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Lion-Heart Lee.

 

 

Lion-Heart Lee,
THE LAKESIDE DETECTIVE;

OR,
Saved by the Skin of His Teeth,

 

BY FRANK FORT, \

CHAPTER IL.
A PROMISING SPECULATION,

ANTHONY ANTRAM, President of the Blank
Bank, Chicago, closed the door after himself
and guest, and then with a faint smile, turned
the key in ite wards,

‘An idle precaution, sir, but since you say
that your business is strictly private—”

“The closer we keep it to ourselves, the
bigger will be the clean-up—just so!” curtly sup-

“plied the stranger, casting a keen glance over

their surroundings, then placing his hand-bag
on the flat-topped desk which stood near the
center of the room,

“This is my private office, sir, and I am
seldom interrupted—”

* Once would be just-one time too often for
my book, For yours, too, if you have the keen
nose for a rich pudding with which all accounts
credit you,” again interrupted the tall stranger,
whose bluntness fell just short of actual
rudeness. ‘Hor I’m offering you a snap that

' would make even the Little Wizard’s mouth go

water!”

‘* Why am I favored so far above all others?”
asked Anthony Antram, sinking into his office-
chair, at the same time nodding slightly toward
another seat hard by. ‘‘ Your face seems fa-
miliar, but your name—”

“Ts Glick—Gordon Glick, from just outside
the gates of Paradise. Crazy, you reckon?”
with a low, half-mocking laugh, his heavy mus-
taches curling upward a bit as the banker gave
an involuntary start. ‘* Never a bit, my dear
fellow! My idea of Paradise is money, and
plenty of it, I know where that money is to be
made, but—a golden key is needed to open the
gates which bar the way. See?”

‘‘You are seeking to interest capital, if I am
not mistaken?”

“T’m looking for a man who is ready to put
down one dollar for the pleasure of taking up
fifty, yes! Are you that man, Mr. Antram?”

“* That’s a question easier asked than answer-
ed, Mr. Glick. If the dividend was lower, its
ors tigen might be more prompt.”

‘All right! Cut it down fifty per cent, and
I'll take care of the surplus. That’s the best I
cando, Wifty for one, and never a penny less!
If you won’t take it, I reckon I can find a man
who will—and ‘ thank you’ into the bargain!”

Gordon Glick reached out a band to touch the
leather grip, but before he could remove it from
the desk, a white, slender hand touched his, and
the banker spoke again:

“Wait,my dear sir. I have not refused to
meet your wishes: I simply intimated that,
before investing my money, I must know just
what manner of business you wish me to engage
in, You hinted something about a mine, or
mining property, I believe?”

*f ae you are, sir! And hinting is about as
far as I care to go, until a agree to back me
up from start to finish. ill you do that?”

“lf the transaction is honorable, and there is
enough money in it, yes,” curtly answered the
banker. ,

““Good as old wheat—shake!”

Anthony Antram submitted to this enthusias-
tic infliction, though his never too cool temper
was beginning to rise, chafed by this blunt speci-
men from the wild and woolly West. Thisman-
ner of man was hardly to his liking, and only for
the love of lucre, which had grown in proportion
to his wealth, he would long since have given
Gordon Glick his conge, once for all,

And yet—surely he had met this man before!

Jn earlier years Anthony Antram had been
proud of his memory for faces, but of late years
this peculiar faculty seemed failing him, At
first sight he felt this breezy westerner ought to
hold a place in that memory, and now he felt the
same way, only in stronger degree,

It was this fancy that made him gaze so keenly
into the face of the man whose strong fingers
were so merciless]y compressing his slender, ar-
istocratic digits,

It was a strong rather than a handsome face,
bronzed as though by long exposure to all sorts
of weather, with features rugged and bold.

His close-cropped hair had once yen dark

id \

 

 

brown, almost black, but was now thickly streak-
ed with silver threads. His head was well bal-
anced, so far as could be told, for @ordon Glick
had not seen fit to remove his hat of soft black
felt.

His brows were heavy, almost meeting over his
nose, casting his dark eyes into shadow, but de-
tracting never a whit from their keen, hard
brilliancy. Eyes such as one would far rather
see in a friend’s face than in that of an enemy,

His face was clean shaven, save for a heavy
mustache which nearly hid his mouth from view.
His chin was strong, nearly square, with a slight
cleft marking its middle, r

His garments were of good material, but of
rather coarse texture, and spoke plainly of the
ready-made counter. His scarf was rather too
bright for good taste, and held a gold pin, repre-
senting a locomotive.

To sum up, Gordon Glick appeared to be about
forty-five years of age, some two inches under
the six-foot standard, and would weighin the
neighborhood or one hundred and seventy-five
pounds.

His movements were quick and easy, and un-
less he belied his looks, he would prove an awk-
ward customer to handle in a row,

There was a strong contrast presented by the
banker: tall, slender, aristocratic-looking from
crown t9 sole,

His hair was white as snow, as were the little
tabs marking his jaws just to the pink lobes of
his ears. The rest of his face was carefully
shorn, and, though wrinkled, that face was soft-
ly pink and pure as that of a maiden,

His eyes were blue-gray, deeply set beneath
snowy brows, and while they could beam with
mild humor at times, just now they shone clear
and hard as glass: the eyes of a money-maker,
jast as his thin lips and long, pointed chin were
lips and chin of a money-lover,

‘* [have met you before, but where?” exploded
the capitalist, giving a little start as Gordon
Glick brought his left hand in sharp contact
with the grip-sack of alligator leather: a hand
that seemingly had suffered in some serious ac-
cident in days gone by. ‘* Your hand—”

“Ts offering you a fortune, pardner! Will
you take it, or must I look further for a backer?”

‘*T make no blind promises, sir, Prove to me
that your business is legitimate, and if I @o not
help, be sure [ will never hinder,”

‘Just one step further, my friend,” said
Glick, with a passing smile. ‘' You ask me to
goit blind, while you sit back with all-eyes-
open. ‘Hven-Stephen ’isa powerful good game,
and I’m asking nothing better than that, when
I say ‘If I show a clean hand, will you come
in, to stay?”

4 It there is a reasonable profit to be made,

es, \
- “Even if it calls for a tolerable heavy stake
for the first ante?”

‘t Different men hold different ideas of what
constitutes a heavy stake,” smiled the banker.
‘* May I ask what is yours, Mr, Glick?”

“Well, if it should call for an ante of fifty
thousand?”

**T dare say my account here could stand even
such a tremendous strain,” bowed Antram, bis
thin lips almost laughing.

“What! If you wanted to draw a check for
fifty, it would be paid in cold cash, without de-
lay? Why, man, dear! if I—but—would it?”

“Tf properly drawn, I dare say it would be
cashed. hether I give you plainer proof than
my bare assertion, however, depends on your-
sell, in part, at least. This business of yours,
Mr, Glick?”

“ And that’s what it means to be & rich man!
Fifty thousand! Just a slip of paper, a dash of
ink, then—why, man, dear! you’re better than
a national mint!”

Anthony Antram frowned, his thin lips com-
pressing, his blue-gray eyes winning a colder
gleam as they fixed upon that amazed face over
the corner of his desk, While this surprise
might be flattering enough from one point of
view, from another it was just the contrary,

‘Tf the bare mention of fifty thousand dollars
so amazes you, sir, I begin to fear my time is
being wasted, I thought I gave you to under-
stand that Idid not care to bother with any
trifling affair?’ i :

“You did, sir, and if you call this trifling,
Pll make you a present of my share of the pie,”
giving a confident nod as he drew his hand-

ag from desk to knees, springing the catch,
but staying his hand before fairly opening the
receptacle, ‘Mind you, Mr. Antram, I’ve pe
the documents to back me up in every word I’m
about to say.” |

“Why not let the papers do the talking,
then?”

 

* Because they might say just a little teo
much,” laughingly retorted Glick, with a know-
ing wink. ‘‘ Because I’d rather trust my own,
tongue until our bargain is made, fair and
square. Because—”

“ Never mind the other reasons, sir,” sharply
interrupted Antram., ‘‘I have already given
you more time than I ought to spare on an un-
certainty. Come to the point at once, or—
good-afternoon!”

‘ All right: business goes! What's the matter
with a silver mine which may be bought for two
cents on the dollar of its actual worth?”

“‘ Well, I should say it was entirely too cheap
to be worth buying.”

“And you'd be mighty right, as a rule, too!
But this is an exceptional case, as Pll try to
make you see, if you'll grant me another half-
hour of your time,”

‘You have already wasted the better part of
an hour, but Pll give you the time -you ask,”
coldly said the capitalist, glancing at his watch,
then leaning back in his chair, his cold gaze
fixed upon that crippled hand, his busy brain
striving to catch the missing clew those lacking
fingers seemed to suggest, yet deny.

‘All right, sir! If I can’t wake you up in
half that time, I'll jump the game, and hunt an-
other victim,” confidently said Glick, opening
his grip, yet holding back the folded documents
which he extracted therefrom, for the time be-
ing, ‘Dll call no names, nor mention places,
but 1’ll give you cold facts without end!

“T know a certain silver mine, fairly devel-
oped, fully equipped, in prime working order
this very day. Two weeks ago, its owners held
the property at a hundred thousand, cash down,
To-day it might be bought for one-half that fig-
ure, although it is really worth a million, if not
many times that much.” ‘

““Of course you can explain all this, Mr,
Glick?”

“Or I wouldn't be here—you bet!” with a
confident nod, ‘I was, and still am, the fore-
man of that identical mine. I had full charge
of tbe workings, and so I was able to follow up
a neat little theory of my own, without taking
the trouble to ask permission from the owners,
As a result, the vein they know of is petering
out, while the one J know of is ready to pay
fifty for one, at the lowest calculation.”

‘You have struck another, and more valuable
lead, then?”

‘‘ Well, I should smile!” a,

‘‘The owners may be smiling, just now!
What’s to hinder them from making the same
discovery, while you are here?” :

‘““My watchdogs!” came the prompt reply,
‘“Dou’t you worry, man, dear. I wasn’t born
yesterday. If you want to come in for half of
ce pies itll be there for your knife—if of gold!

ee

‘What papers have you there?”

“Proof of the pudding, no less. Will you
ehip in, say fifty thousand as a starter, if I show
full proof?”

“If your proof is satisfactory, yes, If not,
Pll agree to forget all you have hinted, until you
have time and opportunity for looking up an-
other backer, 1s that sufficient, sir?”

“ Enough, and to spare!” quickly cried Gor-
don Glick, dropping the little package of papers
on the desk before the capitalist, ‘Glance over
them, sir, and I’ll answer any questions they
may suggest.”

Authony Antram took up the papers without
speaking further, If this man spoke the truth,
it was a very shady affair, to say the Jeast; but
if true, there surely must be ‘‘ big money ” in the
speculation, And the making of money was
pretty nearly all the banker lived for.

Gordon Glick put aside his hand-bag, making
little or no sound as he rogo from his seat, a sin-
gle step carrying him close beside Antram. The

anker glanced up, to shrink and sbiver as he
saw an ugly muzzle staring him full in the face,
while Gordon Glick harshly muttered:

‘* Not a whimper, as you value your life! You
wanted me to get down to business—and here
you have it, up to the handle!”

 

CHAPTER II.
A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION,
ANTHONY AnTRAm was far from being a
coward, but just then he trembled perceptibly,
his soft color fading away until his checks were
ashen, his slender figure shrinking back in his
office-chair, his eyes thoso of & man who sees
more than death menacing him. ;
Like a revelation of light the truth seemed to
flash upon his unsteadied n; he was locked
in with a madman! ‘ :

 

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of lunatics,
_ he made the attempt, only to be laughed at for

  
     
    
  
  
     
 
     
  
 
 
   
  
  
      

| taking no lon
» man, dear.

Lion-Heart Lee.

 

 

“Ts business, pure and unadulterated, An-

_ thony,” added Gordon Glick, in that same

hoarse yet painfully audible whisper, the muz-

tft on of his derringer drawing a bit closer to those

rting eyeballs, ‘‘ Don’t force me to turn it
into matter for a funeral—don’t, I say!”

* What-—don’t, man!” huskily whispered the
eae capitalist. ‘‘I never harmed you,
and—

“Tm playing you won't, either! Do you see
the caliber, man, dear? A little runt of a tool,
to look at, but let it bark—good-by! An ounce
ball, Anthony, you want to remember, backed
ie, by three drams of good power! Enough to
lift the roof from an elephant’s dome, if rightly

applied. As for yours, pouf! Don’t oblige me
to spatter the ceiling, man, dear!”

Softer grew that whisper, but had those words
found birth in a roar of wildest passion, An-
thony Antram could hardly have been more
leeply impressed with a sense of his peril.

urely this was a maniac!

He tried to shift his gaze, but_ was unable to
do so. That dark muzzle held his eyes as
by a spell, until, without sound of warning or
motion of fingers, the ugly weapon “eh back
into its hiding-place up that sleeve. Only for its
mate fo appear in the crippled left band!

“ Just to make it more binding, man, dear,”
said Gordon Glick, with a low chuckle which
Sounded fairly devilish to those startled. ears.
“‘-You have eyes to cheat a father, and I’m not

| trusting you too far. You might be foolish

enough to grip one fang, but you could hardly
manage two with success, See?’

“What have I—what do you want?” huskily
whispered Antram, ©
'o talk business, man, dear,” came the in-

_ stant response, as Glick drew bis chair closer
_ with a deft t

of his foot, then seating him-
self, all the w ile keeping that. masked weapon
staring his victim full in the face. ‘‘ To coax
you to invest a little of your idle cash in a mine,
A pocket of , to be honest!”

“ You mean to rob me?”

Go Y, ony!” with a swift frown

   
     

gathering is brows, “'m not a banker, if you

are,” Bs
‘“Tt you need money, why—” ;
_ “ Would I be here—like this—if I didn’t need

  

- money?

“Til help you, if I can, but—put away that
pistol, sir!” '

_ Anthony Antram tried to speak with stern
_ authority, sill impressed with the belief that his

visitor was really insane, He had read, some-

_ where, sometime, that a bold assumption of au-

thority will instantly cow the most dangerous
In his desperate dread of death,

 
   
 
  

his pains,
_ “ When our bit of business is polished off,

man, dear! Are you so ticklish, then?”

_ “It might go off, and—”
“Your roof would bear it company, Anthony!
nd that would be a great pity, don’t you
think? No more speculation, then! Unless your
mourning friends and relatives should indulge
in speculation over your ultimate destination!
Don’t laugh, man, dear: it’s only a jest of
mine.” tak, \
_ Anthony Antram shivered anew. This soft
playfulness. was even more terrifying than
fiercest bluster. If not a lunatic, this fellow was
ecidedly worse: a man who could smile while

 

“it
by slayin: Li

“ What do you want of me? What do you ex- |
pect to gain by this—this outrageous conduct,

  
     
    
      
       
      
  
      
  
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
  

_ | sir?’ huskily quavered the banker.

_ “ A pocket full of rocks, for one thing,” came
the cool retort. “If you can assure me that
you fairly realize that I mean business, pure
and simple, I’ll get down to hard-pan. But I’m
chances, Ph must understand,
} ‘til I make you feel, beyond the
possibility of a doubt, that I will kill you like a
dog rather than make a fizzle of this affair, ’m
going to keep rubbing it in, So—study the
liber of this pretty tool a bit longer, Anthony!”
_ The crippled hand drew back, its weapon van-
hing. It’s mate came forward, arming itself
as though the derringer ed life and sensi-
bility of its own. The wide-bored tube gently
en ae. pink nose-tip, then slowly moved
from one eye to its mate. © :

 

  

 

 

ounce ball, and three drams of rifle-
ler, you mind, man, dear,” repeated Gor-
ck, a gleam ‘of white teeth showing
gh his heayy mustache. ‘‘ Half ‘the
ld bea ena but there’s noth-
naking things dead-sure, A man don’t
often, but when he does, he

“mighty bad. Comprehend,

ed

  
 

 

“You are not—not crazy, then?” ventured
Antrawm, striving for courage as the moments
sped by without bringing death on their wings.

. “If I am, there’s: method in my madness,
pardner! To prove it—l want you to fill me
out a check for some of your loose cash!”

**-You are a robber, then!”

‘* Go easy!” hissed Gordon Glick, his free hand
shooting out to close lightly about that throat,
asa sound came from the bank-room, beyond
that closed door. ‘Pll kill you if any one
comes!”

“They can’t—I locked—”

“‘T know, but there’s another door. To what
does it lead?” | ;

*¢ Clutterbuck’s room. He never comes—hard-
ly ever comes through this way,” hastily ex-
plained the banker, in a cold sweat.

‘*So much the better for all hands, and for_

you in particular. Now, pardner, business
goes!” said Gordon Glick, removing his hand,
but still holding that weapon in uneasy prox-
imity to Antram’s skull. ‘¢I need cash, and I
need it mighty bad. I’m a ruined man if I
don’t get a big pile before midnight. Yow’re a
man who can spare the sum I need, and you’ve
got to pay it over or lose your life! Js that plain
enough?”

** What have I done—”

“Tts not what you have done, but what you’re
going to do, that interests me the most, just at
present. Will you fill out a check, just as I bid
you? 5

“TfI do, will you permit me to go free, un-
harmed?”

“It’s for me to ask, and you to answer. Once
more, Will you?”

‘ “Tf I must—yes!” sulkily muttered the ban-

er,

“Allright. Don’t make me.do the punctuat-
ing with a bullet, please! You have blank
checks handy, of course?” {

For answer, Anthony Antram opened a
drawer, his every movement closely watched by
Glick, whose keen eyes made sure no weapon
was hidden there, and produced a single check
book. Dipping a pen into the ink-well, he
glanced up at his dangerous caller to ask:

‘What name, please?” : :

‘‘Never mind the name. Just make it pay-
able to bearer. Wait: your hand is hardly
steady, man, dear! Don’t let it tremble sufti-
ciently to cast a doubt over your signature, I beg
of you!” “ f

‘* What amount?” asked Antram, after filling
in the date and second line, ;

“It ought to be an even fifty, but there’s luck
in odd numbers. Just make it forty-seven
thousand, five hundred, please.”
| “Never! I'll die first!” exploded the angry
banker, dropping his pen and flashing a glance
into—the muzzle of the derringer{

“Steady, pardner!” warningly hissed the
robber, scowling black as midnight. ‘I tell

ou, man, I’m in bitter earnest! D’ve got to

ave this money, cr suffer a thousand-fold wor'se
than death! I can win it only by a stroke of
this sort, I will win it—or die trying! And it
I must die, ’li take company out of the world
with me, be sure!”

Only one who heard those low, fierce sentences,
who saw those luridly-gleaming eyes, could fully
appreciate the situation, Anthony Antram

knew now that death would surely prove his

portion if he hung back, and with a perceptible
shiver, he resumed his pen.

“Wait,” said Glick, checking his hand. ‘I
know that each minute of delay is adding to the
risk I run, but unless I can carry off the cash,
I might as well die here, as perish outside, So—
try no tricks, Mr. Antram. If you have a
secret sign by which your genuine checks are to
be recognized, don’t forget to append it to this
one. I’m saying this quite as much for your
sake as for my own, bearin mind.” —

‘¢- You are marvelously considerate, sir! May

the day come soon when I can fully repay your
thoughtfulness!” ‘
‘“‘Excuse me from saying ‘amen’ to that
prayer! Have you written? Just turn it
around, that I may read, please. Thanks—ever
so much!” :

  
  

without losing his guard for the fraction of an
instant. To all appearance the check was faith-
fully drawn, and only required cashing. But—
TOT taepe wcll ist elie hana

5 ope not, for your health, pardner!” was
his erin answer to that unspoken query. ‘‘ It’s
a mighty rocky deal I’m gi you, and I know
many a fellow- who passes for a chief, who'd
come heap sight. oe to showing the w
feather ny ave this day! N
more favor,man,dear!?

~s

  
   
 
 
 
 
  
  

     
   
 
 

 

   
 
  

  
 

»
oa

eh
Sores

   

Gordon Glick closely scanned the check, but.

 

‘Will you never be content? Haven’t I done
enough already?” _ 3

“You've made an admirable beginning, and
if the finish is as neat, Pll remember you in my
prayers until my dying day. But—how about
cashing this little check?” fiche

“You came through the bank, The cashier
is at.his post. What more can you ask?”

_ “Nothing, if this was an ordinary business
transaction, but as I fear you regard it as just
a bit irregular—”

“It's the boldest robbery I ever heard of,
sir!

“Thanks, man, dear,” with a curt bow, the
faintest of smiles flitting across his strong face,
‘*T never did like torun with the rag-tag-and~
bobtail! But—pray oblige me by taking a little
walk? Say as far as the cashier’s window?”

“You mean—just what?”

“‘T mean business, Mr. Antram,” rising to his
feet as he spoke, putting the check into a pocket,
then picking up his grip with his left hand, “TI
must have this money, or I’d better be dead! I
will bave it, or your heirs will have a jubilee
over your estate! Understand?”

“Dil go with you, if that is what you mean,”
said Antram, rising.

“And youll play your part aright, on pen-
alty, mind!” passing an arm through his, and
slowly moving toward the door, ‘If trouble
arises, I'll blow you through, though I hang for
it!

Not a long speech, but enough. As he listened,
Anthony Antram knew every word was meant,
and he inwardly congratulated himself on hav-
ing resisted temptation in drawing that check.
True, it was a large sum for even a manso
wealthy as himself to lose, but life was still
more precious. And then, too, once where
other eyes were upon them, even this audacious
rascal would not dare to use violence,

Gordon Glick apparently felt that he had said
enough to stave off trouble, if mere warnings
could effect as much, for he said no more until
the room was crossed, the door unlecked and
pushed open, admitting them into the bank
proper. Then, murmuring meaningless sen-

tences, so far as their present business was con-~

cerned, he cast a keen glance over the long

apartment, and its few occupants outside of the |

gilded barriers,
Only one man was near the cashier’s window,
and he flashed but a brief glance in that direc-

tion, politely touching his hat in recognition of

the capitalist, who slowly advanced, arm in

arm, with his robber. ;
“Glad to see you, Mr. Linehart,” quickly

spoke the banker. ‘* Permit me to—ahem!”

A vicious nip bit into his arm, then he felt

the muzzle of that masked derringer pressing
into his ribs. No words were spoken by Gordon
Glick, but plainer than speech came that hint:

no introduction for him! And covering his slip |

with an affected cough, Anthony Antram per-
mitted his enemy to pee turn bim aside, fill-
ing the pause with guarded whispers, purely
business-like in their meaning, on the surface.

This action brought the tall Westerner with
his back almost toward the man outside of the
cashier’s window, and while a check was being
cashed, Mr, Linehart had time to glance swiftly
over the fellow who so rudely declined an intro-
duction. Hie aie

He said nothing, however, and pocketing his
money, quietl
taken at once by Gordon Glick, who deftly slip-
ped his check under the plated gate, saying,
quietly: \

‘« Tn bills, please?”

Resting the erip on the counter, he turned
face Anthony Antram, :

 

CHAPTER III.
A GAG AND A BLOW.

