight but not within hearing of a dozen other guests. She camouflaged what sho was doing with occasional smiles and ripples of laughter Intended to deceive tho oth ers present, but her heart was pound ing sixty miles an hour. Bromfleld was not easily disconcert ed. He prided himself on his aplomb. But for'onco ho wus amazed. "I beg your pardon." Miss Whltford lnced her fingers round her knee and repeated. Her eyes were hard and brilliant' as dia monds. "I was wondering; when you are going to nsk me again to marry you." Since sho had given u good deal of feminine diplomacy to the task of keeping him at a reasonable distance, Bromfleld was naturally surprised. "That's certainly a leading ques tion,'' he parried. "What arc you up to, Bee? Arc you spooling mo?" "I'm proposing to you," sho ex plained, with a flirt of her hand and an engaging smile toward a mau and a girl who had Just come Into the Palm room. "I don't suppose I do It very well, because I haven't had your experience. But I'm dolng-thc best I can." JUIs lids nnrrowed a trifle. "Do you mean that you've changed your mind?" "Have you?" sho asked, quickly, with a sidelong slant of eyes at him. "I'm still very much at your service, Bee." "Docs that mean you still think you want mo?" "I don't think. I know It." "Then you're on," she told him with a little nod. "Thank you, kind sir." Bromfleld drew a deep breath. "By Jove, you'ro a good little sport, Bee. "I Was Wondering When You Wero do ing, to Ak Mo Again to Marry You." I think I'll get up and give thrco ring ing cheers." "I'd like to see you do that," she mocked. "Of course you know I'm tho happi est man In tho world,"' he said, wtlh well-ordered composure. "You're not exactly what I'd call a raiHurous lover, Clary. But I'm not, either, for that matter, so I dare say wo'li hit It olt very well." "I'm a good deal harder hit than I'vo ever let ou, denr girl. And I'm going to mako you very happy, That's a promise." Nevertheless ho watched her wurily, behind a manner of graceful eager ness. A suspicious Uttlo thought was filtering through tho back of his mind. "What the deuce has got into the girl? has eho'been quarreling with that bounder from Arizona?" "I'm glad of that. I'll try to make you a good wife, even if" Sho let the sentence dlo out unfinished. "May I tell everybody how happy I amr She 17 W -Jl. '-a a bs in v Town A Ijfjt) bund by SlliffinMacleodRdne Kustrattoiu btj l'J Rain n" "Ice," she agreed. "A short engagement," he ventured. "YeSj'Vshe nodded. "And take me nwny for a while. I'm tired' of New York, I think." "I'll take you to a place whero the paths ore prlmrosc-strcwn and where nightingales sing," he promised, rashly. Sho smiled Incredulously, a wise old little smile that had no right on her young face. The report of the engagement spread at once. Bromfleld took care of thnt Tho evening of the day the Bunt heard of the engagement he told his friend about It while Kitty wns In tho kitchen. "Miss Beatrice she's wcarln' a new ring," he said by way of breaking the news gently. Clay turned his head slowly and looked nt Johnnie. "Bromfleld?" ho asked. "Yep. That's the story." "The ring was on the left hand?" "Yep." Clay mndc no comment. Ills friend know enough to sny no moro to him. Presently thocattlcman went out. It was in the small hours of the morning when he returned. Ho had been tramping tho streets to get the fever out of his blood. But Johnnla4dlscusscd with Kitty at length this new development, Just as he had discussed with her the fact that Clay no longer went to seo the Whit fords. Kitty mado a shrewd guess at the cause of division. She had already' long since drawn from the cowpuncher tho story of how Miss Beatrice had re jected' his proposal that she take an Interest In her. "They must 'a' quarreled likely about mo being here. I'm sorry you told her." "I don't reckon that's It. Miss Bea trice she's got too good Judgment for that." "I ought to go awny. I'm only bring ing Mr. Lindsay trouble. If he Just could .hear from his friends In Arizona about that placo he's trying to get mo, I'd go right ofT." Ho looked nt her wistfully. Kitty hud bogun to bloom ngaln. Her cheeks were taking on their old rounded con tour and occasionally dimples of de light flashed Into them. Already the marks of her six-weeks' misery among the submerged derelicts of the city was beginning to be wiped from her mind like the niomory of a had dream from which she had awakened. Love was a craving of her happy, sensuous nature. Sha wanted to llvo In the sun. among smiles nnd laughter. She was like a kitten In-her desire to be petted, made much of and admired. Almost anybody who liked her could win a placo in' Jicr affection. Johnnie's enso was not so hopeless as ho Imagined It. Over their good-night smoke Clay gavo a warning. "Keep yoro eyes opfn, Johnnie. I was trailed to tho house today by one of the fellows with Durand the night I called on him. It spells trouble. I reckon the 'Pachea are going to leave the reservation ngaln." "Say, Clay, ain't you gettln' home sick for tho whlulii' of il rawhide? Wha's the matter with us hlttln -the dust for good old Tucson?" I'd suit like to chase cowtnlls agnln." 