Show THE FH rI-IE rI I VI 17 EVENING STORY STOR c Y YA 1 sif V IN 5 A TIGHT BOX S S Copyright 1912 by W. W Werner Leighton was aI dreaming as he waited walled In the general room of the city station of the gray eyed girl whom he was to meet In about fifteen minutes tes Sh She was pictured In his mind In at all her gea gray serene lie se- e- e rene back of the picture was the thought of the day that he felt to be drawing near nur when Instead of oC meeting her he would be coming comins with her Then he looked up to see his inseparable ble companion JIp nudging him with his Js nose and signifying that he lie had discovered something Leighton started as he sa saw the time object In the terriers terrier's mouth Now what hat have you purloined This will be your our last trip with me my 01 bO boy unless you OU cut cul out this trotting away with Ith other peoples people's goods Wonder Wonder Won Won- onder on der what you have got sot here he asked r I Leighton stared at the gleaming gem Removing ln the outer cover er he Unsnapped un unsnapped un- un snapped a A case and a diamond was re re- re A quick glance told him It was of great value lie stared at the pleased do dog with frowning eyes ec Ye gods JIp Where here in the tho name of all that's eternal eter eter- fbi nal did dill you ou set get et that Leighton stared red at atthe the gleaming gem sem Then it suddenly occurred to him that someone might have flave seen the dog or b be watching him blITZ He put the case into his pocket at the same ame time glancing him Xo No o one seemed d. d to have ha noticed the I unusual occurrence He lie at first thought he would r report port the find to one one of tho the railroad officials but then decided to lo wait walt until until the train bearing the girl worth mor more than m mere e diamonds had come In 14 Hardly had he reached this decision when n he lie found himself looking up Into the keen eyes cre of ulet faced men whose type he knew A cold shock went over him as one bared a small glinting thing on his vest and said quickly Were central men You had bett better l' l come with us without an any fuss or questions You were spotted shifting the case whIch we Imo know goes wIth a diamond stolen from Governor Verden's erden's house Were We're wise now you OU are re Come on L Leighton rallied his startled faculties as 88 he ro rose Gentlemen he said h hastily has has- tily you rou a are r WIl way off I am no thief mo do o I look like on one for heavens heaven's sake No Nf co but bul we can never tell teU and and with a whose rapId rapidity It dazzled Leighton a 1 h hand nd wrenched front his coat pocket the convicting case case hele the goods good the sra gray faced man said ald his eyes eu glinting Gentlemen I swear that I can ex explain cx- cx I ex-I plain this thing thing- and I must before that 7 o'clock local conies comes In Give me m a chance will you oU Leighton begged I Something In hi his e earnestness seem seemed d to Impress them for tor after a quick glance was wan exchanged one ono bY bf them led ltd the thea way a Into a room off ort the main station the other following n told the story 0 of the ap ap- of ot the case The older m man manof manof n not of ot tho two who stated that his name was Bre Breck k looked puzzled for a moment mo mo- ment mont while the other laughed aloud Leighton watched them In despair for he had realized that the tale diLl did not seem plausible Man you cant can't expect us us' to e anything like hits that J Ill I'll admit that th there re are a few fe things things' In your Jour favor fao favor your Our tact face and the fact tact that you ou took the th case CARe oui OUt oui where YOU dId hut we can n C other than ihan hold you You'll have to tn c m with us Breck said quietly with cold firmness I I simply ph cant can't go with you OU fellow said Leighton At their theW smiles mlles that sud- sud denh went he e went ent on The tact Is I 1 promised to m meet et a air here who Is more mor to m me than anything els die on mis earth If Ie J 3 tan fall to appear tall fail fall to Keep that promise promise promise-It'll It'll smash my hopes hope I J lt's Its It's no use I r must meet me t her see Ree that she li ii l escorted wherever r 1 you U wish Ish Bre Breck k sald ad sooth And what'll hallI h he tin th ot my mr absence sent absence sent of or to p p. Jail jaW if ftp It no use useS J J. J tell vo you you I must meet her Afterward J no that t wont ont work Great GreA t gods what a II bo box box- t In Im In Shell She'll never ne for tor forny ny Soy not un liTi a as al i agreed That's her wayS way a and Id I'd rather Id I'd Id I'd rather i commit murd murder r than offend h herl r rl Leighton Leighton Leigh Leigh- Leigh Leigh-I s ton said Mild grimly S Breck sharply