THAT was the critical moment, for then, if

ever, was ey Antram’s chance to save
his hard cash. 6

as much, and a tinge.of color stole inte his soft,
if wrinkled cheeks, but only to fade away once
more. ; :

Glick stood with an elbow resting lightly on
oa gone of the polished counter, his hand hang-
ng

 
  
 

feel certain a touch of the trigger would speed
the bullet to his heart. _ :

 
 
 

Even thus soon

ey ape

left the room, his place being

was shrewd enough to see

ly from the wrist, but his drooping fingers —
| merely masked the muzzle of a coc ;
and the capitalist needed but that one glimpseto

derringer,
"The robber stailed, but his glowing eyes threat-

| their e, and if Glick had spoken he ©
con net ere more conveyed the :

  
    
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
  
  
     
  
    
  
  
   
   
     
    
     
  

   

  
   

  

    

   
 

    
 

   
 

 
 
  
    
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
  
 
    

fe

Lion-Heart Lee.

 

 

 

i

 

With hardly a glance at the man who seemed
on such familiar terms with the bank president,
the cashier flattened out the folded check, his
practiced. eyes taking in the face at a single
glance. But the amount startled hii into an-
other look, and there was a slightly rising inflec-
tion to his voice as he read the words:

‘+ Forty-seven thousand, five hundred dollars?”

If ever mortal eyes spoke, those of Gordon
Glick did just then, And with that masked
derringer by way of backer, what could an un-
armed man do?

The cashier was looking through the nickle-
plated gate at the president, and the slightest
of hints would be sufficient to warn him of
crooked work; even a wink might suffice to
gain time. But could a wink check that lurking
bullet?

“Tes all right, Mr. Hughes,” Anthony
Antram said, in place of the words that he
would so dearly have liked to utter. ‘* How do
you prefer it, Mr, Glick?”

“Yn bills, large or small, I’m not caring
which, just so the grip will hold the boodle,”
lightly responded the robber, but without tak-
ing the trouble to squarely face the cashier,

Although it was an unusually beavy sum for
the president to draw without a word of warn-

’ ing, the cash balance would hardly feel the loss,
and protected by that admission, the cashier
quickly brought the amount in bills, neatly
bound and labeled,

“Forty-seven thousand five, sir,” he said,
stacking the package in convenient proximity to
that careless elbow, ‘* Will you verify the
count, please?”

“Eh? Oh, just so! It’s all right, isn’t it?”

‘We try to avoid all mistakes, of course.”

“Or you'd get the g. b. ina holy hurry, eh?”
laughed Glick, pushing the hand-bag closer to
the crescent-shaped opening. ‘‘ Please pack the
stuff in my grip, will you? As I was saying,
Mr, Antram, the property is well worth—”

His tones lowered until only an indistinct
murmur came to the ears of Cashier Hughes,
who opened the gate and took the band-bag, into
the gaping mouth of which he thrust the pack-
ie of money. He did not try to hear more,

hy should he? He had neither time, cash nor
inclination for outside business, least of all
during banking hours,

The bills stowed away, he closed the grip,
passing it through the gate, giving the owner’s
elbow a little jog as he did so, Gordon Glick
gave a start, turning swiftly, to recover as
rapidly when he fully realized the situation,

‘Thanks, man, dear, he said, with a quick
nod to the cashier, ‘‘ fll do as much for you
when I geta chance, Now—reckon we’d better
settle the other preliminaries, Mr, Antrém!”

He slipped an armed hand through the bank
president’s arm, turning him deftly toward the
private room once more, whispering sternly:

* No foolery, man, or off goes your roof!”

Once again that hard muzzle was denting the
skin over his ribs, and once more Anthony
Antram made a virtue of necessity, quietly
proceeding to the neatly fitted-up office, but

iving a shiver and a smothered curse as the
ie closed behind them, the key clicking in the

ock.

‘* Steady, pardner!” came the swift warning.
/“You’ve done most mighty we!l for a starter.
Don’t spoil all by botching the job this late in
the day. Don’t, I beg of you, man, dear!”

He did something worse than beg: he rubbed
the end ofaderringer against the tip of the
banker’s nose as he added:

‘*She’s just honing to bark, pardner! I hate
to disappoint a side-pardner, good and reliable
as she’s so often’ shown: herself, but—I’d hate to
muss up those white hairs of yours!”

‘“‘What more do you want, dovil?’ almost
snarlingly snapped Antram. ‘‘Haven’t you
bled me sufficiently, for once?”

“The boodle’s all right, provided I can keep it
80,” admitted the knave, passing over” that epi-
thet without notice. ‘I’m going to do that, if
it lays in the wood, and as the first step, Tve
brought you back here. Sit down, pardner.”

*“What— You can’t mean—”

**T mean just what I say: sit down!” repeat-
ed Glick, a heavy hand closing on a shoulder
and expediting obedience. “Til not harm a
hair of your head, without you compel me to.
All I want is a fair start and a few minutes’ law
of the hounds, and that much I mean to have.
But, first, who was that fellow you tried to give
me a knock-down to, out yonder?”

“A gentleman by the name of Linehart—Lee
Linehart.”

“What is he? What's hisbusiness?' Out with
it, you old duffer!” his voice growing harsher,
his eyes gleaming more brightly as the capitalist

 

seemed to hesitate,
scription: what ?”

‘*T never— He is one of Pinkerton’s men, I
believe,” sulkily muttered Antram, his eyes
drooping uneasily.

‘* A detective, you mean?”

*¢ Something like it, yes,” reluctantly admitted
the banker,

‘* And you wanted to introduce us, so that he
could swear to my phiz in case the bobbies ever.
run me in? Is that it, old duffer?”

Anthony Antram made no reply in words, but
he flashed a glance of fierce, undying hatred into
that strong face, After that, Gordon Glick
would hardly look for mercy from those hands,
should fate ever turn the tables on them both,

*Linehart—Lee Linehart, you said? Seems
to me I’ve heard of that— Ha!” with a sudden
start and perceptible loss of color. ‘Was that
devil, Lion-heart Lee?”

“T don’t—I’m not sure—yes!” with a sudden
change as that cold tube of death came into
sharp contact with his forehead. ‘‘ He’s called
Lion-heart, but I didn’t—"

‘Open your mouth—wider!” grated Glick,
pushing harder on the derringer until it left a
scarlet ring impressed between and above those
protruding eyes,

Almost involuntarily Anthony Antram obeyed,
and before he could fairly realize what was com-
ing, the deed was done,

That crippled left hand shot forward, com-
pressing a bulb of thick rubber until it could be
thrust between those divided jaws. As his hand
drew back, the banker gave a smothered groan,
for it seemed as though a balloon was being
swiftly inflated inside his mouth, ;

“Don’t try to chew it, unless you’re hungry
for the fun to begin, pardner,” chuckled Glick, a
broad grin lighting up his bronzed visage. ‘‘ The
more you try it, the more you'll find you can’t,
Take it easy, and when a friend comes to ask
what's aildin’ ye, he'll find an easy remedy by
bringing your cheek and a sharp knife into con-
nection. See?”

With a choked, muffled howl of rage and de-
spair, the old man actually attempted to assault
his pitiless torturer, but Gordon Glick twisted
him from his feet, replacing him in the office
chair with hardly an effort. Then, before the
banker could fairly rally, bis limbs were secure-
ly bound together, then fastened to the heavy
chair in such a manner as to leave him prac-
tically impotent to help himself or to raise an
alarm,

“Part of which you bring upon yourself,
Anthony,” said Glick, drawing back to view his
handiwork, ‘‘Of course I couldn’t think of
leaving you here with nothing more substantial
than your word of honor to lock your jaws, and
dearly as I love your company, I could hardly
afford to take you along as traveling compan-
ion, Still, I would have handled you a bit more
politely, only for your cutting up rusty.”

That rubber gag effectually barred all speech,
but if looks could Bil. Gordon Glick would never
Lave drawn another breath,

‘That's all right, pardner,” with a grim
nod of comprehension as he read that look
aright. ‘If ever fate brings you to the
top, ll grit my teeth and take my medi-
cine like a man, Now—I’m going to rack out.
Dll leave you here, to be set free by the first
who may comein. I'll not ask you to promise
aught: you’d break every promise I might
exact, so what’s the use? Only, don’t you lead
the way in the hunt for me, Anthony, if you
value life, I’ll never be taken alive, and the
head hounds will surely suffer the worst!”

With that grimly significant warning, Gordon
Glick picked up his hand-bag and moved to-
ward the door leading into the bank proper. His
hand was on the key, when a sudden sound com-
ing across the room caused him to wheel and
face the second door, his face blanched, his eyes
glowing like coals of living fire.

There was no room for doubt. A key was
turning in the lock, ‘a hand was moving the door-
knob, Some person was on the point of enter-
ing that room, and almost the first object to be
noted would be the bound and gagged figure
there in that office-chair!

If Anthony Antram had not been gagged,
even now this peril might have been averted b
forcing astern denial of admittance from his
lips. As it was, Gordon Glick, dropping his
hand-bag, drew a heavy ‘ life-preserver ” from
his bosom, lightly springing across the room,
eyen as that barrier swung wide to admit the
passage of a man of middle-age, who gave a

“Tt was a trap of some de-

short ejaculation ef angry surprise as his gaze
fell upon the helpless president,

Only that; then the loaded weapon descended
with cruel force, and only a swift clutch of

 

Glick’s left arm saved the luckless intruder from |
falling heavily to the floor, |

There was no need of striking a second blow, |
That leather-covered lump of lead had dene >
its work only too thoroughly, and the robber |
gave an involuntary shiver as he lowered that.
limp form to the floor, already stained with
bright drops of blood,

With a menacing shake of his weapon toward
Antram, Glick, with his money-stuffed grip,
passed from sight beyond that room—was it of |
death?

Anthony Antram believed as much, staring
helplessly at that half-revealed face, his own
blood chilling in his veins as he noted that slow-'
ly widening circle of blood and—was it brains? _

His sight grew dimmed, and an awful sickness |
took possession of him, body and soul. He felt
as though only death could bring him relief, |
and he hardly knew whether that was most to)
be dreaded or wished for. |

Tuat horrible gag seemed splitting his cheeks
and dislocating his jaws. Those cruel bonds
were cutting his limbs to the bone, checking the!
flow of his blood, until—could mortification be
produced thus?

Oddly enough, that preposterous wonder caused
him the most pain and torture. He could not
banish it, though he knew it was preposterous.

Would no one ever come to his relief? Was he
doomed to linger there in helpless misery, for-
ever? And Clutterbuck—was he dead? How
long would it be before—was the air growing
tainted by decay, so soon?

Anthony Antrim lacked little of being as crazy
as he had set Gordon Glick down as being, first
off, and it might have ended in actual lunacy
had that terrible ordeal lasted many hours lon-
ger; but there came a gentle rat-tat-tat at his.
closed door, followed by his name;

“Mr, Antram, are you at liberty for a few mo-
ments?” |

That broke the spell, and after vainly striving)
to cry aloud, the half paralyzed banker strove t
kick the floor with his feet, to upset the desk, t
do aught by which an alarm might be given,
And then, by a desperate effort, he flung himsel:
and chair over backward, risking a broken neck:
rather than endure longer torture. i

The crash brought speedy help, but it was long
ere Antram could give a rational account of hi¢
adventure: not until after a doctor had partially\
restored Calvert Clutterbuck to consciousness}
brief-lasting, but long enough for his lips to feeb)"
ly pronounce a name; Richard Raynor.

“Now 1 know him!” cried Antram, fiercely"
* Richard Raynor did it!” |

CHAPTER IV. |

AN ACCIDENT WORTH NOTING.
TuHat same afternoon a bay trotter was chafir Bf
against the taut ribbons which held him in ur)?
wonted subjection, though in no otherwise |

 

his young master pay him the slightest atte:
tion.

Why should he, with such a fair companiot-
sitting so snugly by his side, covered by the san:ff
robe, her shoulder gently touching his side, hel*
soft dark eyes flashing bright glances into h#
face at brief intervals?

“ And you do—really do loye me, Rena‘?
whispered the young man, his head droopir}i®
enough to just brush those curly “bangs” wi 7
his mustached lips.

**T—don’t make mere
Edgar,” still more softly breathed the maide
flashing a glance into his adoring eyes, th!
drooping her lids while a bright flush suffu- 12.
her cheeks, {

* Are you ashamed of it, then, pet?” witi. ‘a
low, amused, yet proud laugh, ‘*Or—of yo ic
lover?” ;

“ Hidgar—don’t—please !”

“How can I help it, Rena? Why, girly, pet
if it wasn’t for the looks of the thing, I believ
I'd just let go all holds and soar aloft like a ba)
loon! I never thought I’d feel so light at hear
I never—and only a few short weeks gone by, |
used to sneer at the mere idea of love and lovers
How can I ever do penance, Rena?” |

‘And a few more weeks to come may brin.
those sneers, Edgar?” {

“Tt is broad daylight, and we are in the ope
street—luckily for you, Miss Raynor! Rena, ¢-
you know, I haven’t had even the ghost of a kis
as yet Ny |
. “Edgar—Mr. Antram!”

“Oh, Pll have to wait—worse luck!” with
sigh of regret which was not entirely feign
though a bright, tantalizing smile bore it co
pany. ‘I suppose I must? It wouldn’t do
pretend a shower has burst, and your hat
manded shelter under the lap-robe, pet?”

“The idea!” M

t it, here in the strea} 2

wd

n

ao peer essed

es ss

S&S | ~*~ ere

eRe hk i

 
‘Lion-Heart Lee.

5

 

 

 

 

 
   

7
r from Still, “the idea” could not have been so
frightful, for Rena Raynor laughed amid her
‘blow. blushes; a charming little laugh it was, too:
1 done + musical as the gurgle of a brown thrush in
robber | spring.
d thab| ‘Silly?’ Well, why not? They were both
| with young in years, younger yet in heart. And
those hearts were just now opening under the
oward blissful warmth of a first, true, strong, honest
grip, love. We have all of us been just so silly, at
sit o£ | Jeast once in our lives, though we may have been
: fortunate enough to have escaped the recorder’s
taring notice. ;
s own ~ As one sentence let drop by Edgar Antram
bslow-' would indicate, this love affair was uot of long
ains? | standing, though the young people had _ known
ckness. each other by sight for several years. It mat-
de felé) ters not, for the interests of this narrative, just
relief, how that acquaintance grew closer, or how the
10st to! young man’s eyes were relieved of the scales
which usually distort such immature vision.
cheeks| Events were happening that afternoon which re-
bonds) quire not only a mention of this love, but of the
ng the family relations of each, as well.
ion be To begin with the young lady, she was mother-
mot less, and the only child left ber father, Richard
vaused| Raynor.
ld not He was an engineer on the C. B. & Q., and
“ous. | the nature of bis run forced him to be frequently
Vas he absent from the city. At such times, Rena
y, for- usually passed the night with a motherly neigh-
How bor, Mrs. Polly Preller, or had done so since slic”
owing left boarding-school.

Occasionally Richard Raynor was sent on
erazy longer trips, where special knowledge or skill
y, first was needed. At times he was absent from
unacy home for several days at a time. Once or twice,
8 lon of late, he had remained away for more than a

  
 

week at a stretch.
Nearly a week before this day, he had warned
Rena that she need not look for bim home for
some little time, and suggested that this would

   
   
   
 
  

riving) be an admirable opportunity for her to repay
ove to the visit of a several-times-removed cousin, who
sk, lived in one of the distant suburbs of the ‘* Windy
given, City.” ‘

imsel, ‘Though regretting this enforced absence of
nneck. her father, Rena was glad enough to accept

 

that opportunity for a visit, and at once made

ber intentions known to her cousin, by wire,
he told one other of her visit, for when do

newly made lovers neglect an opportunity for

writing to each other?) And that other, driving

his pet trotter to a neat road wagon, spent
precious little time at his desk in Blank Bank,
_ that week, which was equally to be expected.
~ Then, most unexpectedly, Rena received a
% brief message from ier father, calling her

' home. He had taken a “lay-off” for a few
days, and could not fairly ‘“‘rest up” without
his little girl.

Rena made her adieus short enough, intending
to catch one of the suburban trains for the city

proper, but before train-time, Edgar Antram

put in an appearance, and, of course, Rena’s
_ plans were changed. Why spend money for a
_ ticket when a free passage was offered ber?
_ _Then, too, her softly suffused cheeks and vailed
eyes betrayed a shy hope which was fated to
come true; on that long drive, Edgar Antram
for the first time frankly avowed his love, and
asked Rena to make him eternally happy by be-
coming his wife. {
Never mind her answer, it might have been
more satisfactory had their surroundings been
different; though, in the first glow of accepted
love, the young bank clerk might well have
doubted that possibility.

But, later, Rena timidly expressed a doubt
which had given her serious trouble of aa
be will-

 
 
   
  
   
   
     
  
    
  
  
    
   
   
 

 

     
   
  
   
    
  
 

Gays; a doubt whether her father would
ing to ratify that shy pledge. \
**1 do not know why he should, but—Edgar,”
her voice trembling a bit as it softly pronounced
_ that loved name, for the first time without a
_ prefix or affix. ‘‘Once, when your father’s
mame was pronounced before him, father swore
—swore, oh, so awfully: I fear he haves him,
and if so—” —

**8¢ long as daughter loves son, I reckon
we'll be able te convert the fathers into true
_ friends,” laughingly retorted Antram. ‘‘ And
_ WVU take the first step this very afternoon, Rena!

_ Of course I must ask your father’s consent to
a, marriage!” ‘

i he should—not this very afternoon, Ed-

    
  
   
 
  
  
   
   
   

  

 

     
       
      

    

~ “The marriage, do you mean, pet?”
* Don’t—for shame! I meant—don’t tell him,
ht now!” ici
‘You are not ashamed of the man you have
n as your future lord and master, Rena?”
; took; but that was answer sufficient to

       
           

  

 
 

  

 

a more exacting lover. Once more

Edgar Antram longed for darkness, or at least
fewer wayfarers on that long, straight stretch
of macadam. :

‘“*T owe you another for that blessed glance,
little one,” be whispered, gazing admiringly at
that softly suffused cheek, heedless of the spirit-
ed horse who chafed uneasily against that tight
reining. ‘' Will you ever be able to pay up your
debts? May I come this evening for a first in-
stallment.”

“Tf you won’t— Promise not to speak to
papa until after I’ve broken the ice, Edgar?”

“Can I refuse you aught, pet? But— don’t
keep ime waiting too long, I beg of you! Why
should we wait at all? Tam long past my ma-
jority, and amply able to care for a wife, dear
even as you, Rena! And you are—how old,
little one?”

‘ Kighteen, last birthday. But—” ‘

“Old enough to deserve a home of your
own, even as you are svre to ornament it, dar-
ling! Then—why mayn’t I speak to papa this
night?”

It was very sweet to be so importuned, and
Rena could not force herself to flatly deny her
lover. Yet she would not actually promise, for
that memory of her father’s fierce anger against
Anthony Antram, Edgar’s father, would force
itself to the surface, and astrange premonition
of coming evil saddened her heart, despite its
almost sacred joy.

“You may come, since you wish it, Edgar,”
she said, after a brief pause for reflection, ‘* But
you must not speak to papa about that—unless I
say youmay. ‘You wil! promise?” :

* Anything, everything, Rena. How could I
help promising you? You are my all, my only
hope, my— Steady, boy!” ,

Perhaps it was just as well that Bay Royal
should ‘chip in” just at that juncture, It had
been hard enough for Edgar Antram to observe
the conventionalities, up to date, but with Re-
na’s soft brown eyes looking so gratefully, so
lovingly into his own blue orbs, it was well that
he bad something else to fight besides his own
hot love,

Still, he lost nothing in Rena’s eyes by that
brief fight with Bay Royal, for a man looks
never more manly than when doing kind yet
firm battle with a high-strung horse,

And Edgar Antram was sometbing more than
a handsome young man, even when taken at bis

worst.

He lacked but little of being six feet in height,
with broad, square shoulders and strong yet
graceful limbs; the model of a present day
athlete of the higher class,

His features were fairly regular, without be-
ing at all effeminate. His face was good, rather
than beautiful, though few of his friends but
were willing to term him a really handsome
young fellow,

His hair was a compromise between red and
flaxen: ‘‘molasses-candy hair,” as the vulgar
hath it. His neatly-kept mustache was yellow,
and an upward curl at each end lent its owner a
gay, dashing air which few young ladies can

find fault with, His garb was rich and neat,’

yet free from any suspicion of foppishness,

As already hinted, he wasa clerk in Blank
Bank, of which institution bis father was the
head. And, while not strictly confined to his
duties, Edgar had proved himszlf a good as well
as willing business man, :

Reva Raynor was eighteen years of age, a
charming brunette, with dark chestnut hair and
eyes. Though dressed simply, almost plainly,
she showed the lady in her every movement.

It did not take Edgar Antram long to ‘pull
down” Bay Royal, but. before their interrupted
conversation could be renewed, Rena gave a
short, half-frightened cry as she clutched an
arm of her lover, gazing ahead at a rapidly
driven road-wagon in which two men were
seated. :

“Father! oh, Edgar! And he thinks I’m
coming by train!” i ;

The young man likewise caught sight of that

face and figure, but before he could veer aside |

in hopes of escaping an actual recognition, a

recklessly driven butcher’s cart struck a wheel

of the wagon abead, throwing all in confusion
and causing an instant wreck, :

Rena gave a sharp scream as she saw the man
whose face Aad given her such a start, burled
headiong from the wrecked wagon, striking
head-first on the macadam, but before she could
see more, Edgar swept in to the right curb,

Jeaping out and sharply ordering a fellow to
hold' his horse, ae -

“Don’t stir, I beg!” he almost sternly spoke
to Rena, ‘‘Vllseeif— I don’t ae it’s your
father. Wait bere for me—mind !” =
He dared'paused for no more, but plunged

Ni

 

through the crowd which so magically gathers
about any accident, his sole thought being to
learn as speedily as possible just how severely
Richard Raynor had been injured. For, de-
spite the assurance he had given Rena, he never
ae instant doubted that this was indeed her
father, ‘

A wheel had been taken off, and as the body
dropped, the frightened team dashed madly
away, and were far out of sight even in so brief
a space of. time.

One of the men had alighted on his feet with-
out serious injury, but the larger, older man
was lying like a corpse when Edgar Antram —
forced his way to the scene of the accident: to
stoop and catch up the limp left hand which lay
in the dust!

He saw that each finger was intact, though
bruised by the fall, and with a long breath of
relief he gave way as a rude hand struck his
chest, a husky voice crying out: s

“Back! make way, ye fools!
and— Hi, there, cabby!”

An empty hack, or close carriage, formed one
item of that temporary jam, and the speaker,
hatless, bruised and dusty, clinging to a battered
grip-sack, with one hand while endeavoring to
lift his insensible mate with the other, alter-
nately cursed the curious crowd and begged the
hackman to swing in closer.

‘“ He’s burt—bad hurt! He needs help, and
these— Back, ye cursed idiots} Do you want
to smother the poor devil?”

Just bow she managed it was never very clear
to either, but Rena just then came to the side of
her lover, who almost fiercely caught her up in
his arms and forced his way back to the road-
cart, saying in soothing tones: -

“Tt’s not father, Rena: his left hand is whole
as mine!”

Give him air,

 

CHAPTER V.
GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY ?