1 -l "You can go, Johnnie, I'm not ready yet quite. And when I go IE won't be becuuse of nuy rattlesnake In tho grass." "Whadyou mean I can go? If this Jerry Durand's trying to get you I'll be there followln' yoro dust, old scout" "Thcro's moro than one way to skin a cat. Mcbbo the follow means to strike at mo through you or Kitty. I'vo .a mind to put you both on a train for tho B-ln-a-Box ranch." "You can put tho UT girl on a train. You can't put me on none less'n you go too," nnswered his shadow, stoutly. "Thou seo you don't get drawn Into any quarrels while you and Kitty are away from tho house. Stick to the lighted streets. I think I'll speak to her about not lettln' any strange man talk to her. I think sho had better not go out unless ono of us Is with her." "Suits mo. And don't you tnko any chances, old-timer. That goes double. I'm the cautious guy in this outilt, not you." Within twenty-four hours Clay heard some one pounding wildly on tho outor door of tho apartment nnd tho voice of the cautious guy Imploring haste. "Lemmo in, Clay. Hurry I Hurry 1" he shouted. Lindsay was at the door In four strides, but ho did not need to seo tho stricken woo of his friend's fuco to guess what had occurred. For Johnnlo and Kitty had started together to see a picture play two hours earlier. "They dono took Kitty In on nuto," ha gasped. "Right beforo my eyes. Clalmod a lady had fainted." "Who took her?" "I dunno. Some men. Turned the trick; slick, uiq njycr liftln' a hand. Afn't I ri holuva man?" "Hold yore hawsses, son. Don't get excited. Begin nt the bcglnnln' and tell me all about It," Clay told him, quietly. "We was comln' home an' I took Kitty Into thnt Red Star drug store for to get her somo Ice cream. Well, right after that I heerd a man say how the lady had fainted" "What lady?" "The lady In tho mnchlne." "Were you In the drug store?" "No. We'd Jos' come out when this here automobile drew up an' a man Jumped out hollerln' the lndy had fainted and would I bring a glass o' water from the drug, store. 'Course I got a Jump on me and Kitty she moved up closeter to the enr to he'p If she could. When I got back to the walk Willi the water the man wns hoppln' back Into the car. It was already mov In'. He slnmmed the door shut and It went up the street like greased light nln'." "dot the number" "No, I I plumb forgot to look." Clay slipped a revolver under his belt. Ho slid Into a street coat. Then he got police headquarters on the wire nnd notified the ofllce of what had taken place. It had come on to rain and beucnth tho street lights the asphalt shone like a river. The storm had driven most people Indoors, but as the westerner drew near the drug store Clay saw with relief a taxlcab draw up outside. Its driver, crouched In his scat behind the waterproof apron as far back as possible from the rain, promptly ac cepted Lindsay as a fare. "Back in a minute," Clay told him, and passed Into the drug store. The abduction was still being dis cussed. He pushed home questions as to identification. One of the men In "What's the Big Idea In Calling Me From Me Job In the Rush Houra?". the drug store nnd caught u Hash of the car number. He was sure the first four figures were""3flQ7. The fifth he did not remember. ' Tho car was dark blue and It looked like a taxi. Tills in formation Clay got the owner of the store to forward to the police. He did not wait to give It personal ly, but Joined Johnnie in the cab. The address he gave to the driver with the waterproof hat pulled down over his head was that of a certain place of amusement known as HeathSj Palace of Wonders. A woman he wanted to consult was wont to sit behind a win dow there at the receipt of customs. Miss Annie MIIHknn's pert smile beamed through the window at Clay when he stepped up. "Hello, Mr. Flnt-Workcr," she sang out. "How many?" Clay explained that his business was serious. "I'vo got to seo you alone now," ho added. "If you gottn you gotta." Tho girl called an usher, who found a second usher to take her place. Annie walked down the street a few steps beside Clay. "Whut's the big Idea In callin' me from me Job in the rush hours?" she nsked. Clay told his story. "Somo of Jerry's strong-arm work," she commented. "Must be. Can you help me?" Annie looked straight at him, a hu morous little quirk to her mouth. "Say, what'ro you askln mo to do t'row down my steady?" Annlo was pretty, and Inevitably she had lovers. One of "these was "Slim" Jim Collins, confidential follower of Jerry Durand. Ho was a crook, nnd she knew It. But some quality In hlra his good