Nebraska Newspapers

    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