PERFECT as was her trust in his word, Rena
found it no easy task to believe Edgar when he
gave her this assurance. How could she, a |
daughter, have made such a mistake?

‘Tell me! I am strong—I can bear it!” she
said, amid her painful sobs, as her lover bore
her across to the wagon in his strong arms.
“ He is—he is not—not dead ?”

Although annoyed by the eyes which were
taking note of their movements, Edgar was too
bape a lover not to yield so far as to repeat

is assurance that her father had not been in-
volved in-the accident,

‘“*He was a perfect stranger, Rena. I saw
him, and I looked at bis hand. ‘Your father has
lost the two last fingers, at the second joint,
hasn’t he?” \ :
‘i - Yes, but—I saw him! You mean well, sir,

ut—

‘*On my honor, Rena,” then adding in a whis-
per barely loud enough for her agitated ears to
catch, ‘by my love for you, darling! that man
has all ten fingers, and so cannot possibly be
your fatber. Would [ lie to you, by such a
sacred oath, Rena?’

By this time they were close to the wagon,
and the tall shape of Bay Royal afforded them a
partial cover. Rena gazed tremblingly into his

eyes, and as she read there the glad truth, Hd-

gar stole his first kiss of acknowledged love.
Possibly that sweet theft had something to do
with the little bonanza which fell to the lot of
the ragged fellow who had held the nag, true
to his trust through all the temptation a surg-
ing, excited crowd presents; certain it was that
before he had finished picking up the change
which Edgar Antram had tossed him, Bay
Royal had left the slowly separating crowd far
bebind him. ‘ ‘
Rena became convinced that her fears were
without foundation, and that she had been de-
ceived by one of those curious resemblances so-
frequently met with in a large city,
no easy matter to forget that shock, and she ral-
lied with slowness, ’ Pe
Edgar bad to maintain the conversation al-
most wholly, and Rena seemed in haste
to reach home than the young man could fully
appreciate, ; f
‘Please let me out here,” the maiden mur-
mured, when yet several blocksfrom home. ‘I —
would rather walk. Please ?” ee

Edgar frowned a bit, but his faced cleared
even more quickly. i

He drew into the curb,
leaping out and hitching Bay Royal toa conven-
ient post,then tenderly received Rena in his arms.
If he stole a fleeting kiss while swinging her
sete, to the sider el, age poet ” be ‘sai 4
“Tm going with you, little % said,
drawipg a hand through his arm ond ;

faway in the right direction, “No, don’t ob-

But it was
 

Lion-Heart Lee.

‘

 

  
 

ject. I'd hate to deny you in anything, so soon,
but—I’m going to see you safely home, papa or
m0 papa!” ; ha

Although Rena, certainly knew that it would
be more prudent to run no further risks until
matters had been explained to her father, she
felt too weak and nerve-shaken to firmly object,
just then. In spite of the assurance she had re-
ceived that Richard Raynor bad not been a vic-
tim of that road mishap, she still felt that evil
hung over her head.

As she came in sight of the neat cottage be-
longing to Richard Raynor, Rena freed her
hand, springing lightly ahead, flashing a glance
of parting as she reached the door—only to find

: it locked!

{ ; “See what you have cheated me out of, little
lady,” murmured Edgar, as he regained her
side. ‘‘ Your father isout. He did not expect
you home so soon, And we might have driv-

! en— ‘

‘*No—don’t, please! He must have gone to
the station, and when he fails to meet me—”

‘* He'll come back home to be gloriously sur-
prised. Rena, how long must I wait before J,
too, can have a little home, with a little wife,
waiting for my home-coming?”

‘¢ Never—with me—unless you behave better,

' sir!” stammered Rena, blushing furiously, yet

feeling so very happy the while. ‘‘ Please go,
Edgar! Mrs, Preller will be— There she is,
now! Go, please!”

“Only until this evening, then, remember,”
forcing himself to bear in mind the convention-
alities it was so nice to shatter, just then. ;

A touch of the hand, a tip of the hat, and then
the bank clerk turned away, retracing his steps
to where Bay Royal had been left in waiting. A
soft, mellow whistle rose in his throat as he
strode swiftly along, care-freo if heart-fast, feel-
ing that a happier, more blessed man than bim-

te _ self could not be found\in all Chicago’s miles,

Yet even then fate was rapidly nearing him,
and a blow which had already fallen, was to re-
coil on his own head with crushing force before
ees he was an hour older!

ert Rena Raynor watched ber lover for a few

Beas moments, thrilling with pride as she noted his
athletic figure, his quick, free stride, even
through the tears which quickly dimmed her

| bright eyes,

: She carried a key to the house, of course, but
instead of immediately using it, she passed
around one side of the building, to feel in the
spug hiding-place where both herself and father

‘ were accustomed to places their keys when leav-

ees ing the house temporu...y alone, She found a

‘ key, and then she knew that Richard Raynor

expected to return soon.

n place of passing over to the home of Mrs, .

_ Polly Preller, as she would have done had that

_ key not been found, Rena at once opened the

house, finding relief in busy bustling,.so far as

her own case was concerned.

Not so about her father, though she strove
hard to banish those haunting doubts: doubts
which had often recurred to her brain since

f os: his message to return home without

- delay.

__. Although rather wild in youth, Richard Ray-

nor had steadied down when he married, leading

a sober, industrious, thoroughly reputable and

reliable life until after the sudden death of the

wife and mother, some five years before the date
of this story.

That death had proved a crushing blow to the

_ engineer, and more to drown grief and memory

than through any ingrained evil, he fell into

habits which brought grave looks to the faces of
his truest friends,

_ More than once be was forced to provide a

substitute for bis ‘‘ run,” on short notice, owing

to heavy drinking. Nor was that all, Hach

time of yielding rendered him less able to resist

temptation, and to drink, Richard Raynor add-
ed the still more costly vice of gambling. ©

__ Not that he was a habitual drunkard or gam-

_bler. For months at a time be would not touch

liquor nor cards, He would not feel in the

slightest inclined that way. But then, like a

‘ ee ‘of fever, the ‘mad thirst and longing

‘would assail him, and all his fighting against

temptation would avail nothing. ;

Until after Rena came home from boarding-

school, tomake for him the home he had lost

when his wife died. Then, after being surprised
by his child in a drunken fit, Richard Raynor

: e to abstain from both drink and cards:

and, sofar as Rena knew, he had sacredly kept

that pledge to date. ‘ th \
his was the dread fear which haunted

w: that her father bad fallen, at last!

h she fought bard against belief, she |

come until she could

    
    
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
  
       
    
        
     
 
  
     
  
   

  

  
  

 
  

   

 

    

 

 

 

       
   
  
     
     
    
    
       
    
 
      
   
  
   

   
   
  

     
  
 

 

 

 
 

   

 
      

   
 
 

  
  

 

    

 

clasp his kindly hands, and gaze direct into

those honest eyes.

That uneasiness was by no means lessened
when Rena found proof that her father had passed.
at least one night under that roof. Why had he
not called for her earlier, then? Why had he
not— :

A sharp rapping at the front door cut short
those questions, and Rena quickly answered the
summons, shrinking back a bit as she found her-
self face to face with a tall man who, despite his
citizen garb, curiously suggested the military, or
police service, =

“Richard Raynor lives here, does he not,
miss?”

“Yes, sir, but he is not at home just at
present. Who shall I say called?”

‘*-You expect him back, shortly, of course?”

‘* At any moment, sir, I would ask you in,
to wait, but—but—” stammered Rena, flushing
under that slight smile, but feeling great relief
when the tall stranger spoke quickly:

‘* Never miud. My business can wait. Tell
your father— He is your father, I believe?”

“Yes, sir. I am Miss Raynor.”

“Thanks, I thought as much. Then, just
tell your father that Jobnson will drop in on him
this evening, at nine o’clock, say.”

The stranger bowed respectfully, then backed
away, and Rena quickly shut the door: so
quickly that she did not take time for a glance
up or down the street, else sho would have made
a pleasing discovery, _

For Richard Raynor was at that instant com-
ing into sight of his own house, striding along
with slow, far from steady steps, his head bowed
and his eyes moodily staring at the stone flags
underfoot,

Rena met him at the very threshold, flinging
her arms about his neck, pressing her lips to his
—only to draw back with a startled ejaculation

‘| of surprise and grief, for both breath and mus-

tache were strongly impregnated with liquor!

“Don’t—I’m fit to curse myself blind as it is!”
harshly muttered the engineer, sinking heavily
into a cheir. “I had a shock—a fall on the
street—and before I knew it, some devil had
dosed me with whisky! J couldn’t help ‘it—
could I, girly?” :

Rena, with a low, sobbing cry of mingled joy
and self-reproach at her unjust suspicions, was
about to fling herself on her knees before the
wronged one, when the front door was flung
open without knock or sound of bell, giving
admittance to “‘ Johnson,” the tall stranger, and
several men in uniform. t y

Richard Raynor sprung to his feet with a
hoarse ery of anger, but before he could do or
say aught, the leader lifted a hand in warning,

“ Be careful, Richard Raynor! D’ve got to
arrest you, but—”

Rena gave a gasping cry, shrinking ba¢k, al-
most falling to the floor in her terrified amaze-
ment. Raynor turned ghastly pale, then flushed
hotly as he cried out: ss

‘* How dare you come—where’s your warrant

‘for this, sir?”

He made a gesture which might be interpreted
as an attempt to draw a weapon, but before he
could do more, if such was really his intention,
strong hands grasped and rendered him help-
less, ee irons on his wrists, _

‘* You devils!” as Rena sunk to the floor, half-
fainting. ‘‘ What have I done to deserve such
foul treatment? What right have you to—”

“Easy, Mr. Raynor. It’s. my duty to warn
‘ey that everything an do or say will have to

reported by us,
ce and for what may turn out to be mur-
er oy

Rena sprung to her,-feet, flushed and indig-
nant, forgetting her faintness as she caught that
terrible charge, She never knew what words
pessed her lips, All she did know was that she
must defend her father, loved and true. \

Her wild, blind passion, mingled as it was
with heart-rending grief, served to calm the hot
rage of the accused, and he seemed far more
ready to accept the situation than the officer in
plain clothes had dared hope for. . mn

“Pm not guilty, of course,” he said, in low,
calm tones, as soon as he could partially quiet
his wildly agitated child. “Its all an ugly
mistake, which will be shortly set aright.
Still, Pl go with you, and make no more

trouble than I can help, if. you will grant me_

one favor.” }
“ What is that favor?” { 3
“Keep eee ty, crowd. Send aman across.
the way for . Preller, Lot me place my
eet in her charge, then do as your duty
calls,” fae ie
Rena sobbingly declared that she would not
be torn from her dear papa, but grief and
Nis ee atalig ie a sc a

   

 

 

| mounting the seat, turned

ow—you are arrested for’

agitation fortunately rendered her unable to
make either a strong or protracted fight.

Mrs. Preller was brought across the street A

and placed in charge of both that poor girl and
that blighted home, Richard Raynor kissed his
daughter repeatedly, then tore himself away, to
once more yield to the strong arm of the law.

‘“* Watch over her, dear friend,” he said huski-
ly, to Mrs. Preller, whose own eyes were stream-
ing tears of sympathy aad indignation, one for

plainly regarded the minions of the law. “If
anything happens— Come, you fellows!” as he
turned away, unable to complete the sentence,

Richard ynor was led quickly out of the —
house, to find a hack waiting, the cover of
which proved very grateful to him, just then.
For, quickly as the arrest had been made, quite |
a little crowd had gathered before the building,
eager to see the bank robber!

 

CHAPTER VI.
LION-HEART LEE TAKING NOTES,

EpGar ANTRAM reached Bay Royal, and
is rig around, head-
ing for home, still humming that gay tune, still
smiling to himself as he recalled the sweet, shy
confession he had extorted from the lips of Rena
Raynor,

He was driving rapidly along, more than a
mile from where he had parted with his recently-
won love,,when a sharp call and an up-flung
hand from the pavement arrested his attention.

He saw that he was meant by that hail, and
quickly reined Bay Royal in, glancing back to~
ward the tali figure which was rapidly making
its way to his side, He could not exactly place.
the man, though feeling that he had met him
before, under different circumstances,

“You want me, sir?” he asked, as his impa~
tient nag tugged at the reins.

“Yes, Your name is Antram, is it not?”

‘ That’s mine, what’s yours?”

‘‘ Johnson, but never mind that part,” with a.
flitting smile wakened by that bluntness.
“Yowre wanted at the bank, There’s been a
robbery, and—”

* A robbery?
fellow!” ;

“T have said, Mr. Antram,” coldly bowing as —
“Your father needs you, sir, —

he drew back.
and the quicker you get there the better.”
‘My father? He’s not—not hurt?”

“Not to speak of, but Mr. Clutterbuck is. | a

Good-by, sir!” ‘ ;
‘Who did it? How could anybody—”

But the tall man was already back to the —

pavement, and if he mentioned any other names,
Antram certainly did not catch them,

He was tempted to give chase, but then
Bay

ve
Royal his head, very sensibly con¢luding

by driving direct to Blank Bank.

He had hardly driven half a dozen blocks be-
fore he drew rein with vigor, uttering a shout that
caught the ears of a man leisurely pacing along

the pave, and as his eyes turned that way, he

caught the words:
‘“T say, Linehart!
the jump, man!”

It’ was but the work of a few seconds to trans
fer that active figure from walk to seat, and as |

Antram once more gave Bay Royal his head, he
hastily explained the incomplete message which ©
bad so greatly excited him, :
*T can’t make it seem true, even
added, with a long breath.
be a robbery, in broad daylight? For I kno
that all was going well at the bank this noon,
**Some one hurt, you say?” ; ,
“So he said, whoever the fellow was, John-
son, he called himself, Confound the fellow!
‘why couldn’t be say a little more—or less?”
‘Not your father, I trust, Ed,” asked Line-_
hart, gravely. ON eee hae

of, or-- Step out, boy! you're crawling, only!”
That was a base slander on Bay Royal, whose.

plated hoofs were beating a merry tattooon the

smooth asphalt, but Edgar Antram was very

his words, just then,

Lee Linehart saw as much, and asked no fur-

ther questions, deeming it wisest to wait until
the bank was reached, though bis brain was busy
enough the while. , “patted

when everything seemed in order and working
eens as usual. Certainly nothing like rob-
ery and violent assault had taken piace

 

 

} have been long

oie te
that time. If shortly after—and canis
delayed—had the man

     

the Raynors, the other for their enemies, as she —

Our bank? Oh, say, my dean i

 

xe

 

that he could get at bottom facts more quickly —

I want you! Come—on —

et!” he
“How could there

“No, Clutterbuck. And yet he said—what
did he say? That father wasn’t hurt to speak

naturally excited, and hardly accountable for —

He recalled his recent pause at Blank Bank,

 

     
  
  
   
   

 
 

 

Lion-Heart Lee.

   

f

 

 

rudely declined an introduction to himself, been
implicated? eet 7 ;

ut few words were spoken during the brief

- interval it took Bay Royal to cover the distance

between the spot of their meeting and the Blank

Bank, but just before reaching the place, Lee

- Linehart said: ras :

4 “Ts after banking hours, and if there really

-., | has been any trouble, Ed, all outsiders will be
. excluded, of course. Can you manage to smug-

ae - gle me inside? If not asa private citizen, as a

PT Bas detective?”

cae ae ees ‘You bet I will! Why not? J’m interested,

int as astockholder, and if I choose to employ a de-

" tective—you’ll serve me, as such?”

3 Lee Linehart gave a laughing assent, and five
minutes later both men were inside the bank,
the detective keeping in the rear for the present,
but noting everything and every word for future
__- reference, in case he should really be required to
Pai fall to work, as a detective.
peg Anthony Antram showed the effects of the ter

fs rible strain to which his nerves had been subject
ed, but he stubbornly refused to go home until
the doctors had fully decided on the probable re-
sult of the injuries Calvert Clutterbuck had re-
ceived at the hands of the bold robber. And
that promised to be a work of time and study.

~ Only once had the unfortunate man recovered
| -_-hhis consciousness, and then barely long enough
|. t9 mumble the name of the man whose foul

blow had laid him low. Ever since he had lain
a in a heavy stupor, not even flinching when
steady fingers probed his wound, and forceps
picked bits of splintered bone from the partially
exposed brain. :
Anthony Antram hardly noticed the arrival
of his son, in his great anxiety for his injured
_ friend. He nervously paced to ard fro, his
rigidly clinched hands proving how strong ¢
strain he was placing upon himself. Yet he
poula not refrain from asking that same ques-
BUIOIS: cieh; j
“How is it, doctor? Surely. he'll pull
’ through? He wtll rally, in time? He will pull
through?” \ ;
_ . At length an answer was given the nervous

_ banker,

_* “He will rally, yes; but if he pulls through,

_ with life and reason, he'll have to thank the
parents who gave him such a magnificent con-
_ stitution. Has any one sent in a call for an am-

_bulance?” * ;

“‘ Who did it, father?’ asked Edgar, taking
_, advantage of the temporary bustle which fol-

ene aa e's bit Richard Raynor
; or,

“Who did it?
Ors the—” ‘i f ; y
“No! He did not—he could not !” ejaculated
_ the young man, staggering back as though he
_ had received a crushing blow full in the face.
ie Before he could sav more, a strong hand
gripped his arm, and Lee Linehart almost for-
cibly drew him aside, hurriedly muttering: |
ee Control yourself, man! Leave it all to me,
Lope :
uae Ha! just the rfian I wanted to see, above all
others!” exclaimed Anthony Antram, recog-
; nizing the detective, and making a pounce upon
him, “ You can back us up, man! You saw
_ the fellaw—didn’t you?” | {
“Do you mean the person who injured Mr,
te Clutterbuck, sipP FFs.
eo fa ee the ad Ln —ieem the foul assas-
sin, sir! I mean the desperate devil you saw,
you did see him with me, right at yonder win-
dow Linebart?” / ;

I saw you in company with a gentleman
who ie aad oe pes ce
Gentleman > on’t make me curse, Ye
splattered tho half-distracted banker’ wioee
wild gyrations would have been ludicrous un-
der less serious circumstances, so foreign were
they to his usual staid, stately demeanor, ‘You
saw him, Richard Kaynor, engineer on C, B, &

Q.2_ You can sweartohim, eh? = =~

“Tf we are thinking of the same person, I
are say I would recognize him, at sight,”
came the quiet response, os Linehart passed a
hand through an arm, drawing the excited
banker toward his private room, next to that

 
 

 

ep

   
   
 
   
    
   
  
  
  
 
  

    
   
   
   
  
  
  
 

  

in which the tas ae now acon Y
compose yourself, my dear sir, and then we'll
Ls Tr it allover.” Mp i eel ght 7
uder cover of the bustle caused by the
arrival of the ambulance telephoned for

 
  
 
 

Autram to hold his peace until the whole story

ould be learned, difficult as that pledge prom-

to be wben it came to carrying itout. __

‘h Clutterbuck was a man of family,
ell-appointed

be taken to a hospital
it. w.

Line-
hart managed to wring a promise from Edgar

house, the ene me

after his removal to the ambulance that the
detective rejoined the agitated banker. i

That enforced waiting, added to a couple of
glasses of good wine, had wrought a pleasing
change in the banker, as Linehart quickly dis-
covered. Though still unnerved, he was better
able to give a clear, connected recital, and with
notebook in hand, the detective listened to the
tale he had to tell, only interrupting bim once
or twice by a pertinent question concerning
matters of fact. ; “

Edgar, keeping his hot passions in check only
by the strong hand, occupied a chair partly out
of his father’s sight. While that pledge re-
mained in force, the young man dared not
equarely confront the one whose every word
was giving him positive torture; for Rena’s
sake, if not for the sake of her father. —

‘* All this must have consumed time, Mr. An-
tram,” quietly observed Linehart. ‘‘ About how
long, do you think: an hour?” ;

‘* About that, maybe, though it seemed to me
I was watching voor Clutterbuck an age! And

that—I'll hunt him to the gallows, if it costs my
‘laet dollar!” f

“Of course, justice must take its course,”
bowed the detective, in no wise moved by that
fierce outburst. ‘About an hour, you say?
And during that length of time you say you
failed to recognize the man?” —

““T knew I'd seen him before! I knew it from
the very first!) I told him as much, too! He
was Richard Raynor—I take my oath to that
effect, sir!”

“Vou said Mr. Clutterbuck denounced him
by name; did that mention fully decide your be-
lief, sir?”

‘*No, sir! It merely freshened my memory,
which has been playing me tricks of late.
knew him—knew him as well as I know my own
face In the mirror, sir! And I never knew any
good of him, even before this dastardly outrage,
either! Why, man, dear—”

He stopped short, spitting fiercely as he re-
membered how frequently the bold robber had
made use of that same term. _ :

‘You say that the robber had an imperfect
left hand, I believe? Will you describe it again,
my dear sir?”

Yes. He had lost two fingers—the smallest |

and the one next to it—at the second joint: that
is, only a single joint of each finger remained
attached to hishand. Do I make my meaning
clear, Linehart?” :

“Perfectly, sir,” with a
toward Edgar to ask: iy

“T believe you are acquainted with Richard
Raynor, Mr. Antram. Is his left hand crippled
to that extent?” (

“*T believe so, but he never did it—Ill take
my oath!” }

“Wait, I beg, Mr, Antram, You only believe
so? Do not you know for a fact that Richard
Raynor has lost the two least fingers on his
left hand, just as your father has described?’ -

“Yes, {know that much.
thanthat! I know—” : g

“ Amputated after _an accident, no doubt?
It is a clean loss? His fingers are not merely
crippled? Not bent in close to the palm?” ”
© & clean amputation, yes. Do you mean—”

“That will do, for the present,

“Now, Mr. Antram,” turning again to the
senior of that name, ‘if you wish this robber
arrested, why—” ve a

‘“‘He’s nabbed before now!” interrupted the
banker, rubbing bis thin hands with almost
savage glee. ‘“‘I took care of that, without
delay. swore out a warrant and sent officers
to execute it, long ago!” ‘

“Not Richard Raynor—not Rena’s father?”
cried Edgar, springing from his seat and almost
fiercely confronting his parent, [

_ “Steady, Ed!” warningly cried the detective,
but the lover paid him no heed, unless sinking
his voice to a lower note was such,

“Father, be he guilty or be he innocent, I'd
rather be cast out on the world a beggar, than
| have you cause the arrest of that man—the
father of the girl who has this very day prom-
ised to become my wife!” : PhO Te

Anthony Antram suuk back in his chair,
wide-eyed and open-mouthed. Heseemed dazed

bow, then turning

And I know more

 
     
   
 

  
 

by that fiercely secs outburst, and before |
is

he could-rally his scattered wits, Edgar caught
“up the hat he had dashed to the floor, rushing
out of the office like one bound on a desperate
mission, aa in IE a SO AR Bed
“Stop him! Don’t le

smered the banker,
fs hate. |b

     

but

 

ils

‘granting Bay Royala portion of the liberty he

| faces had been attracted by what was promi

-| dear, he’s—he’s her father !”