looks, perhaps, or his game ness fascinated her in spite of her self. She avoided htm, even while she found herself pleased to go to Coney with nn escort so well dressed and so glibly confident. Another of her ad mirers was a policeman, Tim Muldoon by name, tho same ono that had res cued Clay from the savagery of Du nuul outside tho Sea Siren. Tim sho II' ed. But for nil his Irish ardor he was wary. He had never asked her to marry him. Sho thought she knew tl e reason. He did not want for a wife a womnn who had been "Slim" Jim's glil. Clay had come to Annie Mllllkan now because of what sho had told him about "Slim" Jim. This man was one of Durand's stand-bys. If thero wns any underground work to bo done It was odds-on chance thnt ho would bo in chnrgo of it. "I'm askln' you to stand by a poor girl that's In trouble," he said In an swer to her question. "You wouldn't let Durand spoil her Ufo If you could BtojUL" "Well, what's my cue? Where do I come In on this rescue-the-heautlful heroine act?" i "When did you see 'Slim' Jim last?" I "I might 'n' seen him this nftemoon nn' I might not," she said cautiously, looking nt him from under a broad hat-brim. "Say, what's the lay-out? Are you framln' Jim for up the river?" "I'm tryin' to save Kitty." "Because she's your goll. Where do I come In nt? What's there In it for me to go rappln' me friend?" demand ed Annie sharply. "She's not my girl." explained Clay. j Then, with that sure Instinct thnt sometimes guided him, he added, "Tho young lady I I'm in love with has Just become engaged to another man." Miss Mllllkan looked nt him, frank ly Incredulous. "For the love o' Mike, wherc's her eyes? Don't she know a real, man when she sees one? I'll say she don't." A lluBh beat Into Annie's cheeks. She went off swiftly nt a tangent. "Wouldn't It give a fellow a Jar? This guy Jim Collins slips It to me confiden tial that he's off the crooked stuff. Nothln' doln' a-tall In gorilla work. He kids me that he's quit goln' out on the spud and porchcllmbln' don't look good to him no more. A four-room flat, a little wife, an' the straight rond for 'Slim' Jim. I fall for It, though I'd orta be hep to men. An' he dntes me up tonight for tho chauffeurs' ball." "But you didn't go?" "No; he sidesteps It this aft with a fairy tale about drlvln' a rich old dame out to Yonkers. All the time he was flgurln' on plnchln' this goll for Jerry. He's n rotten crook." "What color is 'Slim' Jim's car?" "A dirty blue. Why?" "That was the car." Annie lifted her hands in a little gesture of despair. "I'm dead sick of this game. What's there In" It? I live straight and cnt In a hennery. No lobster palaces In mine. Look at me cheap duds. And Tim gives mo the over like I was a street cat. What sort of a chance did I ever have, with toughs and gunmen for me friends?" "You've got yore chance now, An nie. Tim will hop off that fence he's on nnd light a runnln' straight for you If ho thinks you've ditched 'Slim Jim. You don't owe Jerry Durand anything, anyhow. Where would he have Kitty taken? You can give a guess." She had made her decision before sho spoko. "Glmmo paper nnd a pencil.- On Clay's notebook she scrawled hur riedly an address. "Jlm'd croak me if he knew I'd given this," she said, looking straight at the cattleman. "He'll never know and I'll never forget It, Annie." Clay left her and turned to the driver. From tho slip of paper In his hand ho read aloud an address.. As Clay slammed tho door shut und the car moved forward ho had an im pression of something gone wrong, of a cog In his plnns slipped somewhere. For Annie, standing In the rain un der n sputtering misty street light showed n face stricken with fear. Her dilated eyes were flxed on the driver Of the tuxlcab. CHAPTER XII. Two Men In a Locked Room. Some sixth sense of safety ono that comes to many men who llvo In the outdoors on the untamed frontler-1-warned Clay that all was not well. The machine had swung to tho right and was facing from the wind Instead of into It. Clny was not very well acquainted with New York, but he did know this wns not the direction In which ho wanted to go. Lindsay opened the door and swung out on the running board. "We're go In' wrong. Stop the car 1" he ordered. The man at the wheel did not turn. He speeded up. Ills faro wasted uo time In remon strances. A moment, and the chauf feur threw on the brnko sharply. His reason was n good. one. The blue nose of a revolver was Jammed hard against his ribs. He had looked round once to find out what it was prodding him. That was enough to convince him he had better stop. Under tho brake the . back wheels skidded and brought up against the curb. Clay, hanging on by one hand, was flung hard to the sidewalk. The cnb teetered, regained Its equilibri um, gathered Impetus with a snort, and leaped forward again. As the cattleman clambered to his feet he caught ono full