We Vve Jabbed gabbed t enough about this You rou come com alon along I J begin to believe jI youre you're OUI n R lI Il on one I and tn ns as they make makem m en rn I IThe The Thui m man n put ut ut h his hand on rc Leightons Leighton's shoulder houlder rip growled warn warn- In ly and bared d hit his teeth at th tim man I As 8 following an old ld habit lt I I glanced e down to lb Hence him a 8 tho f i beat into hi his e brain Hc lie I stopped short There was wan a Just about I nm lm Sa Say I IC want t tt to do I Lf me ala ode white 1 turn h hll he said ald breathlessly thle I to Breck Jet m me has hv Jut Just the ca just case e Just t th the CD case f and ana my ray God If It It Ill alit ani only IU Ill I'll I send that pup pun back to he eo that I case clUe Do you ou hear hur man tar Park hack to where her hp got that case cAe Cit i It to tl me ma OI Give It to me mel mer crl d stretching out out omit a I hand that fairly hook hool with n IJ iTh Then il men len started tart d- d Then Thet Breck reck handed banded ii him f the C case cae J a word ord l wl bent over wiped Ip the perspiration that ded hI his face tac with a hasty huty brush 1 of his hand and g gave A Athe v the ca cas cu fl to JIp with the ml command Go Go hACk back Ii dC trotted to the door and wailed The Th two wo WI det udd o- o h cm keenly aJ alert rt ht out Into station taUn I S I now b be beginnIng i to flU People m nt J I from th the e suburbs th the ho short t stubby tubby lest legs nt J p e his t teeth fb tightly t the e case caBo to I him Wh When tb I T saw him going 1 they I lost l Interest Bud y n In thc Hi extent nt that tb-at u they Presed on yn ahead but nor not n o t not I ha reached him had tare lle-tare to tn nee flee But something In iii the matter ot of fatt fact man manner r In which the littin do dog went about hii Ji business that told them knew he-knew If no one ens did Just where he was was was' going an and ani what h ho Int Intended to do fo It In and out Rmon among th the long g seats hi ha wound and J Leighton know he was waa re ft re tracing hl steps exactly Leightons Leighton's Upi lips moved rM half hRIC In prayer and whispered hope hops as QI lie tiC followed on Curious eyes yes stared at him but h he paid no attention He knew what ht was at al stake he ho knew the tha price pIc ha he must pay the task he ne' would have before him In convincing convincing- m men n that h ha story was wu true trun of tho manner In ln which he had th the diamond To a corner JIp trotted and tho the detectives detective RI darted forward Hunched up In hi the th corner torner orn r. r asleep evidently c was as a II man Near by byM was M as a A. The detectives drew Leighton bd behind It II and hid ef A word ord to la the flower girl silenced bet her angry angry an an- gry STY questionS question From behind th the the- screen S of ot towers Leighton and th men watched Jl Tip JIp trot Up tip sedately and drop the caer near the f foot Ot of the sleeping man Th Then n h he h. barked d H Heaven asen I didn't Intend he should d do that Leighton gasped between his dry tips lips That what w I s want ant Breck's Brecks cut tins v said though his head did not turn In answering an and nd ho poised himself as I If tf f ff f for r action 5 At 1 Jip's bark the tho hI man started 5 up stared 5 at tho tIme dog doE and seeing seeing- the case drew back baek backas ns as 5 If It hardly believing Ing his eyes oes Hurriedly he glanced g around but the flower stand aland was wall distance from his corner and he was sheltered from the of the Thi S c L t i t I Just in time to greet a slight alight figure In fit gray stream of ot men coming and going He felt hI his trouser leg Jeg as if to lo convince himself himself him self that something was missing then he stopped and picked up the case H He lIe glanced around as he lie started away aay Only for tor a moment did L Leighton top stop to lo watch the battlo battle going on not tar fir from him In which one man was as fighting desp desperately des des- p rateb to release himself from two muscular mull mus cular figures that clung to him like leeches Leighton had other business and ho reached the gate where the IncomIng Incoming incoming ing crowd emerges just In time to greet a R slight figure In gray ray who whose e eyes eye glowed with gentle welcome S As Leighton and the only girl went Trent out outto outto outto to his car they found a crowd gathered gather about a police pollee ambulance from which sounds of ot a peculiar cull r nature still stilt emerl emerged Jj Gracious What What- Is the time matter the girl asked looking up with Ith fearful tearful eyes Nothing little very ver much They've got a a. chap In ina a tight bo box Til ru tell pu about it If Ie you ou care C. to hear |