  
  
 

his own father’s word could not convince him

ee I think, he has
t— He's crazy!” stam- | al

 

 
   
  
  
  
   
    
 
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
  
   
    
    
     
   
   
     
       
    

the door through whick the impetuouslover bad
vanished a moment before. ‘‘He means well,
but— I'll follow and bring him home, if you'll
go there yourself, dear sir. Wéll you? For.
your own health, remember!” 3

Without daring to pause for a reply, Lee
Linehart hastily passed through the banking
apartment, hastily following after Edgar An-
tram, who was just springing up behind Bay
Royal, his face very pale, but his eyes glowing
oe eA
‘““Whereaway, pardner?’ asked Linehart,
reaching the spot in time,

“Tm going to comfort my promised wife!” ‘

Good enough!” springing into the wagon. —
* Introduces me, won’t you?”

CHAPTER VII.
A DAUGHTER’S FIRM FAITH. a

Poor Bay Roya was alinost flung backon
his haunches, by the vicious jerk which young |
Antram gave him as he turned with a fierce
glower to the speaker. {

“Careful, you / Lion-heart or cur, I'll stand
ni pie or gibes against the lady I’m proud to—

be
For Lion-heart Lee was almost laughing in
his hotly flushed face, his eyes full of the
mingled pity and mirth with which wiser people
are wont to regard the baseless ravings of silly
youngsters. / i

“Shall I say it over again, Eddie? I’d rather
have an introduction to the lady you are going
to see, than any other being in Cricago, unless
it might be the hero of oir little escapade, back
yonder.”

ns Because she is—you don’t believehim guilty,

 

          
     
     
    

“I never believe until I know,” witb a deft
effort relieving Antram of the ribbons and |

was fighting for. ‘‘ But I believe you have
entertained the rabble sufficiently, for once in a

wa: ‘ar. j

‘The bank clerk flushed hotly as he glanced
around, for his anger had prevented his noting
what was.a fact: that over a dozen grinnin

        
       
       
           
       
    
           
         
 
 

to be a row on wheels, ja:
“Tf I’m likely to go astray, Ed, just flop the
wheel over a spoke or two, will you?” drawled
Lion-heart, soothing Bay Royal withthe ribbons ©
as only a age light hand cap, 3-0). %, 6",
‘Of course Pll set you down where you want
to go, Lee, but don’t make it any longer than it
must be, for the sake of a spin. Any other.
time T wouldn’t ask anything better, but just
now— f
“You think you’re cool enough to manage
the bay? Ail right,” and Linebart resigned the
reins. ‘‘ Drive right to Miss Raynor’s, please.”
‘“ But—I’m not going to take you there, Lee!” »
“T think you are, Edgar,” his tones growing
grave, his strong face aglow with earnestness
as their eyes met. “If you'll admitthat you
wish to see this ugly affair squarely untangled _
with the least possible delay, Tll know you ©
are! ' ‘ ers
“Then—you don’t belieye he did itl? =~
‘‘Meaning Richard ynor? Well, you
haven’t forgotten the motto I mentioned, a bit —
ayo? I’m quite willing to believe that he didn’t ~
have a finger in the pie, but— why try tobarme _
from making sure?” i ; rie an
“T know he didn’¢—there’s some nasty mis-
take,” doggedly muttered the bank clerk, send-
ing Bay Royal along at a rare gait, regardless
of the warning lo which was flung up bya |
sturdy policeman on the corner, ‘‘ Why, man,

It would bave been cruel to laugh, but Lion-
heart was strongly tempted, just then, And
yet, there was a touch of pathos in the situation,
too, No one whosaw and heard Edgar Antram —
gut then, could ever doubt the perfect honesty of

is love: a love so strong, so entire, that ev.

pete

  

 
 
       
     
    

ae

 
 
     
     
       

  
  
 
 

  
     

 

  
    
    
 
  
  
   
   
  

   
 
  

   
   
 
  

  
   

      
  
  
 
  
 
 
     
  

   
  
 
  

Richard Raynor‘was guilty, simply because he
was Rena’s father! Seca: H a
“ Of course 1) not insist, if you really object
to introducing* me, r, but I think you’
be making a mista! ‘on bar me out.
hournow may be w 1 las :
‘You mean?” hesitated 4
“ Just Le I Lege : x iv
gave you the name of Johnson,

BT 3
“Tes all
  

8

 

Lion-Heart Lee.

 

   
   
  
   
 
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
    
 
  
 
 
   
   
   
  
  
     
   
    
   
  
    
   
   
  
    
  
   
     
   
  
   
   
    
     
  
  
  
   
 
   
   
  
  
  
   
  
   
   

by an almost caressing touch. ‘‘ You would
have acted the same, in his place, and might
have done even worse, _

‘* And Rena—why, Lee, I was to call on her
this very evening, to ask Raynor, and now he’s
arrested! If they pulled him while he was
with her, it?l] kill the little girl, and I know it!”

““Now you're letting your heart run away
with your reason, old boy,” almost harshly said
the detective, forcing Antram to meet his gaze
by @ sharp grip on an arm, ‘If Miss Raynor
is a true daughter, she will gain rather than
lose strength by this sudden call on her powers,

4 And you ought to be thinking about helping her
bear up, rather than doing your level best to
break her down. You say you don’t believe
Raynor is the guilty man?”

** And I say it over again—loud /” !

‘‘ Then back up your ,belief as a man should.
Show Miss Raynor a clear, hopeful face, not
that of a whining—pardon, Ed, but that’s just

- what you've been doing!”

Linebart knew when he had said enough, and
closed his lips, leaving Antram to digest that
bitter taunt at his leisure, And by the time
Bay Royal carried them to the neighborhood of

‘that desolated home, the desired effect was pro-

duced,

‘* We'll hitch here,” said Edgar, springing
from the wagon. ‘‘It’s but a little ways fur-
ther, and I’d rather walk, You'll do your best,

. Lee?”

‘Tm to have an introduction, then?”

“ Of course. You've got to help me untangle
this muddle. Only—she’s not any too strong,
Lion-beart, If she saw him taken, she’ll be badly

_ shaken up, and—you’ll touch lightly, old fel-
low?” /
ek Nis - The detective answered only by a look, but
} that was sufficient for the present, and with a
ay more cheerful face, Edgar Antram led the way
to the door of the cottage, rapping softly rather
rt than use the bell.

The faint echoes had hardly time to die away
before the door was opened just far enough to
reveal a rosy, motherly-looking face, which con-
trasted oddly with the assumed scowl and harsh
rebuff; /

_“Go’way! You can’t come in! I don’t care
who you are, you—”

“Mrs. Preller, is it not?” politely asked Hd-
gar, doffing his hat and forcing a bland, sym-
pathetic smile. ‘‘I’ma friend to Miss Raynor,
and beg you will assure her that—”

“*Y won’t do it! Don’t ask me! Go?way, I
at before you— Now you have done it, ha’n't

e@

n Her head drew back and the door nearly
closed, checked only by the foot which Antram
thrust forward just in time, There came a rustle
and a sobbing sound, followed by a word or two
—no more, for Edgar flung the door wide, car-

his rying Mrs, Preller with it, then caught a yield-
ing figure in his arms, raining kisses upon her
tear-damp face, '

f “*T call ye to witness I did my level best!”

_panted Mrs. Preller, appealing to Lee Linehart,
who stepped inside and gently closed the door te-
hind them all. “I knew I ought to keep em all
out, but—l’m glad I couldn’t, for it’s just what
the pene pet needs most, soitis, now. And—

Quit looking, you, sir!” d

For a minute or two matters were somewhat
confused, but eventually the quartette were
Se abs together in the cozy sitting-room, try-

ed to talk matters over with calmness,

area 2 ‘The detective was mainly responsible for

ey bringing order about so promptly, and it was

through his easy, smooth questions that the
story of the arrest was given without any actual
breaking down on the part of the afflicted
daughter, ’ :

This much gained, Linehart gave a brief but

clear account oe EAs robbery, fixing it between

the hours of two and three, according to An-
thony Antram, then adding, slowly:

“All that is necessary to do, then, is to ac-

count for Mr, Raynor’s whereabouts during

- that on Of course you can do this, Miss
or?”

  

      
  
  
 
  
 
 
  

 
  

4

Brief though that final speech was, it had
eee eed atta ae pale hep Syars
_ Sbe.remembered that it was a little past four b;

the clock when her father came home. +

«Still, s uld not, she would not, doubt,

_ __“He is innocent, sir, before God and high
Heaven! I do not_say this because he is my
father, but because [know—why, sir, he couldn't

do such a vile geet ,
“That's my mind

Antram. ‘
And if mj

  
   

 
 
 

 
 

 
  

 

dy iil
mulsively cried.
did it, | hoster else |
er wasn’t mixed up
than to thump the

* And I'd just love to help you, sir!” exploded
Mrs, Preller,

‘ All of which might prove very interesting,
but talking of wholesale trouncing isn’t exactly
business,” coldly interposed the detective. ‘A
crime has been committed, and, most unfortun-
ately, that criminal bears a close resemblance
to Richard Raynor.”

He stopped short as Rena sprung to her feet
with a sharp, agitated ery, her hands clasped
about her temples, her frame quivering as with
an ague.”

Edgar sprung toward his love, but she sharply
motioned him back, then spoke in swift, hardly
articulate tones:

‘‘ He did it! That man we saw! He did it!
He is the criminal !”

‘* Whatman? Whom did yousee, and when?”
asked Linehart, stepping forward and taking
both her hands in his, striving to calm the mai-
den with his own excess of nerve-power. ‘ Take
time to think, Miss Raynor, for the very life of
your loved father may hang trembling in the
balance! What man do you mean?”

“*Tean’t— Tell himn—Edgar!” gasped the poor

girl, her overtasked powers suddenly giving
way.
. ‘Now you have done it, hawt ye!” spluttered
Mrs, Preller, bustling around like a sorely-dis-
tressed mother-hen, ‘‘ Drat-the men, anyway!
I don’t see what they was made for, any way!”

“* Don’t—l’'m better,” faintly murmured Rena,
even as she sunk a limp weight across those
strong arms, ‘‘ Tell—accident!”

By this time young Antram has hardly less
fee. than his lady love, but under Mrs.

reller’s guidance Lion-heart Lee bore Rena to
her chamber, placing her on the bed, lingering
just long enough to make sure it was nothing
worse than a fainting spell, out of which the
maiden would surely rally, without suffering
aumat of moment,

© would have liked to win another and plain-
er word, but Mrs. Preller fairly drove them out
of the room, though they lingered below until
she came down with an assurance that Rena was
sleeping like a lamb, and would surely waken all
the better for that oddly-won rest,

Promising to send word as soonas anything |

definite turned up, Lee Linehart gently forced
Edgar out of the house, and along to, wbere Bay
Royal was patiently awaiting their return,
till retaining charge, the detective drove to

the stable where young Antram kept bis rig,
then compelled the bank clerk to join him in a
cozy meal at a near-by restaurant, after which
ae locked arms and led the way to his private
office, f
“ Now, old fellow, you ought to be half-way
civilized once more,” was his bluff observation,
as he faced Antram in achair, across a neat
desk, ‘‘ And as proof that I’m not clear off, just
open your lips and let a fellow know what sort
of accident was it Miss Raynor alluded to?”

“Tve tried to tell you, a scure times over, but
you wouldn’t listen to me,” half-sulkily muttered
the younger man, °

“Because you wasn’t in condition to spin a.

a straight thread. Now ge on: what man did
the lady have reference to?”

‘To the devil who stole the money, I’/] wager

my head!” excitedly began Antram, following
the ejaculation by a fairly clear account of the
road accident of which they had been witnesses.

“And you say the man resembled Richard
Raynor?” '

‘So much so that Rena could hardly believe
me when I assured her it couldn’t be her father!
You can judge from that, how strong was the
resemblance, and—and I didn’t know! I let
him go free!”
- ‘You looked at his left hand, you say?”

“Yes, and it was whole as my own, while—
good heavens!” — /
Edgar turned pale, his lower jaw drooping,
his eyes distended as he realized what that bit
of evidence might portend, but Linehart did not
grant him time in which to fairly sum it all up,
erose from bis chair, picking up his hat, as
though about to leave the office,

“Where now?” mumbled the clerk, also rising,
bewilderedly, 4
“Yowre going home, J’m going out to seea
man,” smilingly said the detective, moving to-
ward the door, at
“ But—you'll take hold of
Please say you will?” _
Linehart did not reply immediately. His
smile vanished, to give place to a grave, thought-
ful expression as his eyes drooped. For nearly
a minute he stood thus, Antram breathlessly
watching him, but then he gave his broad
shoulders a shake, saying curtly:~ = |

“Yes, Vl take hold of th , and

 
    

   
   
   

    
 

      
 
  
   
  
 
 

  
  
 
 
   

this case, Lee?

   

  

  

came, and—” _ , ; 5 i
You say the other fellow called for

 

level best. Now, Antram, you must go home,

Try to steady your nerves, and to recall every —
little incident connected with that accident, .

Come back here at nine o'clock.”

‘ And you are going to do—what?”

“Tm going out to see a man, as I said before,
TPll show you out.”

 

CHAPTER VIII,
HOW LION-HEART BROKE A RULE.

EpGark ANTRAM was a little ahead of the
hour appointed, that night, but his eagerness
did not force him to wait, on this occasion. Lee
Linehart was in his office, and greeted his friend
with a cheery smile and easy word.

“Glad to see you looking more like your
usual self, Eddie! Take a seat, and try a cigar;
I’m smoking one of them, so you needn’t fear
getting poisoned.”

“What have you done—anything?” :

‘t Many a thing, of course,” was the laughing
response, ‘‘It’s a habit I fell into when I wasa
kid, and now, in my sere and yellow leaf, ’m
utterly incapable’of refraining.”

‘Don’t chaff, Lee,” said Antram, almost ap-

pealingly. ‘‘If you only knew how awfully

this ugly affair has worked me up, you’d have
ity. ;

y “I merely gave a silly answer to a foolish

question, Antram, What could you expect me

to do in so short a time, pray? Cut the gordian

knot with the edge of my brilliant intellect?”

“ You might have made some discovery, you
know. Haven’t you?”

“Yes, That you’re no better than when I
sent you away to solitude and sober reflection,
Look here, old fellow,” dropping his ee
manner and gazing seriously into that flushe
face. ‘‘I promised you to take hold of this case
and see what I could make out of it, I fancied
you could help me out, or I might have taken
more time to consider before fairly committing
myself, JI asked you to meet me here, intending
to trust you, as few men in my profession care
to trust an outsider.”

“Well, what makes you doubt me, Lee?”

“Your boyish impetuosity, for one thing.
Stop! I know all you would say. A fellow in
love is hardly accountable for his actions, par-
ticularly when his fair lady is in sore distress,
Bat, Antram, your surest hope of helping Miss
Raynor lies in conquering yourself, Can youdo
that?”

“T can try!” :

‘All right! As the first step, steady your
nerves and see how straight a story you can
narrate. Tell me about that accident on the
road, please,” y (

That warning was not without effect, and
Eagar clearly told about the supposed recogni-
tion of Richard Raynor, the collision, the upset,
and what followed, A

Lion-heart nodded his approval, then asked
his first question: ;

“You say you looked at his left hand; did
you note anything out of the way with his
fingers?” / :

‘*No, unless they had been bruised some by
bis fall.” ;

‘<The fingers were all there, then?”

vise Yes,”

‘Did you touch them—that is, are you sure
none of them bad been stiffened or contracted
by an accident in the past?”

“They had not. They hung limp in my hand,
Do you mean—” ; :

‘““T'm doitig the questioning, Mr, Antram,”
with a painfully polite bow, that ill-assorted
with tbe laugh in his brown eyes, ‘If any two
fingers had been so stiffened or contra
would have noted the fact, of course?” :

_T certainly would, I took up his hand ex-
pressly to make sure of his identity.. That is, to
solve my doubts whether he was or was not Mr,
Raynor.” ; ,

“That will do, Did you take note of the man
who was with him?” c

“Mot particularly.

\

There wasn’t time, for —

4

» you —

one thing, and all was confusion, Then, too, —

Miss Raynor came up to me, end—”

“Of course. Then, you would basal -
nize the second man, if be and you were brought
face to face?” ;

“Tm afraid not,” came the reluctant admis-

sion, ‘‘He spoke to me, I think, ordering me

back—anyway, some one struck me on the
to push me away. Then Rena

breast, or tr

* Just so.
a hack?” ih see
‘*T said some one did, but I can’t swear
one called, I know the hack came rig)

 

 

 

  
       
         
    
     
    
 
 

} z

; vf by brushed my shoulder as I was pushed
; ck, 7
“You hardly vid to take the number,
of course, but possibly you noted the driver?”

**Not then, AsI said, I had all I wanted to
2 to make way through the crowd with the

lady.” j

“Not then!” echoed Linehart, ‘‘What do
you mean by that ?”

‘“‘T mean that, as I drove away, I looked back

- and caught sight of the driver, who was on the

box. I don’t know his name, but ’d know him

if I were to see him again.”

‘You are quite certain?”

“Sure! Dve employed the fellow a dozen
times. He’s an old G. A. R. man, short, heavy-

“ built, almost fat. I should judge he was over

fifty, from his gray hair and bearG. He bears
a scar across his face—”

‘*A saber-slash, from left eye to right lip,
across the nose?”

“That's it! You know him, then?”

“*T think so, though there may be another to
answer the same description. His name _ is
Dobbs, with Dough-boy for a nickname. He

--was with Custer down South, and ought to be

something better than a hack-driver now.”

_. “Then—is that good news, your knowing

him, I mean?”

; ; “Maybe yes, maybe no. You think the man
x : who looked like Richard Raynor was taken
j away in that back?”

’ ‘*T think so, yes, though, of course, I can’t

' take my oath to that effect, There may have

been another hack in the jam—I didn’t think to

look, you see.”

= OF course not: why should you? The fellow
ei was not your friend, and you had no means of
. knowing how important it might be to keep
track of his movements,”

“Then you really think he was the thief?”

“T really think that—-time will tell, if we give
ita chance,” with a passing smile at that falling
countenance, ‘‘To hark back: you can swear
that man’s hand was not crippled?’

“It was not. I only wish it had been!”

‘“Why so, pray?” ;

** Because, then I'd know he was the robber!
Because, both father and Hughes, the cashier,
d firmly declare that the man who took the money
“hea , and knocked poor Clutterbuck in the head, had

; Jost two fingers from his left hand!”

““Which makes matters look mighty dark
for your friend Raynor, unless he can positively
prove an alibi.” .

“He can, he must! I tell you, Linehart,
Raynor never did that ugly deed!” impetuously
cried the bank clerk.

eae “I know he didn’t do it,” quietly assented

a : the detective,

: , “What! you know—say that again, dear
man!”

“T know Richard Raynor did not commit
that assault and robbery,” coolly repeated Lion-
heart, but adding in graver tones: ‘The only
et is, who did? Unless we can show that,

y producing the actual criminal, ’d hate to
guarantee Raynor’s neck in case Clutterbuck

; sLould die of his injuries!”

Ba + eee patra? in silence, half dazed, star-
; ing at his detective friend, even yet unable to
fairly realize what those positive words actually
sar if cae: on truth,

‘You say, how can you be so positive, Lee?”

he asked, at length, > a
si ‘“Not so fast, please, Edgar. As I hinted
¢ before, when I made this appointment with
Be you, I seriously thought of violating the first
oh --gule of our profession; I fully fitondea taking
| you wholly into my confidence, because I be-
lieved you could help me straighten matters

out, if you would,”

“Of course I will! Only show me how, and

Jl do my level best!” y

c “Tf I were perfectly sure I could trust you—

Zi will you take an oath, at my dictation, An-

ay _ tram?” : o
cart: Lf you say it’s for her—for their good, yes!”
Neo «You will swear, on honor, not to divuige a
single word of all I may tell you? Swear not to
let even a hint drop, no matter what the tempta-
tion, before I give you full leave to speak?”

4 “*T promise, on my honor, ‘Linehart.”

i ‘CAll right! I may be an idiot for breaking

the rule, but—here goes! You heard what your
father said to me, at the bank?”

iis “About your being able to recognize the rob-

ep ber? Yes.’ Z ‘

, - “Of course it is a habit with us all to take

_ note of faces, even when we don’t think we are

_ doing it, Coming so soon after that meeting in
the bank, I dare say I would have recalled both
face and figure of that man, even if something
ad not called my attention particularly to the

5)

°

 

 

 

   
  

  

 

     

 

‘Lion-Heart Lee.

fellow,” began Linehart, then briefly stating
how the stranger nad rudely cut short and de-
clined the offered introduction. :

‘‘ That was his privilege, of course,” added the
detective. ‘‘I didn’t care the flip of a finger for
his boorishness, but that rebuff caused me to
take closer note of the fellow, as he stood with
his back to me.

‘* His left side was nearest to me as I stood at
the cashier’s window, and the very first point I
noted was that at some time in the past he had
evidently been afflicted with boils; on his’ neck,
below and back of his left ear, were two scars
where the lancet had been at work. *

“The second, and most important point as
matters have turned out, was the manner in
which he held his left hand. At first sight I had
noticed what seemed to be the loss of two fin-
gers, and after he gave me that dirty shake, I
took another look at his hand: to see that he held
those two fingers tightly closed!” —

“You don’t— Glory for our side!” exploded
Antram, in wild glee. v

‘Rasy, boy!” frowned the detective, gripping
an arm with a restraining hand. ‘“‘ Wait until
I finish, please. And those fingers, as I finally
made out, were covered over with flesh-colored
court-plaster, This held them in place, close to
the palm, as I now reason, At the time, I sup-
posed they covered a still unhealed hurt which
had crippled those fingers,”

‘And you can swear to all this?” eagerly
asked the bank clerk.

‘“*T could, but whether I will or not, depends,”
answered Lion-heart, with a slight frown.
* And you—lI was a fool for breaking my rule,
but Vl hold you to your oath, Antram!” ‘

‘+ 11] keep it, though [’'dj give a hand just to
tell Rena—”

“ Her, least of all!” came the almost harsh
reproof. ‘‘ Swear you'll not breathe a word to
her, until I give you leave!”

Though reluctantly, Antram complied, when
Linehart resumed:

‘When I sent you away, this evening, I said
I was going to see a man, That was no lie, for
I went direct to where Richard Raynor is con-
fined for the present,”

‘*-You saw him, then?”

“Of course I saw him—and—more foolish-
ness, Eddie! I fed him taffy while I was mak-
ing a physical examination of the poor fellow!
I found his hand honestly crippled, and I saw
that his neck was free from scars as your own,”

“Then that clears him! He never did the
job! I knew it, old boy! I just knew that my
little lady couldn’t have a thief and a thug for a
father!” cried Antram, fairly dancing with pure
joy as he wrung the hand of the lucky detective
between his own palms. ‘‘ We'll have him out
0’ that in less than an hour! \ We'll make the
governor beg his pardon on his knees for caus-
ing his arrest! And then—”

“Nothing more than just that?” asked Line-
hart, in mock surprise. ‘‘Not a word of the
real criminal?” ;

“Oh, devil fly away with him/. What I’m
thinking of is how Rena—”

“Stop right there, Antram,” sharply cut in
Lion-heart, ‘‘ All’s not such smooth sailing as
you fancy, worse luck! Fer one thing, Raynor
obstinately refuses to explain where he was
during that hour: says that the law must prove
him guilty, now it has arrested him! Says that
be will not lift a finger or say a word to clear
himself! And so—unless we can bring forward
the actual criminal, Antram, I’m free to admit
that the odds are all against your friend.”