view of the chauffeur's triumphant, vindictive face. Ho had seen it before, at a reception especially arranged for him by Jer ry Durand one memorable night. It belonged to the more talkative of tho two gunmen he had surprised at the pretended poker garao. Ho knew, too, without being told that this man and "Slim" Jim Collins were one and the same. The memory of Annie's strick en faco carried this conviction home to him. Tho rain pelted down as ho moved toward the brighter lighted street that Intersected the one whero he had been dropped. Tho lights of a saloon caught his cyo at the corner. He went in, got police headquarters on the wire, and learned that a car answering tho description of the one used by his ab ductor had been headed Into Central park by officers and that the downtown exits were being watched. Presently he picked up another taxi. He hesitated whether to go to tho address Annie had given him or to Join the chase uptown. Reluctantly, he de cided to visit the houre. Clay paid his driver and looked at the house numbers as he moved up the street he wanted. Many of the Xesldencc.s were used to keep lodgers In. Others wero employed for less reputable purposes. Ills overcoat buttoned to his neck, Clny walked without hesitation up the steps of tho one numbered 213. He rang the hell nnd waited, his right hund In the pocket of his overcont. The door opened cautiously a few Inches nnd a pair of close-sot eyes In n wrinkled face gimlctcd Clay. "Whadya want?" "The old man sent me with a mes sage,'' answered the Arlzonan prompt ly, "(lot everything ready for the girl?" "Say, who the h 1 nre youse?" "One of SUm's friends. Listen, wo got the kid picked her up at n drug afore." '"I don' know watcher fairy tale's about." Clay put his foot against the door to prevent It from being closed and drew his hnud from tho overcoat pock et. In the hand nestled n blue-nosed persuader. Unless tho eyes peering Into the night were bad barometers of their owner's Inner state, he was In n panic of fear. "Love c' Gawd, d-don't shoot 1" ha "ysxee.. "Love o' Gawd, D-don't Shootl" He Chattered. "I Ain't Nobody but the Caretaker." chattered. "I utn't nobody but the Vinretaker." He bucked slowly away, followed by Lindsay. The barrel of the thirty eight held his eyes fascinated. By the light of his flash Clay discovered the man to be a chalk-faced little In consequent "Say, don't point that nt me." .the old fellow Implored. "Aro you alone?" "You know It" "Is Jerry comln' himself with the others?" "They don't none of -them tell me nothln. I'm nobody. I'm only Joey." "Unload what you know. Quick. I'm in a hurry." The man began a rambling, whin ing tnle. The Arlzonan learned that a room had been prepare on the second floor for a woman. Slim had made the ar rangements. Joe had heard Durand's name mentioned, but knew nothing of Jhst alms.. "I'll look the house over. Move along In front of me and don't mako any mistakes. This six-gun Is liable to permeate yore anatomy with lead." The cattleman examined the first floor with an especial view to the ex its. He might have to leave In a hur ry. If so, he wnnted to know where ho wns going. The plan of the sec ond story was another point he feat ured as ho passed swiftly from room to room. From the laundry In the basement he had brought up a coll of clothes line. With this he tied Joe hand nnd foot. After gjgglng him, he left the man locked In a small rear room and took the key with him. Clay knew that ho was In a precari ous situation. If Durand returned with Kitty and captured him hero ho was lost. The man would mako no moro mistakes. Certainly he would leave no evidence against him except that of his own tools. The Intruder would probably not be killed openly. Ho would either simply dlsnppear or he would be murdered with witnesses framed to show self-defense. Tile cattleman was as much outside the law as tho criminals were, ne had no legal business in this house. But ono thing was flxed In. his mind. He would be no Inactive victim. If they got him nt all It would be only after a fighting finish. To Clny, standing at the head of the stairs, came a sound thnt stiffened him to a tense wariness. A key wns being turned In the lock of the street door below. He moved back Into the deeper shadows as the door swung open. Two men entered. One of them cursed softly as he stumbled against a chair In the dark hall. "Whero's that rat Joe?" ho demand ed in a subdued voice. Then cftme a click of the lock. The sound of tho street rain ceased. Clay know that the door hnd been closed and that he was shut in with two desperate criminals. What have they done with Kitty? Why was she not with them? He asked himself that question even as ho slipped back Into a room that opened to the left. He groped his way through the dark ness, for ho darod not flash his light to guide him. His fingers found the edgo of