‘* But you can swear to his innocence, man!”

‘*T can swear to what I saw, or fancied I saw.
On the other band, your father was closeted
with the robber for more than an hour, and he
swears that his left hand was positively crip-

‘pled. So the cashier will testify, and Clutter-

buck accused Richard Raynor of bitting him.
All that will outweigh my testimony, unless I
can back it up by producing the real criminal.
Tl do my best to that effect, but I may fail, of
course. And so, you must do your share of the
work, Antram.” :

‘Tell me what that share is, and I’ll do my

level best, Lee.”

“To begin with, keep secret all I have told
you to-night. Next, try to get Miss Raynor to
coax her father into telling just where he spent
this afternoon, or, better still, all day. Will
you do this, Edgar?” 3

0 CHAPTER ES 7.5.97)
“Punt Sanaa ish you'd let—all rightl”
L gh I wish you'd let—all ri
cutting hiaeelt short with a resigned aie:

 

| “May I go call at the house to-night, yet?”
“Just what I wish you would do, for the

i ; ‘

his gor

    
     
   
    
  
    
  
    
  
   
 
   
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
   
 
    
  
  
   
   
   
   
    
   
   
   
  
   
  
    
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
      
      
   
    
 
   
    
   
  
    
   

: i

quicker we find out just what odds we've got to
fight, the better. Put it as strong as you can
without frightening Miss Raynor. Say that if
those sixty minutes, from two until three o’clock,
can be fairly and clearly accounted for, we’re
winners without playing a card. Understand?”

“And I’m barred from giving Miss Raynor a
gleam of hope, outside of that one point?’

‘“* You know the penalty, Antram.”

“Of course, if you will hold me down to the
letter.”

‘“‘T do hold you to your oath, and now, I’ve
got the same old complaint, Antram: excuse
me, but I want to see a man,” said Linehart,
putting on his hat and turning the light lower,

“Ts it Raynor?”

** Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no
lies,” gravely quoted the detective, slipping a
hand through Edgar’s arm, then leaving the
office. ‘TN see how well you can keep one
secret, before intrusting you with another. ;
Mind the step-off, old fellow!” ; ‘

Reaching the pave, Linehart walked a few ;
blocks in company with his young friend, chat-
tering lightly about foreign subjects, more to
hinder Antram from reverting to that one ab-
sorbing matter than aught else. Then, pausing
where the street was briefly deserted by all save
themselves, Lion-heart Lee gave a hasty warn-

ing!

a Don’t forget, old fellow; the subject is taboo
for you, with allsave the one young lady. If your
father broaches it, listen but ee not, or turn
it off as best you know how, ith her, do your —
level best, then call at my office in the morning,
to report. “You will?” *

That warm hand-grip answered, and then the
two men parted company, Edgar hastening on in
the direction of the Raynor cottage, Linehart to
turn at right angles, striding along to put into
execntion his purpose already expressed: ‘‘ to
see a man,” : ;

‘Hell hardly be at the hack-stand, this hour,”
ran his thoughts, ‘‘ but maybe some of those who
will, may be able to put me on the right track,

If not— I say, driver!”

It was a stroke of luck almost too great for :
belief, and when he uttered that hail, Lion- ~ i
heart Lee felt more than half convinced he had 4
permitted his fancy torun away with his judg-
ment; but notso, His keen eye for faces had not
deceived him, and as the hackman drew rein, he ~
Saw as much, -

At the very outset success was his, so far as
bringing to view the hack-driver with a saber-
scarred face, ,

“Not engaged, driver?” asked the detective,
pausing on the curb, just opposite the car-—
riage, 1

““Not unless you want me, sir,” came the
prompt response, whip-hand rising to his hat in
a military salute which appeared to be second
nature to the veteran.

“Good enough! Call it by the hour, then,”
said Linebart, not waiting for him todrawup ©
to the curb, but briskly advancing. “‘ Anything __
extra for riding on the box, pardner?” a

“Not to you, Mr. Linebart.”

‘Hello! you seem to know me?” and the de- ;
tective paused, with one foot on the wheel, —
to flash a keen glance into the scarred face, One

“By sight, and by reputation, sir. I was a
character witness on that Dick Brown hack
— last year, You worked the case up, sir,
and— f
. “Just so,” interposed the detective, taking bis —
seat, and nodding for the driver to keep straight
ahead, . :

He was b
recognition as a detective, though he knew, too, >
that sucha reputation might stand him in good >
play sbould the driver feel inclined to put for-
ward a treacherous memory. Still, there might
be another hackman who could boast a scarred —
visage, and Linehart knew how prone the class
are to exchahge confidences when off duty, or
lounging on the stand, waiting for a fare. f

As he had confided to Edgar Antram, Richard
Raynor had sulienly refused to clear himself by |
offering an alibi, He was innocent, but beyond —
that, he obstinately declined to go. It was not —
for him to prove his innocence; it was for the
law to prove the black charge brought against

name. ; ; epoqes

Unless this foolish resolution could be shaken
—and from what he had that evening seen of
Raynor, Linehart held very slight hopes of
bringing that to pass—the only certainty of
clearing the engineer lay in producing the
actual criminal. : ESR eat e
_ His surest hope of accomplishing this, woul
seem to lie in oe a the clew off ;

ith

no means pleased at this instant

  
    
 

     
  
    
   
  

 
      
  

      
   
   
 
   
  

   
   
    
   
   

     
 
  
 
 

 

    

  

 

 

  
   

  
  

  
   

that road accident, : ‘ that clew in mini
{ion-hourh Les ned ‘tated to float chp

}

   
 

"£0

Lion-Heart Lee.

 

 

 

   

Dobbs, who answered perfectly to the descrip-
tion given of the hack-driver, by Antram.

A seemingly lucky chance had brought this

. meeting about far soonor thaw Linehart had
dared hope for, but that very stroke of luck
caused him to look upon his present companion
with something akin todoubt. And that prompt
recognition as a detective, gave him still further
uneasiness, . \ i

A man’s brain will act with marvelous rapidity
on occasion, and all of this, with much more
which does not requires noting, flashed across

‘the detective’s mind during the first minute
‘after taking his seat on the box, beside the
driver.

“Street and number, boss?”

“‘ You’re headed in the right direction,” coolly
answered Linehart, ‘‘and Pll lend you a jog if
you go astray, Dobbs, That is your name isn’t
it?

“Yes, sir. Jethro Dobbs, when I’m at home,
but the boys call me ‘ Dough-boy,’ for short.”

“ Foot-cavalry, eh?” with alight laugh. ‘I
remember you sported the bronze medal G, A. R.,
of course?”

‘Custer Post, yes, sir. He was my general in

the war—God rest his soul in glory!”

“General Custer was, you mean” asked

ty Pe ce in softened tones, as Dobbs lifted his

at, with a reverent glance upward while pro-
nouncing that honored name. ‘‘ But he was in
the cavalry.”

i “He was the cavalry, as we Michiganders
used to say, when talking about our Boy Gen-

eral. Yes, { was with Custer. He gave us
plenty of hard riding, and harder fighting, but I
grew fatover ’em both. So fat that, when the
surrender came, J was marked as too heavy for
that branch of the service. And so—it was
mighty hard for us old vets to turn back and
begin all over, you want to mind, sir! And so,
feeling unfit for anything else, [ just enlisted in
_ the foot, pe see, I served my first five, and
then re-enlisted for a second term, but that set-

‘ tled me!”

sted * And so you turned to hack-driving?”

‘**T had to do something, of course, and I al-

i ways did fancy horses, But I only meant to

: explain why the boys call me ‘ Dough-boy.’
That means one of the foot, you understand,
sir? They dubbed me that, when [ joined Cus-
ter Post, G. A. R. Every one of us served un-
der Yellow-bair, and when the day of his murder

comes ‘round, I just take a lay-off and get blind
drunk—to keep from going on the war-path my
own fool self!

There was nothing laugbable in those husky,
uncertain tones, oddly though that excuse sound-
ed, and Linehart instinctively gripped the free

' hand, almost unconsciously giving it a peculiar
pressure, which was instantly returned in kind,

4& glance, a whispered word, then the two
men knew that still other bonds united them,

and Lion-heart cast his recent doubts to the
winds, '

**Pm glad to find you one of us, Dobbs,” he
said, then added; ‘‘ What can you tell me about
the accident on the road, this afternoon?”

- ** You mean the upset? Were ete there, sir?”
“No, but I heard about it. as he much
hurt?”

‘Laid out flat as a flounder, sir! I thought

Vd got a dead man for a fare, first-off, but,
well, I hadn’t gone far before I reckoned I’d
picked up a pack of lunatics, instead!”

_* How so? I ask it as one of the Order, Dobbs,

Will you trust me, asa Brother?”

_“ Pm oath-bound, and glad of it, besides,” was
the instant response. ‘Just what is it you
want to know first?”

_ ** Where did you take your fare? What street
and number?” ;

“No number mentioned, sir, The other—

the one who didn’t get hurt much—told me to

drive to S—— street. I did it, of course, but

when we struck the street, my corpse was kick-

ing up a he-old row with the little fellow!”
“What about?” f iy ;

“That I can’t tell you. I reckoned maybe
they’d be too busy rowing in tuere to notice

their number, so I pulled up to ask. I heard

something about a grip, the big fellow seemed to
think the little man was trying to steal it, or

something, seems like.”
“Did rot notice Gerip? ‘What was it like:
e or small, black or tan, old or new?” -

“FSmall, tan, and new, or looked as though it

have been new before it took a tumble

with the two fellows, sir; just one of those hand-

pees a +h as drummers carry their personals in,
I

know.” eect" eee
und i nd did they give you the

   
 
   
    
  
  
  
   
   
 
  
  
    
    
    
  
  
  
  
  
   
    
 
    
    
     
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
   
  
   
    
  
   
  
 

 

 
 
  

 
 

  
 
   

  

for it! I’d hardly checked up, when they kicked
the door open, and tumbled out; nothing else
will do the way full justice, sir! Just tumbled
out! And the little fellow tossed me a couple of
dollars, saying they’d walk the rest of the way.”

“That was on S—— street, you say? Did you
notice where they turned in? Didn’t you fol-
low, to see the end of the row?”

‘No, sir, though I felt that way, for a fact.
But as the big fellow hugged a grip in his arm,
and the little fellow seemed to give him his way,
they couldn’t be said to be quarreling, you know.
And then a fare tackled me, and of course I had
to go his way.”

“Naturally, though I’m sorry. This big fel-
low: did you ever see him before to-day?”

“Not to my knowing, sir.”

Lion-heart Lee flashed a side-glance into the
driver's face, for his keen senses detected a faint
hint of reluctance, if nothing more, in the tone
of that answer. He felt that Dobbs was holding
something in reserve, and, naturally, he fancied
that must be the mostimportant of all. Passing
it over for the present, he asked:

‘“‘ And the one you call the little fellow, Broth-

er?”

“T know him, by sight,” was the quick re-
sponse, ‘‘I reckon he’s a bad egg, though—
May I ask you a question, sir?”

What is it?”

‘Ts it true, what I’ve been told, since supper,
that there’s been a bank robbery, and a banker
murdered, by a man named Raynor?”

“Tf I reply, as a Brother, will you hold it
sacred?”

“JT will, by the grip and the word, Brother.”

When their hands fell apart, Lion-beart told
Dobbs the true story, so far as known, and then
the driver admitted that be had taken the in-
jured man to be Richard Raynor, son of a de-
ceased member of Custer Post, and whom, as
such, he had felt bound to screen as far as honor
admitted, " |

“But now, Brother, I’ll do my level best to
help you out, The little fellow was called Tug

‘Tanner, and he’s a capper for Pink Prior, the
gambler aud alil’round sport. If you want him,
there’s the place to look for him, sure? ~
_ “What fer looking fellow is this Tanner?
Describe him as closely as you can; while driving
me to the spot they gave you the shake, Dobbs,”

‘*He’s a bit under-size, as 1 hinted, but wiry-
built, and quick asa cat, He’s freckled, but has
black hair and a thin, seraggly mustache of the
same color, Snaky eyes, but a mighty smooth
tongue when he cares to soap down a greenhorn
orafat jay. Is that plain enough, sir?”

“JT reckon Dll know the fellow if ever we
chance to meet. Tug Tanner, you say?”

‘‘ And a roper-in for Pink Prior, the dandy
sport. This is the place they left me, sir, but
if you want tosee the place where Prior hangs
out—”

“Never mind. I know his quarters, Of
course this is under the sign, Brother?”

“Under the sign, Brother,” whispered the
driver, in return, making as though he would re-
fuse the Liberal fare which Linehart forced into
his hand; but the detective insisted, then strode
rapidly away, up the street, ;

‘o meet with yet another surprise before coy-
ering balf a mile, for he came face to face with
the very man with whom his brain was busy!

CHAPTER X.
A SPRAT TO CATCH A WHALE,

ALTHOUGH be struck out at such a brisk pace
after parting from Dough-boy Dobbs, Lion-
heart Lee had no particular destination in view
at that moment. What be wanted most, was
time and room for reflection, and his brain
never worked more clearly than while his body
was in active motion, :

Tuanks to the almost accidental discovery that
Dobbs and bimself were members of the same
‘Fraternal Society, he held no doubt as to the
perfect truth of the information given him by
the hack-driver. ; :

Although he knew nothing of the “little fel-
low,” called Tug Tanner, who had been in com-
pany of the ‘* big fellow,” whom he felt morally
certain was the criminal with whose evil deeds
Richard Raynor now stood charged, he did
know the owner of the other name mentioned,
Pink Prior. : : ry ' F

“Is he mixed up in the affair?” was his first
| mental question as he strode along through the
night. ‘‘He’s cool enough, and nervy enough
for even worse than that, but—is he reckless
enough? So far, he’s fought shy of arrest and
the law. So far, the force has not been able to

 

 

   

 

 

fet even ip thas oe oe capinst pe ‘
. . ,. . | Phen—would he run the risk, even for such’ a |
ave time toask’em|heavy stake? = f eye

   
  
 
 
 

That was the question which puzzled the de-|
tective most seriously. It seemed a long step
beyond anything Pink Prior had undertaken, |
judging from the record as laid down,

That he “run” a private gambling-den, Lion-
heart had long since been aware, Once, there |
had been a rumor current that a stockman had
been ‘‘steered” up against Pink's ‘‘ game,” to
come out thoroughly fleeced; that said man bad
made a loud “kick,” but before the matter
could be investigated, the stockmam disappeared
from town, and Prior blandly Jaughed in the |
faces of the force, so far as he was concerned,

“Maybe Tug was making a bold play on his
own hook, without letting Pink into the game, —
If I knew better what metal the fellow is made
of, I might give a better guess, but— Beg par-
don, sir!” 4

Lion-heart, buried in thought, came into vio-
lent contact witb a man at that instant, in-
stinctively making an apology, even as he recog-
nized one of the men whose name had just
flashed through his mind: Pink Prior in person}

“No harm done, sir, but—am I right in be-
lieving your name is Linehart?” softly asked
the gambler, tipping his hat, a deprecatory smile
playing about his red, arched lips. ‘‘Lee Liue-
hart, of the Pinkerton force?”

“May Iask why you ask, Mr. Prior?”

“ Because those were the words that came
uppermost, I reckon, sir,” with another low
laugh. ‘Of course t know you are Mr, Line-
hart, and—you know me, too, I believe, sir?”

/‘ Lknow of you, yes,” bluntly.

“ Which means you know no good of me?

Well, sir, I dare say Chicago contains better, as

well as worse fellows, but that don’t count. I |)

was thinking seriously of you, Mr. Linehart,
just when you came my way, and—well, you
know I’m a sport, and they are proverbially
superstitious.”

“So DI’ve heard. Do you deem this an un-
lucky encounter, Pink, or the contrary?”

“Pl play it for good luck, Mr. Linebart, and
go the limit! Iwas debating whether or no I
hddn’t ought to look up one of the force, and
though we’ve never had business dealings togeth-
er, Pve heard so much about you, as a detective,
I picked you out as my game, if any.”

“Thanks, awfully! Is there any more to
come?” - é

“Tf you'll let it, yes.
tion, sit?” 4

“Why not? As for answering, that depends,
We professionals are obliged to be on our guard, -
you know, Pink,” balf-mockingly retorted the
detective, but yielding as Prior moved slowly up
the street. :

‘YT hear there was a robbery and assault at
Blank Bank, to-day; is the rumor founded on
fact?” —

“T have heard something to that effect, yes.”

“ Are you engaged on the case, Mr. Line-
hart?”

‘No, sir,” wes the prompt response. ‘‘ Now
its my turn: why do you ask me that question?” |

‘* Because I’m afraid Vl get into hot water
over it, if what I’ve heard is true,” instantly re-

May Task you a ques-

plied the gambler, flashing an uneasy but ap- |
“parently frank look into the face of his taller
“T only caught a rumor, barely |
_an hour ago, but if the fellow who is accused—
-as I heard—is really the man, I’m afraid he'll

companion,

say something to turn suspicious eyes my way.
Understand?”

** Well, hardly! Of course you’ve done noth-
ing to deserve such suspicions, Pink?”

“T surely have not, sir, though [ hardly ex-
pect you to take my unsupported word to that
effect. But if you’ll—will you give me an hour’s
time, Mr. Linehart? Dll pay, you your own

price, to say nothing of possibly giving you a —

valuable hint or two, as to the accused,” —
“Who is be, according to the rumor you

picked up, Prior?”

_ “Dick Raynor, an engineer on the C, B. & Q.

Am I right?” : :

“You may be, though I’m hardly as well in-

formed as you appear to be. And if this man is
the one accused, or arrested, you think be can —
get you into trouble, Pink?”

‘* Hardly that, but he may cause me not a lit-

tle annoyance, professionally speaking, you un- —
derstand? In sober truth, the fellow was buck- ;

 

ing my game this very day!” i
‘Meaning Dick—what did you ca

       

Vhint? —

 
 

“ Raynor, yes, sir. But—will you give me an |

hour, say? My rooms are not far off, and it’s

risky business talking over important mattersin —

       
     

 

the open street. I’ y you your price, of
course, and I may freak ou to do a bit of work
for me, too, in case this little gamo h

OUDEAOHURt go hincge nae oN une
_ “I don’t.mind going in with you, bu

    
    
   
   
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cer *)

‘ed
ihe

his
OQ.
de
ar-

io-
in-
Ig
ast
nt
be-

‘ile
ne—

th-

 

fe
211
Ly.

x+

in-
ig

an |

 

ee

 

 

   

 

_ Lion-heart Lee knew pretty well what to expect

off. Say Pm waiting for him, and— That's

_ the room to a neat sideboard, from whence he

' send or come for him, aud if, by chance, she for-
got, he'd be too mighty sure to remember,”

_ to question him, without my help, and see if our

side of
| Repl took several long »uffs before making
y ‘

' Matter!

_ and it’s a cursed shame to blow on him! Yet—
Dowjean T help ier r i ae ee
How blow on him, Prior?” :

POOP C IE RM on

Lion-Heart Lee.

    

re

 

 

 

no promises, one way or the other. Of course,
if you can show a clean record, and I can help
you over any unmerited trouble, l’l do my best
that way. ill that do?”

“Td be a hog to ask more than that, first off,”
with a pleased chuckle, as he led the way at a
more rapid pace, soon after pausing in front
of an unlighted, sober, decorous-looking build-
ing, set back a few yards from the pavement.
** Alls dark, outside, but I reckon my lookout is
on duty.”

_ Although he had never crossed that threshold,

when the barrier was passed: one of those
quiet, almost dingy dens which are so much
more dangerous to all strangers who venture
within, than the more brilliant “hells” with
which Chicago, in common with all large cities,
fairly abounds,
_ While far from trusting blindly in this dap-
per little sport, Lion-heart Lee felt fairly well
assured that his real connection with the Black
Bank case could not have become known to
Pink Prior. There was nothing sovery strange
in this appeal to an officer of the law, if the
artial story he had told wastrue. If Richard
ynor really had been gambling at his rooms,
that same day, the fact would surely cast strong
suspicion toward Pink Prior, when the truth
came out, as it surely must.

Closing the hall door behind them, leaving all
dark ae pitch, Pink Prior touched an electric
button which caused a bell to jingle faintly in
the upper regions, and almost instantly a broad
shaft of light came through a door at the head
of the stairs, affording them ample guidance.

‘Very neat, old fellow,” said Linehart, as he
followed Prior up the stair to the opening door.
“Aren't you afraid I'll be taking notes, for
possible use in the future?? § ;

“You are free to do so, sir, if you see fit. Of
course I’m bound to run shady, under the pres-
ent law, but ’m open to inspection at any and
all times, Then, too, I’m half-inclined to pull
out 0’ this, for Denver,” Pgf

Passing the burly negro on guard, Prior led
the way into a fairly comfortable room, where
a faro lay-out was covered with a gray cloth,

and a few round tables for poker stood idle,

Pink Prior gave a slight ejaculation as he
glanced around the room, then turned toward
the African, to sternly demand:

‘‘T thought I told Billy to stay on deck; where
is he?” :

“Gone home, sab,” bowed the negro, r t-
fully, ‘‘Said he’d be back afo’a minute, sah,
but I reckon he time done stretch out pow’ful
smart, sah! Done bin gone ’most a houah,
sah!”

_ “* You know. where he lives, of course, Pete?”

“Yes, sah. Down nighst de—”

‘Never mind. Go tell him he’s wanted, right

enough. Bring him back, you understand?”
“Be I hab fo’ tote him, sah, I'll done fotch
him, boss!” spluttered the lookout, backing
through the door, then clattering hastily down
the stairs, f f
‘“‘That’s what comes of a middle-aged sport
calling in the parson,” grumbled Prior, crossing

brought a bottle of wine, glasses, and a box of
cigars, ‘‘If Billy was ten seconds late, she'd

‘“‘Love’s young dream, eh?” yawned the detec-
tive, sinking into a chair at the round table on
which the gambler placed his burden, “‘ Pity to
interrupt their billing and cooing, but I suppose

fou know your own business best. Thanks; I
never drink, but Pil smoke with you, Pink.”
‘*“T yeckon you'll find’em passable. It’s my
private brand, But aboyt Billy: I wanted you

accounts fay in. Understand?” f :
“Possibly I may, when you've talked a bit
donger. Get down to facte, Prior. please. What
about this Raynor affair?” :
Prior dropped into a chair on the opposite
the table, his fair, almost girlish face,
ally grave and troubled as he lit a cigar

 

  
 

 

  

ye y
As I hinted down tne street, he was bucking
here to-day, and last night, too, for that

He’s a high-roller when he is heeled,

“Well, he’s sworn ‘off, or something of the’

:@, you know, whokicks, hard’ And
1a a ‘ sy wider

 

8 a wife, or girl, or |

 

eet ou understand,
ac.

 

see? Plays and drin
said. Dick here, Came

of his own accord, mind you! I’d ratber he
wouldn’t, and so I’ve told him, flat. But—he’s
pretty much all bull-dog, when the fit strikes
him. See? And so,as I said, he came here,
wild for wool, He played to rules, for a few
hours, then asked that the limit be lifted. Of
course we let him have bis way, but the turns
swung pretty even for all last night, and up to
noon to-day.”

‘““He was playing at noon, you say? How
much longer than noon? —

“You'll have to usk Billy, whenfhe comes,
I left at twelve; had an engagement over on the
South Side. He was still at if when I left, and
swore he’d make or break before knocking off.
It looked like break, though, for his boodle had
shrunk right smart, as it will, you know, odd
times, when a fellow wears his streak of luck too
thin for health!”

“At noon. Do you know when the alleged
robbery took place?” ;

“ Later, between two and three, according to
my hearing. And—lI hate to say it, honest, sir,
but—well, Dick Raynor lost his last bet,
and left bere, nearer twelve than one, by the
clock!” :

“Before, or after you took your departure,
Prior?”,

“After. When I heard that Dick had been
pulled, that was my first thought, and I asked
all hands: Billy..Tudor, Pete, Denny Doherty,
Tag Tanner—all hands, as I said before.”

“ And they all told the same story, of course?”

“Why wouldn’t they, when it was gospel?
You know, I reckon, that I don’t run a daylight
game, and only Dick was an old pal and sport,
I'd have choked him off long before, As it was,
I wish I had kept him a few hours longer,
even if I’d had to stake him out of my own
pocket?”

“From that, I judge you call him your
friend ?” ; Hoe

“That's what! Dye known him for ten
years, off and on, and a whiter sport never
flipped a paper! He’s worthy better things, and
only for that one weak spot—but he just has to
have his toot, just so often, rain or shine, good
luck or bad!”

“Your friend, a thoroughbred sport, white as
they make ’em,” musingly summed up the de-
tective, then adding, with a half sneer: ‘ All
this, yet you almost break your neck in your
hurry to draw the noose around his neck, Pink
Prior?”

“Only to save my own, mind you, sir,” with
a short/nod. “Even you wouldn’t believe me
innocent when you knew he went straight from
here to do that job! You'd swear I was in
ae with him, so— Good-by, Lion-heart

e.

CHAPTER XI.
A COLD-BLOODED DISCUSSION,

Ir words and action were not exactly simul-
taneous, it was because Pink Prior, even while
feeling confident he had the game in his own
hands, was too prudent a gamester to crow be-
fore his fingers were in full possession of the
pot. ‘

Just how it was done, no obtrusive move-

‘ment made plain, but, all at once, without

sound or warning, the floor opened up, and
Lion-heart Lee felé bimself plunging downward,
his vain grasp availing nothing, his attempted
leap coming to naught, since he lacked a pur-
chase to spring from, $

Down through the dividing floor, turaing
partly over as he desperately strove to save him-
self, or at least take that mocking sport along to
share the same fate. Down, until a heavy shock
came to half stun and briefly paralyze him.
And then, to the sorely shaken up detective, it
seemed as though a thousand ruthless fiends bad
pounced upon him, each one eager to secure the
biggest bit when he should have been torn to
pieces!” ‘ ,

“Quick and clean, ye devils!” hissingly ex-
ploded Pink Prior, dropping to his knees at the

edge of the open trap, peering downward with }
eTth

vicious anxiety. e gets the best o? ye—”

‘* Divil a fear ye naad be fearin’ o’ that, now,
sor!” came a puffing voice from those black
depths. ‘‘ Aisy, ye devil! An’ av ye cann’t be
aisy, be as aisy as ye cahn, now!” Pilate

That brief struggle came to an end, and
another voice came floating upward to those
waiting ears: pie ,

“Ts all: right, boss!
eroaking!” =~

‘*Good enou
up. Lively, fe’

 

lowest?) dose

crossed 0

 

the buffet, where hi

He's fixed, all but |
gt Leave him there, and come gi

Drawing "back from the trap, Pink Prior |

found some hidden means of closing the opening.
For, while his hands were busy and bis eyes
were glancing over a shoulder, the fallen por-
tion of flooring silently swung back into place,
the carpet joining as though no break existed.

The table stood as before: in fact, it had not —|
been at all disturbed by what took place:and = |
only the missing chair and its recent occupant,
told of the tragedy which had so recently
happened, Be :

Evidently there was ready communication
between room and pit, for Pink Prior had
scarcely closed the trap removing all suspicious.
signs, when two men entered the apartment,
pausing under tbe light to smooth down their
somewhat ruffed plumage. :

“ He wasn’t past fighting, them?” asked Prior,
noting this action, ‘‘Curse the tough!
almost hoped he’d turn far enough to break his:
neck, and save us all further trouble!”

**Pasht foightin’, is it, sor?” exploded Denny —
Doherty, a pugnacious-looking son of Emerald
Isle. ‘“Divil a taste, sor! An’ av his mother
didn’t live nixt dure to a Connaught man, it’:
aatin’ me hat O/'ll be doin’, an’ that’s a toof
maal for an’ owlstrich, d’ye moind, now!” x

“Well, boss, ’'m not so mighty sure about
that, either,” grunted the otber knave: wiry,
tough-seeming, dark asan Italian, “It’s harder
‘getting shut of a stiff than a snorter, sometimes,

I reckon.” 3

‘““There’s no danger of his getting loose, or
lifting a howl, of course?’ asked the dapper
little sport, pushing another chair to the table a
from which Lion-heart Lee had been so un- |
ceremoniously torn away. ‘“‘Sitdown. Talk it.
over, all hands!” ;

That the hidden trap was neither a novelty
nor an uncertain quantity, was plainly proved —s_ |
by the actions of the two lesser ruffians, who
took seats at the table, heedless of the fact that, —
only a few minutes before, what now seemed =
solid flooring had been a yawning vacancy. aq

Pink Prior opened the bottle which had re~ |
mained untouched during his talk with Lion-
heart Lee, testing its contents first, then pushing ?
it nearer his satellites, They speedily drained
the bottle between them, sighing for moreexten—-
sive worlds to conquer, but Prior shook his —
scented head negatively. i

“ Tt?s business first, you'd ought to know, lads.
And you, Tug Tanner, open up! Show good
cause for all this racket, or I know who'll pay
the costes!”

“That's all right, boss,” coolly responded the
wiry knave, in no wise scared or offended by
that blunt hint. You'd ought to knowif I’m
apt to go off at half-cock, by this time.” yet

“T do know, and that’s why I followed your
lead, blindly. All the same, you’ve got to show ©
cause, Whatreasons have you for thinking he
has hit off the right scent, sosoon” =

“Good ones, or I’m no judge, boss. As a
starter, be was at the bank before the ambulance —
took away the stiff.” 3

“T know, but that don’t count. Buzzards will
flock to carrion! You swore he was on our
track: prove it Tug!” , h oe

‘* All right, boss! Then Linebart went with |
young Antram to call at Dick Raynor’s house,
Mayne that don’t count, either, but I’m getting
there, boss! Then Linehart called at the station
where Raynor is in limbo, Then Linehart took
a ride with Dough-boy Dobbs, and—”

“The devil you say!” exploded Pink Prior,
with a start, oe

“Two of ’em, boss, I reckon,” and Tug Tau-
ner gave a short, dry chuckle before rea bie

 

   
  
   
  
   
  
    
   
  
  
       
     
   
  
  
  
    
   
 

   

   
   
 
 

   

“Right there I made up my mind it was hi
time I got down to solid business, for if Do
should leak—and what was to hinder?” _
“Twas a fool’ trick to give him a chance!”
snarlingly interrupted the dapper little sport,
8
_“ How could I help it?” retorted Tanner, with
frown, ‘He was knocked stiff, and I had the
grip. He’d told me we couldn’t be sure of an
hour; that the trick might be exploded in five
minutes, or in five hours. And so—I ;
jumped at the first chance that offered.
you would have done, boss!”
is ere know it. See eas
‘anner,” more ly s “Prion O55)
we've got our . 3 what | we do with it?
“ Anything but let it go,

m vor ” grim)
grin the foxy knave. ‘Even — a a
wrong in my reasoning, Lion-heart has gi
for the pack of us, after this little dump.
run EN pane his back fcpoel ;
matther wid la

 
      
   
   
 
 

   
     
   
     
   

   

 
  
 

   
       

  
       
    
 

  
 
 

 
  
 
  
   
    

  

t's

  
  
   

 

  
     

1.

ae but Pink Prior was gloomily grave as
he slowly shook his head in negation. This was

no laughing matter to him, and his ordinary
/ sense of humor had gone fleeting for the pres-
- ent,

. “Not that. It’s too slow—it takes too long.
And we can’t be sure be hasn’t talked, as well as
made others talk, If so, how long will it be be-

fore we're raided?”

“That’s the way I’m looking at it, boss,” put

in Tanner, growing serious enough for a dozen.

““And I reckon we might as well prepare for
that, even if Lion-heart hasn’t leaked a drop.”

MY You mean Dick Raynor?”

- “Sure! Me knows how to keep a close lip on
him, but when he comes to be pinched, won’t he
squeal?” A

“Tl be on himself, then! He jum the
game just after twelve, by the clock, l hands
can and will mako oath to that !”

“Of course, but the cops will nose in, all the
same. It’s what they live on, and they’ve been
looking a heap long time for just such a chance

- to get a grip on Pink Prior: you know that,

boss!”

“Of course I know it, confound you!” snarled
the sport, showing hot irritation in voice and
manner, ‘ Would I pick him out for a dropper,
if I didn’t know it? And he might make mat-
ters worse, with his odds and ends, though, of
course, he couldn’ rake up any actual proof.”

“Divil a. proof, sor, savin’ they wor loies,
ivery wan o thim!”

*T wouldn’t hate it so infernally bad, if I was
to have a share of the boodle, as well as more
‘than a share of the trouble,” muttered Pink
Prior, his downcast eyes taking no note of the

facetious wink which passed between his present
_ companions,
couldn’t shed another coin, then—- Isay, boys!”

‘Right here, boss!” f

“What can we do with him, now he’s ready?”

‘ Shlit the t’roat av him, sor, an’ Oi’ll go me
%davy he did it himsel’, a-laughin’ at the oidea
the loikes av Pink Proier w’u’d be afther dirthy-
in’ his hands wid a weenty job, the loikes av this

f wan, sor!” _ '
Repost That would leave a muss behind, and who
can say we'd have time to clean house before the
. cops come down on us?” objected Tanner,
‘And, as you hinted, it’s mighty ugly work
ing to get shut of a stiff,” assented the head
rascal,

“Well, when a fellow can’t go up-street nor

_ down-street, what’s the matter with taking a

_ trip through the alley?”

“Oh, come off with your fool chatter!” angrily
snapped Prior, who seemed by far the most un-

| easy one of the trio. “If you have anything
sensible to propose, out with it, man!”

‘If it could be done so chipper, I reckon you'd

decide without oene help from poor us, boss,”

~  vetorted Tanner, with a degree of assurance such
as he had never dared display before Prior, un-
til that very night. “‘ And so—give a man a
show, can’t you?”

** Make a show, then, curse you for a wind-

bag!” ;

oY e Better curses than kicks, anyhow! But—
don’t they call Linehart the Lakeside Detective,

occasionally?”

__. * You know they do, but what has that got to

do with this mix?’

“Well, why not help make that title good?

Why not put him to soak, for keeps?” ‘

 
   
    
 
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
     
  
    
    
   
    
 

something very much like a sigh rising in his
throat as he seemingly fell to meclpcniae.
Tanner and Doberty interchanged looks, but
neither man offered an interruption. If the
man most deeply concerned could wait, surely
‘they need not worry seriously over the fleeting
minutes. es
__ “T hate to do it—hate it most mightily!” at
length muttered the little gambler, his face
blanched and almost gray as he lifted his head
and Jooked at his mates, ‘ He’s a good man—
too good a man to meet such » {otal ,
“Better man than Pink Prior, reckon?”
asked Tanner, in drawling tones.
Enough sight better! But—can the trick
git hoe Tug?” | ' Psy
_ “ What’s to hinder, boss?” oe
“That's just what I’m asking you, man!
can it be managed?” A :
. Pee Tanner cast an instinctive gh ce Over
his shoulder, toward the door, then’ leaned
id whis-
ose four other

across the table, speaking in
; rely loud enough for tb
itch, Pink Prior paled and flushed, in
e never a word in interrup-

‘ rina ch,
until ‘ug Tanner drew back, with a gri

     
 

     

     

 
  
   
 
 
 

      
   
  

     
 
 

ee

    
 

“But they’d pinch me until I |

Pink Prior gazed keenly into those rat-like |
yes for a brief space, then his own fdrooped, |

 

te :
/

Lion-Heart Lee.

* That’s the sort of chatter 1 was Botahing uP:
boss! What do you think of it, for a cozy little
scheme?”

 

CHAPTER XII.
A DEED OF DARKNESS,

“Sure, sor, an’ av it was me that was ashked
that same, Oi’d say it was a divilish foine
schaame, so Oi w’u’d, now!”

“Tt might work—it must work!” said Pink
Prior, casting aside all indecision, striking the
table a smart blow with his knuckles, ‘And
the quicker we pull it off, the safer our necks
will feel!”

‘That's business, boss!” said Tanner, with an
approving nod, ‘‘ How will we divide it up?”

* Let Denny go fetch the hack, while you and
I look after the bundle of goods,” curtly decided
the gambler, pushing back his chair and rising
from the table.

Meanwhile, how fared it with ‘Lion-heart |

Lee? ,

As shown, he nad been taken completely by
surprise when the floor opened beneath him, for
he had not the faintest idea of any: trap being
set for him so speedily. y

True, he felt morally certain that Pink Prior
knew considerable about the robbery and as-
sault; far more than an honest man ought to
know, in fact, even if he was not the ‘* power
behind the throne.”

Putting aside all clews he had picked up be-
fore entering that den, Lion-heart had taken
several mental notes of importance while Pink
Prior was making his explanation; the little
gambler knew what had taken place far too ac-
curately not to have had an inside view of the
bold scheme, ;

And still, he did not look for actual violence.
He believed Prior had prepared an alibi for him-
self, as wellas taken care to foil any such which
Richard Raynor might offer, Expecting that
Raynor would confess his gambling, in order to
clear himself from such a serious charge, Prior
meant to forestall bim, and so reap the ad-
vantage of being the first to tell his side of the
affair,

As seen, Lion-heart tried to save himself
when he found the floor giviug way beweath his
weight, but in vain. The fall was not so great:
merely from one floor to the next, or basement:
but that was sufficient to briefly disable the
athlete, and render him an easy captive to the
two ruffians who lay in wait for his coming.

Bound hand and foot, with a gag between his
jaws and a heavy muffler wound and knotted
about his head, Lion-heart Lee lay there on the
damp stone flooring, thinking fast enough, but
literally unable to movea limb on behalf of
himself.

And so he was found, when Pink Prior and
Tug Tanner, both rigged out in course garments,
foreign to their customary style of dressing, and
with telt hats slouched far over their faces,
entered the small cell-like room, the little
gambler casting a narrow fan of light in
advance,

‘‘Sound as a dollar, boss!” grimly chuckled

Tanner,2witbout even taking the common pre-

caution of disguising his voice, as he squatted by
the side of their victim, ‘Oh it takes us ducks
to work a traverse to the queen’s taste!”

‘* Cheese it,” growled Prior, in a hoarse, un-

‘natural voice. ‘‘ He hasn’t croaked, reckon?”

“Devil a bit, if that isn’t Sanpete boss! His
blood-pump is working fast and loud enough for
a deaf man to keep case! Won't be make a
precious boil and bubble, when we come to
anchor him, though!” \

‘*Cheese it, I say! That clapper’ will bang

you, yet, man! Now—pick up yourend, and—
steady, fool!”

While Tanner was making his examination
into the condition of the helpless detective, Prior

_-was fastening the mask-lantern to a buttou-hole |

on his bosom, thus making sure of sufficient
light, whileleaving him the full use of bis hands.
Then, picking am the bound feet of Lion-heart
Lee, he spoke to Tanner:

‘Hard words break no bones, boss, but—
couldn’t you just as easy call me honey, or
dovey?” mocked the wiry knave, lifting the
head and shoulders of the detective with appar-
ent ease. Hoh

The yellow fan of light revealed a narrow
opening in the smooth, wall, and passing through
this, into a damp sort of tunnel which evidently
ran beneath the floor proper of that portion of

the building, the two knaves released their bur- |

den long oor for Tanner to close the heavy
section of wall, which served as a door to the
Ee . This was locked, and the key passed along

8

‘

 

 

rior. d )
till lighted by the lantern at his button-hole,

—

ae

Prior led the way until the house was cleared,
by means of a second door, cunningly hidden
from casual note. This brought them into a
dreary, neglected patch of ground, which had at
one time been a garden. And by crossing this,
toa high, tight board fence, oe with barb
wire, the dark, narrow alley could be gained,

‘Go see if Denny has brought the hack, man,”
muttered Prior, dropping Linehart’s feet once
more,

This did not take long, and returning with a
whispered word that Doherty was in waiting,
Tanner assisted his master in carrying the
helpless detective across that narrow stretch,
through a gate, and into a close carriage, on
the box of which the Irishman sat, muffled up
3 his ears, but looking a ‘‘jarvey” to the very

ife,

“Did ye bring along a map, Oi. dunno?”

hoarsely whispered Denny, leaning far over his
seat, in evident anxiety. ‘‘Divil a know Oi
know the mon as kin tool a cairt betther nor
mesilf, sor, but stroikin’ the lakesoide is wan
ting, an’ hittin’ it roight wher’ ye waant, is an-
ither wan, d’ye moind, now?
_ Get down; give me your coat and muffler,”
growled Tanner, leaving Prior to keep guard
over their captive for the moment. ‘1 know
where to go, and just how to get there quickest.
Down, Irish!”

‘* Tt’s insoide Oi’m to go, thin?”

‘‘ Inside, and take orders from the boss,” said
Tanner, ny assuming the disguise which
Doherty had reluctantly pulled off,

‘* He towld me Oi was, sor,” meekly muttered
Doherty, in apology to his master, as he crawled
into the hack, where Lion-heart Lee was awk-
wardly doubled up between the seats.

‘All right. Help me prop him up on the seat
—so fashicn!” :

Tug Tanner, ‘as soon as a whisper came
through the aperture at his back to the effect
that all was in order, touched up his horses, and

the hack went rumbling through the alley, to.

strike boldly into the next street, then whirl
merrily along toward the lakeside,

Although there was nothing to find fault with, —

so far as outward seeming went, all. hands con-
gratulated themselves on the fairly dark night.
Slowly moving clouds obscured the moon, save
at brief intervals, indicating a brewing storm,
and a better night for carrying out a nefarious
piece of work could hardly have been wished
for. ;
Not a word was spoken inside the back,
Lion-heart Lee wasincapable of speech, and his

present guards apparently found their thoughts

were enough to keep them occupied,

Tug Tanner drove rapidly, yet taking care ©

not to arouse suspicion by too great haste.

Nothing could be honester on the surface, and if -

any eyes were turned toward the back, sus-
picion had naught to do with such glances,

The lakeside was reached, at a point where
none were likely to interfere with their opera-
tions, and calling Doherty to the box, with a
wary hint to keep in motion, the more surely to

avoid suspicion or watching in case any police-

man should chance that way, Tanner moved
away, in company with Pink Prior, to procure a
£. I

boat. :

“Tf ’'d had more time, I’d know just where to
turn, boss,” whispered the wiry knave, peerin:
ahead through the gloom, ‘But I reckon we’
find a boat of some—JI knew it!” with an exul-
tant explosion, as he caught sight of a skiff par-
tially drawn out of the water.

“Tf there are oars, we’re in better luck than
I'd like to bet on!” said Prior, with a touch of
gambler’s fatalism in his tones.

“Don’t swim the stream until you come to
it, boss,” chuckled Tug Tanner, hurrying
forward.
knew it!”

He rose erect from the dingy bow, on which
dully showed letters in white paint, forming the
word he had pronounced. af

“That's all right, boss! I know the boat, and
I know where the oars are to be found, tool
Jimpsey is too old a dog to study up new tricks,
and he told me this one long ago! You go
fetch Denny up near enough for an easy carry
—not so near as to leave suspicious tracks,
though?” r ?

Pink Prior obeyed, and by the time he came
back, bearing in his arms a heavily burdened

gunny-sack, Tug Tanner bad the boat brought —

stern to sbore, with oars in place,
“Got the anchor, eh? Good enough! That
will save one trip,” said Tanner, holding the

skiff in place until the sack was dum into

the stern. ‘‘Just hold her level until—so!” _

The two men drew the stern far enough on.
shore to make sure the skiff did not float away,

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Tf that’s the Daisy, and ?’m—I

 
   

  
 
   

   
   

    
  
    

 

     
 
 
 
  
SS A er pail a

Lion-Heart Lee.

     

13

 

 

then they hastened back to where the hack was
waiting under charge of Denny Doherty.

‘* When we dump freight, Denny, drive back
to a tree and hitch, then hump yourself this
way, in a hurry,” said Tanner, who seemed to
be taking charge of everything. ‘‘ You’d ought
to pull a good oar, for you’re no account for
anything else!”

he transfer was quickly effected, and with
the doomed detective lying in the bottom of
the boat, just back of Doherty who handled the
oars, the skiff shot silently away over the bosom
of the lake, steered by Tanner, who evidently
had a certain point in his mind’s eye.

That poimt was soon reached, and at a word
from Tanner, Doherty drew in his oars, to as-
sist in fastening the heavy stones with strong
cords to the feet of the bound detective.

‘Sure, an’ they’d howld down a bladdher ay
his bigness!” whispered the Irishman, then turn-
mg to Prior; with a coaxing accent, he added:
** Av ye plaase, sor, it’s mesilf as w’u’d loike to
ax a fayvor, sor!”

“This is no time for fooling, man!” snarled
the gambler,

*% Divil a fool am Qi foolin’, sor, an’ this is
the ividince!” flashing forth a wicked-looking
knife as he added: ‘‘Sure, sor, he gev me six
year’ in the Pin, whin I was roostlin’ at Kansas
Cithy, sor, an’ Oi’ll be yer naygur, sor, av ye’ll
say Oi may—so |”

A vicious stroke of the knife pointed his mean-
ing, and Pink Prior averted his head, with an
involuntary shudder. Tanner, however, coolly
answered in his stead.

‘It'll be a mercy to the poor devil, Denny,
rather than let him strangle to death, but if you
really want it that way, mind the red paint!
Jimpsey would kick up the devil of a row if he
came for his scow, and found it all mussed up!”

‘Thin Oi kin aaven up wid the spalpeen, yer
Abnner?” eagerly asked Doherty, licking his lips
like one anticipating a rare feast.

“Curse you, yes, but— Get it over with, in
a hurry!” huskily snarled Pink Prior, still with
averted head.

He had not long to wait. Through the darkness
came a heavy thud, and then the body of the
doomed detective was pushed over the edge of
the boat, to sink benvath the surface with hard-
eee to tell the tale, And then, witha

erce chuckle, Doherty resumed the oars,

 

CHAPTER XIII.
HELD FOR TRIAL.