a desk. Round that he cir cled toward a closet he remembered having noted., nis arm. brushed the closet door. Next moment he was in side nnd hnd closed It softly behind him. And none too soon. For Into the room came the gunmen nlmost on his heels. "Jerry'U raise h 1," a heavy voice was saying ns they entered tho room. "And that ain't all. We'll land in stir If we don't look out. We Just ducked a bad fall. The bulls pretty near hnd us that time wo poked our nose out from the park at Seventy-second Rtrect." Some one pressed a button nnd tho room leaped to light. Through tho open crack of the closed door Clny recognized Gorllln Dave. The second of the gunmen wns out of range of his vision. From the sound of creaking furni ture Clay judged that the unseen man had sat down heavily. "It was that blowout queered us. And say how came the bulls so hot on our trail? Who rapped to 'em?" "Must 'a' been that boob wit the goll. He not busy quick.. Well, Jerry, won't have to salve the cops this time. Wo made our getnwny all right," said Dave. "Say, whero's Joey?" "Pulled a snenk likely. Wha's it matter? Listen I What's thnt?" Some ono wns coming up the stairs. Tho men in the room moved cautious ly to the door. The hall , light was switched on. "Lo, Jerry," Gorilla Dave called soft ly. Ho closed the room door and tho sound of the voices wns shut off In stantly. Tho uninvited guest dared not step out of the closet to listen, for at any instant the men might re-enter. lie crouched In his hiding plnce, the thirty-eight In his hand. The minutes dragged Interminably. More than once Clay almost made up his mind to steal out to learn what the men were doing. But his Judg ment told him he must avoid a brush with so many if possible. The door opened again. "Now beat It and do as I say if you know what's good for you," a bullying voice was ordering. The owner of the voice came In and slammed the door behind him. He sat down at the desk, his back to tho closet. Through the chink Clny saw that the man was Jerry Durand. From his vest pocket he took a fa black cigar, struck a match andfllt It He slumped down In the swivel chair. It took no seer to divine thnt his mind was busy working out a prob lem. Clay stepped softly from his place of refuge, but not so noiselessly that the gangmnn did not detect his pres ence. Jerry swung round In the chair and leaped up with catlike activity. He stood without moving, poised on the balls of his feet, his deep-set eyes narrowed to sliinlng silts. It was In his thought to hurl himself head long on the man holding steadily tho menacing revolver. "Don't you 1 I've got the dead wood on you," said the Arlzonan, a trench ant saltness In his speech. "I'll shoot you down sure as h l's hot" Durand's face wore an ugly look of Impotent malice, but his throat was dry as a lime kiln. He could not es timate the danger that confronted him nor what lay back of the man's pres ence. "What you doln' here?" he demanded. "Makln my party call," retorted CUy easily. Jerry cursed him with a low, savage stream of profanity. The gangman enraged was not a sight pleasing to see. "I reckon heaven, h 1, and high water couldn't keep you from cussln' now. Relieve yore mind proper, Mr. Durand. Then we'll talk business," murmured Clay In the low, easy drawl that never suggested weakness. The cx-prlze-flghter's flow of lan guage dried up. He fell silent and stood swallowing his furious rage. It had come home to him that this narrow-flanked young fellow with the close-gripped Jaw nnd the cool, steady eyes was entirely unmoved by his threats. "Quite through effervescing?" asked Clay contemptuously. The gang leader made no answer. He chose to nurse his venom silently. "Where's Kitty Mason?" Still no answer. "I nsked you what you've done with Kitty Mason?" "That's my business." "By G d, you'll tell, or Til tear it out of youl" Clay backed to tho door, foundtgho key, transferred it to the inner sldo of the lock, turned It, ond put it In his pocket The cornered gangmnn took a chance. Ho ducked for the shelter of the desk, tore open a drawer and snatched out an nutomntlc. Simultaneously the cownunclier pressed tho button beside the door nm- piungecl the room In dnrkness. He side-stepped swiftly and without noise. ' A flash of lightning split the black ness. Clny dropped to his knees and crawled away. Another bolt, with its accompanying roar, flamed out Still the westerner did not fire In an swer, though lie knew Just where tioi target for his bullet was. A plan had) corao to him. In the blackness of thar room ono might empty his revolver and not score a hit. To wait was to take a chance of being potted, but he did not want the death of oven such a ruffian as Durand on his soul. Tho crash of the, automatic and the rattle of glass filled the room. Jerry blazing away at some fancied sound! had shattered the window. TO BE CONTINUED La