Ir was not the fault of Edgar Antram that
his promised report, was not made on time, the
morning following the arrest of Richard Ray-
nor for robbery and felonious assault. He was
at Lee Linehart’s office at an unusually early
hour for the young bank clerk, only to find the
door locked, and without a notice attached by
way of excusing its owner’s absence.

wice more he called that forenoon, but with
no better success than at first. Nor could he
win any clew tothe whereabouts of the Lakeside
Detective, though be tried all the means he
could think of to bring about a meeting.

Lion-heart Lee was a single man, apparently
without relatives in the city. He usually slept
at his office, but had no regular boarding-place,
so far as young Antram had ascertained, taking
his meals “ on the wing,” as it might be called,
pone now there, just as circumstances best
$8 .

So, after calling in vain at the chief’s oftice, at
the station to which Richard Raynor had been
taken when first arrested, at the bank, the hos-
pital where Calvert Clutterbuck was | ing in a
dangerous lethargy, not to mention half a score
possible points where some tidings of the miss-
ing man might be chanced upon, young Antram
wound up with a call at the Raynor cottage, by
a ss consolation for his wasted energies, no

oubt.

The passage leading up to that little office
grew very familiar to the bank clerk before he
accepted failure as final. A full score trips did
he make, that day, evening, the next day and
evening, but at the end of that period of time
he was not a whit the wiser, though a vast deal
Ho feih oortdins Sat

e felt certain that some grave mish
befallen his detective friend, “tor no shee
could he account for this protracted absence
and silence. If urgent business had called
Linehart away, surely he would have left or
sent back some word to that effect?

With this more than uncomfortable belief
changed to black certainty, Antram wound up
his final visit to that office by marching direct

 

to the chief, making his report, and begging
that an investigation be set on foot without
further delay.

If that chief was one whit the wiser than his
visitor, just then, his well-schonled face did not
betray the fact. He seemed sorely troubled,
and declared that he would put his best men im-
mediately on the hunt for the missing detective.

With all this natural anxiety to meet and con-
sult with his friend, Edgar Antram had very
little to report beyond complete failure so far as
the hope Linehart had given him.

His mission to Rena Raynor had been success-
ful, almost as a matter of course. What daugh-
ter would shrink from temporary trouble in
order to bring future safety and peace to a par-
ent? But when it came to dealing with Richard
Raynor himself, the result was different.

Lion-heart Lee had reported him as being in
an ugly, obstinate, disagreeable mood, and in
that same condition he yet remained, Even to
the tearful, almost prayerful pleadings of his
daughter, he had but the one answer: he was
innocent, and being such, would not insult bim-
self by setting up any other defense, The State
charged him with robbery and felonious assault;
let the State prove him guilty. After the State
had tried, and failed, time enough for him to
speak.

Through — Antram, a good lawyer was
retained for the defense, but Richard Raynor
came nearer a him with curses than with
gratitude. 6 locked his massive jaws, looking
and acting more like a human bull-dog than
ever.

Being thus kept in utter darkness as to the
movements of his unwilling client on that mem-
orable day, the lawyer did what he deemed best
and wisest: waived an examination, and per-
mitted Raynor to be remanded for trial, without
a question as to his guilt or his innocence being
asked or answered.

Still, a number of points were brought to light
before this conclusion was reached, some of
which bore heavily against the accused. The
detectives, urged on by the more than liberal re-
wards which were offered by the Blank Bank, as
a corporation, and Anthony Antram as an indi-
vidual, were spurred to remarkable activity, and
among them Pink Prior and his henchmen were
not overlooked.

It is just possible that the dandy little sport
was following out the line he had marked for the
trapping of Lion-heart Lee, and beleved he
could best serve his own ends by open confession
on the surface, at least; but, be that as it may,
long before the end of the second day, the minis-
ters of justice were fully aware of the manuer in
which Richard Raynor had employed the hours
immediately preceding the crime,

**T reckon itll break up my business, chief,”
he said, with a worried look on his pink and
white face, so innocent and lamb-like in seeming
though he who listened well knew that a more
dangerous, unmitigated fire-eater than this same
foppish, effeminate-looking sport could not be
found in all Chicago’s highways and byways.
“Of course I’ve run just outside of the law, so
to put it, because I just had to: see? I was
born and bred a sport. I’m fit for nothing else
but sporting. It’s that or tramping, chief.”

‘“‘Which would be safer, if not quite so profit-
able, Pink,” his eyes coolly running over that
costly garb, with its attendant jewelry. ‘‘ But
you started to say?”

“That Pve known Dick Raynor these ten
years or more, chief. Knew him when he was a
sport of the sports, you understand? Before he
took the pledge, so to say, and knocked off drink
and cards: save on the sly, of course. For, you
see, Dick just had to have his little toot about
once in so often, chief. And, worse luck me /
one a those odd-come-shortlies came ’round my
way

‘* He was bucking your game, eh?”

“Tt looked more like his game, chief,” with a
fleeting smile, ‘‘ He called for what best suited
his taste, and rather than have a muss, I just
told the boys to follow his lead while the roll
lasted, One time it looked as though the boodle
would play out at the wrong end, chief, for Dick
goes in all over when he does plunge! He was
big winner for the first few hours, but then he
began to hit the bottle oftener than a sport
should who wants his head cool. I tried to coax
him off the wet—honest, chief,” in answer to a
faintly quizzical smile. ‘‘Of course I wouldn’t
do asmuch for a jay, but Dick—an old mate,
and playing as keen a game as you ever saw !—
I just couldn’t see him hoodoo his own big luck,
without trying tosensify him! But he wouldn’t
take a hint, and I cbuldn’t go further than that;
now could I, chief?”

“TI dare say not, but—you’re making a fear-

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fully long story of it, Pink! Can’t you simmer
it, jast a bit?”

Prior accepted that hint in good part, and
condensed his story with good effect. No need
to follow him, word for word, since what he said
now, was little more than a repetition of what
he told Lion-heart Lee, while holding the detec-
tive in play until his mates should be ready to
attend to whatever the springing trap might
send them.

Summed up, bis volunteer testimony amounted
to just this: Richard Raynor had spent the
better part of two days and nights gambling in
the private rooms run by Pink Prior. He had
been seen by several reputable citizens, not re-
gularly connected with the “‘ sporting class,” all
of whom might be brought to the witness-stand
in case of need, though they could only speak of
the after-dark sessions.

Richard Raynor had first been a heavy winner,
but that only made him stake still larger sums,
openly declaring that he needed _ and must have
a big stake, in short order, His luck turned
after he began drinking more rashly, and for the
last six or eight hours, fortune had run pretty
even between player and bank. \ That lasted u
to nearly noon, of the day on which Blank Ban:
was robbed and Calvert Clutterbuck injured.

Just before the stroke of twelve, that noon,
Pink Prior left the establishment, to keep an im-
portant business engagement. The accused was
still paying faro, with Billy Tudor dealing, with
Tug Tanner keeping case, with Denny Doherty
on deck as “ bouncer,” and Black Pete at his post
as look-out.

One and all of these named worthies were
questioned, and all told the same story, though
the two extremes were five or ten minutes apart
in their ideas of the time when Richard Raynor
lost his final stake, and left the building: but
they all agreed that he did leave before the half-
hour after noon.

When they had been thoroughly ‘‘ pumped,”
each one of these volunteer witnesses were ad-
vised to confine themselves to Chicago until fur-
ther notice, then let go with an injunction not to
talk too much,

In some manner, however, the defense got hold
of this information, and by placing it before
Raynor, his lawyer, backed by Edgar Antram,
induced the accused to unlock his jaws so far as
to positively swear that the Prior outfit lied
most gare

“Td never have owned up, only for this,” he
muttered, for the first time betraying something
like emotion as he averted his face from even
those friendly eyes. ‘‘ I’d almost rather die than
let my little girl know [ve gone back on my
pledged word. But-+1 couldn't helpit! I caught:
an ugly fall asi came in from my last trip,
knocking me blind fora bit. And before I knew
it, some cursed fool slapped a dose of double-dis-
tilled down my throttle, and—it just set me
crazy |”

It was the old, sad tale of inherited appetites,
nobly but vainly fought against. "When once
the poison was coursing through his veins,
Richard Raynor knew that further fighting was
worse than useless, and resigning himself to the
inevitable, he took a “lay-off” for a week, then
sought out the private den of Pink Prior, where
he would be less liable to recognition by his
superiors, -

He had played until his last dollar was gone,
refraining from drink as much as possible. At
no time had he entirely Jost control of himself,
brain or body, and he solemnly swore that he
did not leave those rooms until after fot
o'clock! He was positive, for he looked at his
me just as his final wager was decided against

im,

“That was eleven seconds to four, on my word
as a man,” he added, earnestly, “T was maybe
five minutes more in getting outside of that
cursed den. I went straight home, never dream:
ing that my girl had come back, though I now
understand that sho had a dispatch, signed in
my name, recalling her. Find who sent tha
dispatch, and I reckon you'll find who is play:
ing cahoots with the Prior gang in this dirty
game!”

It was a clew well worth following up, bu
proved a blow, rather than a benefit; for th
sending-clerk clearly described Richard Rayno:
and the blank was filled out in the engineer’
own handwriting!

“A forgery, of course, pet,” Edgar Antranj
soothingly declared, as he sat_in company wit
poor Rena, that evening. ‘‘ That point will
cleared.up, together with all the rest, in goo
time. Only—I'd like to know what in time
keeping Linehart away!”
hat was a question he put himself full man
a time, before the coming of the end.

 

 

 

  

  
    

14

Lion-Heart Lee.

 

 

CHAPTER XIV.
MAJOR MAGOON, FROM MILES.

* AV coorse it’s you for sayin’ it, sor, but
divil a wan 0’ me kin hilp thinkin’ out loud, the
pithy av it ahl, sure!”

Denny Doherty heaved a mighty sigh, slowly
shaking his brick-top pow, thumb and finger
rasping his beard-rougbened chin while stealing
a shy, wistful, yet cunning glance at Pink
Prior out of the corner of his nearest eye.

* Big money in his kicks, you say, Denny?”

* Wirra-wirru! An’ is it big money, sor?
Sure, boss, darlint, av the blue oyes o’ ye he'd
luuked on the lave o’ it! Av ye’d counted it up
wid a wink an’ a guess, the way Ot did, sure,
it’s rid-hot the tin fingers o’ them purthy whoite
hhan’s w’u’d be burnin’ to take possission o’ that
very saine boodle, sor! Av Oi hidso much—ow-
wow! It makes the mouth o’ me wather so
fasht Oi talk wid hair on me taath, sor!”

“Oh, come off the roof! You saw double,
Denny!”

“Divil a bit, sor, for the two oyes o’ me
‘wasn’t big enoogh, faith! Be the howly saints,
sor, it’s jist Jowsy he is wid scads! Ax’ him wan
0’ the byes ye raad about, too! Jist losht onliss
he kin foind some wan to poke back at him, sor!
Sure, an’ didn’t he offer me a wad o’ graane
rags tho bigness o’ me t’umb, av Oi’d foind him
a sphort who knew how to play a stiff game av
poker, sor? He did that, thin, sor!”

** Who and what is he, Doberty?”

‘*Moike Magoon, wid a meejor for a hanthle,
sor! Major Moichael Magoon, from Moiles
Cithy, sor! An’ its me that rid that same, sor,
on the rigister at the howtel jist beyant, sor!”

“ Trish, is he?”

“ Faith an’ it’s an Oirish name. annyhow, but
av he crassed over since he was born, sor, it’s
aatin’ bull-baafe long enough to cl’ane ivery
tooth in his hid from hair, sor—divil a loie in
that, sor!”

Pink Prior heaved a long sigh, but still relue-
tantly shook his head negatively. It was truly
hard to let slip such a rare chance for plucking a
pigeon in full plumage, especially as he felt mor-
ally certain he would have to pay heavy toll in
order to keep his present location and private
game, but—did he dare take the chances?

Denny Doherty echoed that sigh, his long
chin seeming to increase a full inch in length as
his caressing thumb and finger dropped away.

** Divil a bit o’ rishk kin Oi say in it, masther,
darlint,” he added, in a coaxing whine, such as
only a bog-trotter can successfully bring into
play. ‘‘ Av the meejor is a boss at powkin’, an’
niver a wan 0’ me w’u’d loie by sayin’ he isn’t
that same, sor, Dinny’s the b’ye who knows how
to pit the han’ av himsel’ on the arrum av his
betther, sor!” at the same time suiting action to
speech.

“That isn’t the pinch, Denny,” frowned the
gambler, ‘‘I’d match myself against his better,
for that matter, at long odds.. But—who can
say ugly eyes are fot watching us all too close
for comfort? That's the rub, old man! Can’t
you hold him in play until this other job is set-
tled, though?”

“Divil a bit, sor! The meejor isn’t wan
to be howlded, d’ye moind, now! An’—sure,
masther, darlint, Oi was in juty bound to
affer ye the foorst whack at ’im, but—it’s a
game Oi’m plidged to foind for him, sor! This
noight that’s comin’, too, sor!”

“Why not tackle him: your own self, Doher-
ty?’ asked Prior, still hesitating, longing to
yield to temptation, yet restrained by a fear of
adding to his possible troubles anent the Ray-
nor affair.

“Me, isit, sor? Powk wid the meejor? Agh,
g’way wid ye, honey! Sure an? the loikes av
| me w’u’dn’t be able to kaap the meejor from
schnorin’ wid slaapy dishgoost, sor! He’s that
foine a player that—divil a bit do Oi, know the
gintlemon sphort, barrin’ Mishter Proier, who
cud howld a candle to him, sor!”

Be Maybe he’s too many guns for even me,
Denny,” said Prior, with a faint smile that only
proved his self-confidence, ;

“Niver a faar av that, masther, dear,” came

the confident reply. ‘‘ An’ it’s knowin’ that
saame, sor, which makes me kaape howpin’ ye’ll
condesscind to thry him a whack, sor! Av Oi
hev to stheer him up ag’inst anoother powker,
‘sor, divil a per-cint?ll be comin’ to Dinny at the
ind av the game, sor! But wid you, masther
dear, ow-wow an’ worra-wirrasthur! It’sa rich
mon Oi’ll be, the morrow, sor! Ye will, dar-
lint?”
Eagerly came that query, for Denny Doherty
caught that sign of yielding to persuasion, nor
was he longer doomed to disappointment, though
ig Prior still tempered his words with cau-
‘tion,

 

  
   
   
   
  
  
    
   
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
        

 

**'You’re sure the major hasn’t given you the
slip, Denny? You can put your finger on him,
say about this time o’ day? Remember, boy, a
man who’s earnestly hunting a game in Chicago,
generally finds all he asks, and something
thrown in to make good measure!”

*‘Thim woords, sor, show ye niver met up wid
the meejor, faith! Sure, an’ it’s him that said
he w’w’d wait ahn me to foind him a game, sor,
an’ it’s me that promished the meejor Oi’d till
him befoor darruk av Oi c’u’dn’t do that same,
d’ye moind, now?”

“ And you reckon he'll wait on your word,
even if another capper offers to steer him up
against a game, Denny?”

** Tt’s knowin’ that saame Oi am, sor,” was the
confident reply. ‘Oi mit the meejor foorstat
Kanshas Cithy, sor, whin he med that his ship-
pin’ pointh, faith, foor sthock, an’ he—”

“*Cattle-man, is he?”

“That saame, scr! Wan o’ the biggest min
in the busishness, sor! An’ it’s in Chicawgy he
is, this thrip, wid a howl thrain av his own:
sowld out foor cash, an’ the rags in his fisht, be-
gorra! Twinty caars, an’ the full o’ thimso
foine that he was ped tin above the maarket,
sor! Ow-wow! Av Dinny Doherty had jist
that same tin cints ixtry on aach hoonder’,
faith, it?s loike aloord o’ hoigh raank he’d be
faalin’ the day, be gonnies! That’s so, sor, an’
divil a loie in it ahl/, sor!”

Pink Prior could not avoid laughing at the ex-
cited Irishman, not a little of whose covetous en-
thusiasm he himself was beginning to catch,
With almost any other man, the gambler might
have fancied something lay hidden behind this
persistent urging, but he had known Doherty
for a goodly number of years, and had never
found him lacking in time of need. His princi-

al failing lay in the direction of strong drink,
bats though he had clearly been ‘‘ bracing up” a
bit, he was not drunk, or anything like it. He
knew what he was about, and Prior feared not
to trust him.

“All right, Denny, I'll take a look at your
money-bags, anyway,” he decided. ‘‘ Go locate
him, and ’ll follow. Don’t notice me, unless I
drop the old sign, then vou’ll know how to act.
Rack out, now!” !

With a hop, skip and shuffle of suppressed de-
light, the ‘‘capper” obeyed, quickly locating
the stockman at his hotel, leaning idly over the
bar, chatting briskly with the white-aproned at-
tendant,

He was well built, with black hair and full
beard, dressed in a ready-made suit of fairly ex-
pensive material, He wore a little too much and
too heavy jewelry for strictly good taste, and
re range” seemed to ‘‘stand out all over

im,

‘‘Hellow, Dinny ye divil, ye!” was his boister
ous hail, as he caught sight of the lrishman,
who grinned broadly as he came forward.
“ Found that poker chief for me, yet?”

‘* Sure, meejor, Oi’ve done me livil bist that
way, sor, but—”

“Don’t ye say it, pardner!” with a mock-
angry shake of his clinched fist, then nodding
toward the barkeeper. ‘‘ Trot’er out, Johnny,
and you, Doherty, come up to the trough like a
little man! But, all the same, if you can’t round
me up a chief by dusk, Denny, I’m going out on
the range my lonesome self!”

‘Tts luukin’ at ye Oi abm, meejor,” said
Doherty, over his glass,

‘* Drink hearty, pardner! For, as I set out to
say, Doherty, I’m wild for a game to wind up
the trip with! Must have it, you understand!
If all Chicago can’t scare up a pes chief—for [
wouldn’t stoop so low as to buck faro, you mind}
If [ can’t do better, Pll play right fist against
left, for I couldn’t face the boys and tell ’em I
left. for the range without my regular—just
couldwt, you know! They’d come back at me
with the laugh for losing my grip, and then—
I’m fond of a fight, odd times, but that'd suit
me too mighty well!”

“Sure, meejor, it’s wishin’ Oi was that same
chaafe, but—’

“But you’re not!” bluntly interrupted the
stockman, softening his words with a genial, yet

atronizing sort of smile. ‘t You’rea good man,
enny, as men go nowadays, but you can’t poke
for a cent! Don’t I know?”

“Av ye don’t, ye’d ought, meejor,” with a
dolorous sigh, as he shot a shyjglance toward Pink
Prior, who had recently lounged into the bar.

“Sure, ye troyed me ahn aften enoogh down

‘at Kanshas Cith

”

** And wasted Both time and teaching, just as
often asI tried to initiate Zou into the mys-
teries of grand old poke, Doherty,” said Ma-
goon, with a merry laugh at the memories thus
invoked. ‘‘A man’s got to be hern that way,

 

or he'll never get beyond the bare rudiments
Denny.”

“O7ll take it on trust, av ye say 80, sor,”
admitted the Irishman, with ,the half-sheepish
grin of one who can only guess at another’s
meaning, ‘‘ Annyhow, av Oi was the bist av
powkers, it’s me pocket w’u’dn’t be able to back
me fingers, meejor!”

“Not broke? Why, you pesky maverick!
why didn’t you sing out before!” almost rudely
dsmanded Major Magoon, at the same time
pulling forth a great wad of bank-notes and
extracting several at random. ‘Take it, man!”
as Doherty drew back, with a shake of his head.
“Take it, say! Broke, and I’ve got more—
Denny Doherty, is it a row you’re hunting?”

“Wid you meejor, darlint?” expostulated the
capper.

‘Then stand up to the rack and put away the
fodder that’s set before ye, man! I mean it—
so! And now, Johnny, another of the samo
caliber, just to cool my coppers. I never came
so near to being mad since thetime— And that
reminds me,” his voice growing grave, in keep-
ing with his face. ‘Dan Kroatsch was along
that time! Poor Danny! Dead, you told me,
Doherty?”

“Dead, sor, an’ a gr’aate loss was that same
takin’ off, too!”

“Well, I should remark! A better man at
poker I never run up against, unless it was
Stevenson—Limpy Steve, we called him, from a
stiff hip he caught in a rowover the papers. Or
Dick Devine, or Jimmy Fogle, or— But what’s
the vse? They’re all gone: dead oy lost to
view!”

Major Magoon turned to his glass for consola-
tion, and Denny Doherty cast another sly glance
toward Pink Prior for instructions, this time to

receive a covert sign, which caused his freckled _

face to flush with exultation.

It was not the sign calling for an introduc-
tion, but one still better from the capper’s point
of view: it said he might ‘‘steer” the stock-
man up against Prior’s ‘‘ private game” that
evening.

It may have been the lavish display of money,
or that allusion to so many of the prominent
lights of the past gambling era, when ‘‘things
run wide open,” but Prior was content to run
the risk, this once,

“Ye won't fly aff the hanthle, meejor, av I
till ye—what is howly thruth, no liss—that Oi
was ownly foolin’ wid ye, dear mon?”

“You've really found a chief for me, Denny?”

“Oi have that, faith! An’ here’s good luck
whin ye tackle ’im, meejor!”

CHAPTER XV.
A PIGEON FOR PLUCKING.

“ Aw’ thayer ye hey it, meejor, sor!” said
Denny Doherty, with a wide sweep of the hand
which grasped his tile, flashing a glance around
the rather, dingy apartment into which they
had been given admission by a stalwart black.
‘* More power to yer ilbow, sor, an’ may the
bist mon win!”

Pink Prior rose from the table at which he
had been seated, idly toying with a pack of
fresh cards, and with a bland, almost childlike
smile, he offered a welcome with his hand,

‘Glad to see you, sir. Doherty, as well,”

‘Same to you, sir,” nodded the stockman,
but with what seemed to be a touch of sudden
suspicion flashing into his dark eyes as their two
hands crossed. ‘Sorry you didn’t give me a
hail, this afternoon, pardaer, over at the ranch,”

“Over at the—oh, you mean the hotel?”

“Sure! And now, Dennis Doherty, you in-
fernal old fraud, what have you got to offer
for yourself?” :

The Irishman flinched just an atom as the
muscular stockman turned upon him with that
question, but rallied as quickly. a

“ Av ye know jist what ye maane, meejor,
mebbe ye’d taache me, sor?”

‘7 wasn’t worth trusting, then? Seems like
you didn’t reckon me worth a knock-down to
your friend, eh? Why, you speckled son of a
hollow potato! if it wasn’t clean against my
rules and regulations to hit a cripple or kick an
idiot, ’'d send you soaring aloft’ like a bag of
gas! As it is—” 3 :

“Blame me, rather than Doherty, sir,” quietly
interposed Prior, that winsome smile still on
his girlish-looking face. ‘‘I made him promise
to lie low and say nothing, while I took a look
at the mighty chief he was telling me so much
about.”

“And I was on inspection, then?’ asked
Major Magoon, half angry, half amused.
“Well, may I ask if you were thoroughly dis-
gusted, sir?”

‘Your being here as my guest, ought to sat-

 

 

 

 

ign

| wit
| save deft dealing, swift

| with

  

 

ij

‘Lion-Heart Lee.

    

é

 

isfy you, sir. Doherty said you had employed
him to look up a’ poker game for your benefit.
All the chiefs failed him, and as a forlorn hope,
he came to me, I don’t often do business in this

> way, but—a friend loaned me his rooms, for the

_ occasion, and I’m open for a friendly game if
- yowre still in the humor for such, sir.”

“TY never knew the time I wasn’t, and don’t
say anything more, sir! Denny, I’d hug you if
you wore petticoats and had a few less speckles
on that mug of yours! Pardner—ahem!” as
| with an effort checking his free-and-easy

_ volubility, to more deliberately utter: ‘* My
name is Magoon, Michael Magcon, from Miles
City, sir!) j

‘And mine is Pink Prior. Delighted to form
your acquaintance, major, and even if I lose
this nigbt, Pll reckon it a winning hand.”

The little gambler turned toward the left,
where his regular faro dealer was seated with a
paper, summoning him with:

* Billy?”

“ours, Pink,”

“Allow me, please? Major Magoon, Billy
Tudor—shake! Two such thoroughbreds ought
to know each other, and I’m doing myself
Pa in bringing them together! Now—poker,

is it?” .

“That's right where I live, gentlemen!”

““T'll chip, of course, but only for a hand or
two,” reluctantly said Tudor, brushing a white
hand across his temples. ‘* Not only have I got
a Yacking headache—and a fellow needs all is

| wits clear, Pink, when you’re holding cards on

‘the other side of the board !—but I’ve an engage-
ment up-town which I can’t-possibly postpone.”
"Sorry, but—youw baven’t got another, Prior?”
bluntly asked the stockman, flashing a half-sus-
picious glance into that fair face.
Not while you and I have money enough to
_ ante, major,” smilingly said the little gam ler,
_ tearing the cover from a new deck of plain
“« white-backs,” which could.be turned into * ad-
vantage cards ” only by secret marking with
nail or kindred means, one by one, as the deal
| passed around.
“That’s business, and I’m its devout dis-
ciple!”
_ It did not take long to arrange the prelimi-
‘narios, for each one of the trio was an adept at
the national game,” and neither of them was
present merely for pleasure. A word and a nod
was poe as @ Speech, and with the ante decided,
sport began at once. — ; /
There is not much to be told in relation toa
| genuine game of poker, as pinyed by adepts, no
_ matter how interesting a literal record might be
toa “poker crank.” The members play, letting
their cards andi their money do the talking,
Hand after hand will be dealt, cards discarded
for the draw, hands filled, bets placed, covered,
| raised, seen and raised again, until one or the
other knows he has reached the full value of
_ his present hand, then the ‘show down,” the
| Winning and the losing, the taking of the pot
and beginning of another hand, all may take
| Place without so much as a single word being
rr se
4 ‘ese tures men were adepts, and ‘izin|
each other a saeic thay Biaye doeneniiigter
| The genuine game knows no friendship, and
_ each mau played for his own hand according to
his best judgment,
Billy Tudor was

   
 
 
 
    
    
   
   

   
 

  

 
      
 

  

  

; out of luck, failing in the
| draw as often as he came in, and losing the few
bets he made as feelers. Yet it was with a sigh
of regret such as only a thoroughbred poker-
player can fully appreciate, that he claimed the
| dimit he had named before taking a card: his en-
gagement could not be put off any longer.

Pll look you up, major, if Pink don’t give

4a your full,” he said, by way of adieu, then
eft the two ‘‘chiefs” to lock horns for the mas-

— v

| Acard-player would have considered it a rich

| andarare treat, just to be perainl @ piny
looker-on, but the reader would quickly grow

weary of a literal record,

    
 
   
 

 

 

 
   
   

 
 

  

    
  
 
    
 
 

_+here was no chaff, no “‘ Jost motion,” nothing
sorting, rapid betting in
such a manner that each stake spoke for itself,
Hardly a word was uttered, and volatile Denny
| Doherty, when he did move, went about on tip-
toe, as gingerly as though the floor was carpeted
‘1 eggs, and death would be his portion if he

80 uch as chipped a single shell. Bie,
He found little relief in watching the game,
for each man carefully “skinned his hand,” per-
_ mitting their own eyes merely a fleeting look at
the tiny indicators in the top corner, then play-
ing them bunched, Even if Denny had been
it enough of the unwritten rules to try
those hands, he would have met

  
 

      
   
 

 

  

 

_Long before Billy Tudor ‘‘ jumped the game,”
the other men knew that they had work cut out
for them. Pink Prior knew that he had found
an antagonist fully worthy his steel, and as the
deals ran on, he began to fear that he had—hard
word!—even more than met his equal!

When to hours of play had been placed on
record, he could nolonger console himself with
the belief that luck was helping the major out.
Although, as yet, he was not a heavy loser,
thanks to his really admirable play, Pink Prior
knew that, barring such a streak of luck as sel-
dom comes when a player stands in sore need of
it, he would almost certainly be plucked, instead
of plucking! ;

ot that there was any suspicion of foul play.
When two admitted ‘‘ chiefs” come together in
deadly earnest, neither one even attempts sensa-
tional play, simply because he cannot afford to
take the chances, Pure skill counts highest in
the long run, besides being so much the safer!
Only a fool gives an invitation for an ugly
kick,’ ‘

Though reluctantly, and terribly against his
will Pink Prior gave Denny Doherty the agreed-
upon signal that other means must be tried, and
the Irishman at once performed his part, with-
out attracting attention from the major,

That did not take him long, and after letting
Pink Prior know as much, by a gentle touch as
he passed the back of his chair, Doherty waited
in outward sleepiness for the final signal!

The preliminaries had been throughly ar-
ranged, though seemingly the location of the
players bad been a pure matter of chance. Ma-
jor Magoon was located precisely at the spot
where the chair of Lion-heart Lee had rested,
three nights before, and Pink Prior knew that a
smart pressure on the hidden spring, either in
the floor itself, or at the buffet across the room,
would send his adversary down into the pit,
where Tug Tanner, Billy Tudor, and the negro
Pete were waiting his coming. Ga ene

Yet, rather oddly, this knowledge was a Source
of bitter chagrin, rather than of gratulation.
To spring the trap would be an open admission
that be bad met bis master at his best game; and
that meant much to a thoroughbred gambler. ©
' But the time came, hardly an hour later, when
he knew he must play the ep or ‘‘go broke.”
Major Magoon was winning heavily, and Pink
Prior was too true a sport not to back each hand
for all he deemed it worth.: And so, in husky,
almost harsh tones, he called out;

6“ Denny iD

“'Yis, sor, yer Abner!”

‘* These cigars leave a bad taste in my mouth.
Bring me the other. brand, out of the sideboard;
you know which I-mean?”

‘‘ It’s thinkin’ Oi do, sor,” came back as the
Irishman hurried to the buffet, his burly figure
forming a shield behind which his hand could
manipulate the spring without fear of premature
detection, ‘‘ Oi hev it, sor!” and, at the word,
the floor yawned wide—but not that portion
upon which Major Michael Magoon was resting!

CHAPTER XVI. :
JUST AS IT SHOULD BE,

For that trap had been arranged to meet any
and all emergencies, not to awaken possible sus-
picion in an intended victim, by insisting on his
ee a particular seat, ‘ j

And now, greatly to the horror of Pink Prior,
he found his own section opening, sending him
helplessly through the floor, to meet with—what
‘sort of reception at the hands of his hired thugs?

‘* Back, sor!” cried Denny, jerking at the hid-
den wire and bringing the hinged trap back to
place with a loud clap and jar. ‘‘Thim divils
may be afther shootin’ howles—” 2

His words were drowned by a deep, hoarse
roar, rather than cry, and as the cunningly
disguised detective sprung to his feet, a side door
was flung open, and a half-naked figure bounded
into the room, hair on end, eyes blazing, muscu-
lar hands armed with knife and katchet!

“Where is it, ye devils? Where’s my grip, I
say? Where— Now I have got ye, devil from
hell’s hottest mouth!” __ :

He caught sight of Lion-heart Lee, as Major
‘Magoon, and brandishing those dangerous weap-
Ons, rushed forward with death in his crazy
eyes, % 1 i

Denny Doherty gave a howling yell of wild
alarm, but Lion-heart Lee gave evidence that
he had not been idly dubbed. He sprung for-
ward and slightly to one side, a hand going to

is bosom, then stretching out with a swift, cer-
‘tain cast; and the maniacal-seomin; nitruder
feavity ineante how] as he stagg: back, the

 

 

loaded slung-shot dropping from bis
cracked skull to the floor, even as the detective
Sprung forward toaclose, = hye

?

‘the fut av me, sor, ow-wow! It’s in glorry Oi

| and tries to help him off, use your gun,

| locking the door after Tanner, Tudor and Pete,

 
   
  
   
  
  
 
   
   
  
  
  
    
  
   
      
    
   
  
  
    
   
 
 
 
  
 
 
 

Lion-heart deftly warded off that half-blind
stroke, then twisted the fellow from his feet, |
adding his own weight to the fall, locking ae :
and arms about the muscular madman, while ©
calling out: By aati

‘Sound the call, Denny! Nochances, man!”

** Oi wor jist—kin ye howld him, sor?” st

“Though he wexe the devil himself, yes) Go
—the call, man!” ; ,

Doherty paused for no more, but ran to the door,
flang it open, tumbled down-stairs, to sound a —
shrill whistle at the front door, which speedily
brought up a squad of police, armed and ready
for tough work.

‘* Tbe masther foorst, d’ye moind, now!” splut-
tured Denny, rushing back to the second floor, —
closely followed by the policemen, ‘‘ Sure, the
rist av ’em ispinned up Joike rats in a howl!
But the—glory to God, sor! An’ jist lwuke at
*im, sors!” “tee

For Lion-heart Lee was just in the act of ris-
ing to his feet, leaving the half clad maniac ~
lying on_his face, his hands brought behind his
back and ironed, a stout cord knotting his feet
together. i ’ by:

“Glad to see you, gentlemen,” said the de-
tective, panting a bit after his brief but des-
perate struggle with his captive, ‘‘but Denny
ought to have shown you the other way. You’re
losing time, up here,”

“Sure, sor, the divils cayn’t worruk out
atwixt this an’ come nixt Pathrick’s Day in :
the marning! An’ him a-savin’ us the huntin’ a
av ‘im up, sor! Glory be wid us this blissid
noight, faith! Av Oi ownly hed room to shaake

am, be gorrah!” ,
“Bottle it up, Denny, until the job is fin-
ished,” curtly spoke the detective, singling out
one of the policemen and bidding him stand
guard over the man on the floor. ‘I hardly
think you'll be troubled, but if any one oo
8

    
     
  

responsible for all damage, remember,”

Without pausing to explain who or what that —
risoner was, Lion-heart Lee hurried away with
oherty and the rest of the squad, to gain the —

only exit from the pit, where Pink Prior and his.
confederates were already making an ugly
racket as they realized how completely they had
been trapped. }

For, as Doherty had asserted, they were en-

trapped, like rats, since he himself had seen to

  
       
       
    
   

when they took position to receive and dispose
of the rich stockman, :

Doherty it was who unfastened the door, and
as a blinding flash of light was turned in upon
them, the knaves mads a desperate attempt to
force a way through to liberty, only to fail ig-
nominiously. Clubs fell, and so did the owners
of as many cracked crowns! ;

Handcuffs were brought into requisition, and _
then the dilapidated, crestfallen kuaves were
marched off to the station, where the temporary
charge of ‘‘ disturbing the peace” was recorded
against the name of each, : be ‘

Denny Doherty was sent after a hack, and
when he returned with one, that half-clad figure, :
wrapped in the cloth which covered the farolay-
out when the table was idle, was carried down-
stairs and out of the building. He was rapidly
driver. to the station, whither a police-surgeon
was summoned and bidden do his best to revive _
the man. f :

“He's well-worth the trouble, surgeon,” said
Lion-heart Lee, with a faint smile upon his dis- =
guised visage. Zt : i ae

ae a little later, the ‘‘ blotter” showed the —
recor c a

Kay Knowles, alias Gordon Glick. Robbery. —
and felonious assault. — era }

Of course explani

C ations were in order, ae
that climax had passed by, and as the ri
may be in need of a little more light, as well,

here goes for clearing up! *
Denny Doherty had been the means of saving
the life of Lion-heart Lee, as the astute reader
no doubt long since divined. a ae aes oe
It was true what he told Pink Prior, so far as ©
having formed the acquaintance of the Lakeside
Detective in Kansas City was concel
though he added a bit of a lie to make the
matter ‘‘ more pane n of sending
Denny to “do time” eee
hart had good-naturedly helped him out of a
pe eae rape, thereby earning bis undying
gratitude, Dee he at eK
Doher' ept in ignorance as to who was
to be cast into the pit, until it was too late for
him to on warning hint in the right direc.
 frishman

     
   
 
  

 
  
   
  
       
    
         
        
         
  

   
      
   
       
  
    

 

  

   
   
  
   
    

     
  
     
 

 
 
     
 

   
  
 
  
  
  
    

  
   
 
  
  
 

 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
   

  

 

and when he did find out the real facts of the

tion; but ‘was not entirely

     

   
16.

Lion-Heart Lee.

 

case, he determined to save Lion-heart, or sacri-

fice his own lifein trying.

Knowing with what unscrupulous ‘knaves he
was allied, Denny dared not act openly, lest he
bring sudden death upon them both, but he
watched his chance, and made it count to the
uttermost. ;

When left in charge of the hack while his
mates looked after the boat—as will be recalled
~—Denny hastily assured Lion-heart that he
would save him: that he would cut his bonds
and manage to give him a knife with which he
might free his feet from the weights calculated
to “ anchor” his eee long enough to render
it unrecognizable. If he should be unable to do
this, then he would take still longer chances, and
shoot both Prior and Tanner, before they could
divige his pur

Fortunately for those rascals, however, Denny
succeeded in carrying out his original scheme,
and cutting himself free, Lion-heart Lee easily
swam away, covered by the gloom, making
land, and at once seeking his chief, to whom he
confided his hopes for the future.

In disguiso, it was an easy matter for Lion-
heart to meet, Doherty, who madea clean breast
of the entire business,

Pink Prior was at the bottom of it all, and
having. formed the acquaintance of a bold
* crook,” who closely resembled Richard Ray-
nor, and who might, by trimming and dressing,
be made to resemble him still more closely, he
elaborated the plot which was afterward carried
out, marred only by the unforeseen accident
which, by cracking the skull of Kay Knowles,
rendered him a dangerous element to his own
allies in sin,

The one weak point in Denny’s communica-
tion lay in his ignorance of Knowles’s present
place of hiding. He suspected that ho was hid-
den in Prior’s house, but could not be sure, and
it would never do to try a raid on uncertainties.
Hence the ‘‘Major Magoon” scheme, which
proved so complete a success,

Time and care brought ‘‘ Gordon Glick” back
to his senses, when he was confronted with his
own words, taken down from his raving lips.
He held out for a time, but finally made a full
confession, which cleared Richard Raynor from
the faintest taint of suspicion. ‘

The conspirators were tried, found guilty, and
sentenced accordingly.

Denny Doherty, accepted as ‘‘ state’s evidence,”
went free, If not a better man, at least he is a
wiser one, and now honestly tries to steer clear
of the law.

Calvert Clutterbuck recovered from his inju-
ries, and his first public appearance was simulta-
neous with the wedding of Rena Raynor and

Edgar Antram! It was the best method of mak-

\

"168 Wild

we a ration'to Richard Raynor for the wrong

done him, though unintentionally,

Anthony Antram acted more than handsome-
ly, on that occasion. He, too, felt guilty of let-
ting past prejudice carry him too far against the
railway engineer, and he made a public apology
to the man whom he had sworn never to. show
pity until he had left the gallows!

nd ‘* Lion-heart Lee?” —

He is still ‘‘in harness,” and though he does
not strictly confine his operations to the ‘‘ Windy
er he is still known among his associates as
‘The Lakeside Detective!”

Y THE END,

 

segue . .
Beadle’s Dime Library.
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BUFFALO BILL NOVELS.
Numbers * are from the pen of Buffalo Bil.
Es Pee ea ee ees tebctlo, th Magnifi
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629 Soa Dick: or, Buffalo Bill’s Daring Role.
*599 The Dead Shot Nine; or, My Pards of the Plains
517 Buffalo Bill’s First Trail.
*414 Red Renard, the Indian Detective.
*401 One-Armed Pard; or; Borderland Retribution.
#397 The Wizard Brothers: or, White Beaver’s Trail,
*394 White Beaver, the Exile of the Platte.
362 Buffalo Bill’s Grip; or Oath Bound to Custer.
829 The League of Three; or. Butfale Bill’s Pledge,
*319 Wild Bill, the Whirlwind of the West.
SE ee ee nes
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189 Wild Bill's Gold ‘Prall; or, The Desperate Dozen
175 Wild Bill’s Trump Card; or, The Indian Heiress
Bill, the Pistol Dead Shot.
ae or Ee
ullet Sport; or, its of the Overland,
#52 Death-Trailer, the Chief of Scouts,

BY COLONEL LE SARA,

 

BY COL, PRENTISS INGRAHAM,

640 The Rover’s Retribution. .
635 The Ex-Buccaneer; or, The Stigma of Sin,
630 The Sea Thief
625 Red Wings; or, The Gold Seekers of the Bahamas,
615 The Three Buccaneers.
610 The Red Flag Rover; or, White Wings of the Deep.
605 The Shadow Silver Ship.
600 The Silver Ship; or, The Sea Scouts of 76.
593 The Sea Rebel; or, Red Rovers of the Revolution,
587 Conrad, the Sailor Spy; or, True Hearts of ’76,
581 The Outlawed Skipper; or, The Gantlet Runner.
560 The Man from Mexico.
553 Mark Monte, the Mutineer; or, The Branded Brig.
546 The Doomed Whaler; or, The Life Wreck.
540 The Fleet Scourge; or, The Sea Wings of Salem,
580 The Ravage of the Sea, \
524 The Sea Chaser; or, The Pirate Noble,
516 Chatard, the Dead-Shot Duelist.
510 El Moro, the Corsair Commodore,
493 The Scouts of the Sea. 4
489 The Pirate Hunter; or, The Ocean Rivals.
482 Ocean Tramps; or, The Desperadoes of the Deep.
476 Bob Brent,the Buccaneer; or, the Red Sea Raider.
469 The Lieutenant rae or, the Fugitive Sailor,
457 The Sea Insurgent; or, The Conspirator Son,
446 Ocean Ogre, the Outcast Corsair,
435 The One-Armed Buccaneer.
430 The Fatal Frigate; or, Rivals in Love and War,
425 The Sea Sword; or, The Ocean Rivals.
418 The Sea Siren; or, The Fugitive Privateer,
399 The New Monte Cristo,
393 The Convict Captian, /
388 The Giant Buccaneer; or, The Wrecker Witch,
377 Afloat and Ashore; or, The Corsair Conspirator.
878 Sailor of Fortune; or, The Barnegat Buccaneer,
869 The Coast Corsair: or, The Siren of the Sea.
364 The Sea Fugitive; or, The Queen of the Coast,
846 Ocean Guerrillas; or, Phantom Midshipman.
341 The Sea Desperado,
336 The Magic Snip; or, Sandy Hook Freebooters.
825 The Gentleman Pirate: or, The Casco Hermits,
318 The Indian Buccaneer; er, The Red Rovers.
807 The Phantom Pirate; or, The Water Wolves.
281 TheSea Owl; or, The Lady Captain of the Gulf,
259 Cutlass and Cross; or, the Ghouls of the Sea.
255 The Pirate Priest; or, The Gampler’s Daughter,
246 Queen Helen, the Amazon of the Overland,
235 Red Lightning the Man of Chance.
231 The Kid Glove Miner; or, The Magic Doctor,
224 Black Beard, the Buccaneer.
220 The Specter Yacht; or, A Brother’s Crime,
216 The Corsair Planter; or, Driven to Doom,
210 Buccaneer Bess, the Lioness of the Sea,
205 The Gambler Pirate; or, Lady of the Lago#=. /
198 The Skeleton Schooner; or, The Skimmer.
164 Ihe Ocean Vampire; or, The Castle Heiress,
181 The Scarlet Schooner: or, The Sea Nemesis.
177 Don Diablo, the Planter-Corsair.
172 Black Pirate; or, The Golden Fetters Mystery.
162 The Mad Mariner; or, Dishonored and Disowned
155 The Corsair Queen; or, The Gypsies of the Sea,
147 Gold Spur, the Gentleman from Texas,
139 Fire Eye; or, The Bride of a Buccaneer,
184 Darkey Dan, the Colored Detective.
131 Buckskin Sam, the Texas Trailer, _
128 The Chevalier Corsair; or, The Heritage,
121 The Sea Cadet; or, The Rover of the Rigoletts,
116 Black Plume; or, The Sorceress of Heli Gate,
109 Captain Kyd, the King of the Black Flag,
104 Montezuma, the Merciless.
103 Merle, the Mutineer; or, The Red Anchor Brand.

94 Freelance, the Buccaneer.

89 The Pirate Prince; or, The Queen of the Isle.

85 The Cretan Rover: or, Zuleikah the Beautiful,

2 The Dare Devil; or, The Winged Sea Witch,

BY WILLIAM H. MANNING,

646 Dark John, the Grim Guard.

638 Murdock, the Dread Detective.

623 Dangerous Dave, the Never-Beaten Detective,
611 Alkali Abe, the Game Chicken from Texas,

596 Rustler Rube; the Round-Up Detective,

585 Dan Dixon’s Double. \ ‘

575 Steady Hand, the Napoleon of Detectives.
568 Wyoming Zeke, the Hotspur of Honeysuckle.
551 Garry Kean, the Man with Backbone,

539 Old Doubledark, the Wily Detective.

531 Saddle-Chief Kit, the Prairie Centaur,

521 Paradise Sam, the Nor’-West Pilot.

513 Texas Tartar, the Man With Nine Lives.

606 Uncle Honest, the Peacemaker of Hornets’ Nest.
498 Central Pacific Paul, the Mail-‘Train Spy.

492 Border Builet, the Prairie Sharpshooter,

486 Kansas Kitten, the Northwest Detective.

479 Gladiator Gabe, the Samson of Sassajack»

470 The Duke of Dakota.
463 Gold Gauntlet, the Gulch Gladiator.
455 Yank Yellowbird, the Tall Hustler of the Hills,
449 Bluff Burke, King of the Rockies.
442 Wild West Walt, the Mountain eeleranD
437 Deep Duke; or, The Man of Two Lives,
427 Tae Rivals of Montana Mill.
415 Hot Heart, the Detective Spy.
405 Old Baldy, the Brigadier of Buck Basin,
888 Wild Dick Turpin, the Leadville Lion,
Br ‘Colorado Rube, the Strong Arm of Hotspur.
9 The Gold Dragoon; or, California Bloodhound,

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Old Arsenic’s Secret, By Edward Lytto: i i

18—Mustang Merle’s Merciless Foe; or, The
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19—The Three Spotters’ Hot Heat; or, Runni)
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23—Lion-Heart Lee, the Lakeside Detective; ¢
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24—Bullion Bret, the Giant Grip; or, The Ru
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