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Show I 1 ; ::n:: as:ilt;y valcott c ., : , 17 r.'.i3:::rra : -.7. "Any s'-ns?" w l.i.--.-re1 Dick v. ix mwi .went 1 , -'airs aciops the s'reet. l.very one cf them did the p.illor-drnnlc p.illor-drnnlc act." .'Mire they weren't s!lirs?" "Well, hi'ii fix roves fops tip the Fame Stairs try in the Fan:o (101 -e, all lnsiila of ten minuie, 1 a n.iit to my sus picions. Ami Imrt v Meeker ain't been to pea yet thet I know s on." . "Darby Meeker!" exclaimed Ploky in whlxper. And be drew a whitulo under his breath. "What do you think of that, S llton. I had no idea that he was back from that wild goose chase you sent him on." "It looks bad," I admitted cautiously. "I dare say he isn't tn rood temper." "You'll have to settle with him for that piece, of business." said Dicky with a chuckle. , 1 failed to see the amuslnfr eide of the prospect. I wished I knew what Mr. Meeker looked 'like. , The ituard had melted away-' into the darkness without another word, and we hurried forward with due caution. Just past the next corner was a lighted room, and-the sound of voices broke the quiet. A triangular glass lantern projected, from above the door, and such of the paint as had weathered away made the announcement: announce-ment: "Borton's. Meals, liquors.' lodgings." We pushed open the door and walked in. The room was large and dingy, the celling cell-ing low. Tables were scattered about the sanded floor. A bar took, up the side of the room next the entrance, and a general gen-eral air of disreputabllity filled the place. The only attempts at rnament. unless the arrangement of various colored bottles bot-tles behind the bar. came under that head, were the circles and festoons of dirty cut paper hanging from the celling. (To Be -Continued.) c . vi. : ' t Et r:.'::i's. 1 : j i a I ' ''l. Co ' rt ? bl (-"I'tl .1. . 1 - : .1 i - iO bn r r 01 C ..1 y 1 -t f ir f-oin t:.e If- - rt l tl.e busl-iri'-t. It pi nn t s.-..-ond f..Mjr, 1 one in low cioti. I to t:. rear. I - 1 a !,- ..ate 1. i-cnt cf back i ir v. h.s, and ri- fiy nairways. 1 ' r had a worn carpet, and there a o k, a few chairs and a shelf of v 1'H,. The rlace looked as though 1 1 I telonced to a lawyer in reduced ini-(.a, and J could but wonder 1 11 in 1 come Into the possession of 1- ' irnHip, and what had become f 1 1 rrner occi'rnf. It- it- thrust aside a spirit of mel- i 1 -. and looked narrowly to the op-n op-n cTer i by the room for attack r. I 1. "rise. The walls were solidly 1 11 t. The window casement showed an il flppth for a building of that 'it. The wall had been put in to with-n with-n earthquake shock.' The door ernrir into the hall, the door into room In. ni the window furnished the three svfn,,Pt ef possible attack or retreat. The win , w upon examination appeared im- lc,t.e. There was a sheer drop of twenty feet, without a projection of any Mn 1 l i low it. The ledge was hardly an Imli wide. The iron shutters by which it ml-ht be closed did not swing within tn feet of sny other window. The one chance of getting in by this line was to drio a rope ladder from the roof. The Mlo.-r r-i enlng Into room l&was not heavy, an I the lock, was a cheap affair. A good kh it would send the whole thing into splinters. As It swung Into No. 18 and not Into my room it could be braced with a barricade. Plainly it was not a good place to spend the night should Doddridge Dod-dridge Knapp care to engineer another case of mysterious disappearance. The depression of spirits that progressed pro-gressed with my survey of the room deepened Into gloom as I flung myself Into In-to the arm chair before . the desk, and tried to plan some way out of the tangle in wl.ich I was Involved. How was I, slnRle-handed. to conten . against the power of the richest man in the city, and bring home to him the murder of Henry Wilton? I could look for no assistance from the police. Tha words of Detective Oooyan ere- enough to show that only Ihe most convincing proof of guilt, backed by fear of publlo sentiment, could bring the department to raise a finger against I mi. And how could I hope to rouse that bile ntlment? What would my word nt against that of the king of the et? Vhcre was the motive for the crime? itil that was made clear I could not hope to piece together the scraps qt avi-dence' avi-dence' into a solid structure of proof. And what motive could there be that would reconcile the Doddridge Knapp who sought the life of Henry Wilton, with the. Doddridge Knapp of this morning, who was ready to engage him in his confidential con-fidential business And had I the right to accept any part In his business? It had the flavor of treachery about It; yet It ' seemed the only possible chance to coma upon the secret springs of his acts, to come In touch with the tools and accom- r'lces In his crime. And the unknown mission, that had brought Henry to his death? How was I to play his part In that? And even if I could take his place, how was I to serve the mysterious -employer and- Doddridge Knapp at the same .time, when Doddridge Knapp waa-ready to murder me to gain the unknown's secret. se-cret. Fatigue and loss of sleep deepened the dejection of mind that oppressed me with thesfv Insistent questions, and as I vainly Ktruggted against It, carried me at last into oblivion of dreamless slumber. 'The next I knew I was awaking to the ' sound of breaking glass. It waa dark but for a feeble light that came from the window. Every bone in my body ached , from the cramped position In which I had slept, and It seemed an age before I could rouse myself to act. It was, however, but a second before I was on my feet, revolver In hand, with the desk between me and a possible assailant. " . Silence, threatening,- 'oppressive, surrounded sur-rounded me as I stood listening, watching, watch-ing, for the next move. Then I heard a low chuckle, aa -of some one struggling to restrain his laughter; and so far from sympathizing with his mirth, I was tempted to try the effect of a shot as an assistance in suppressing It. "I thought the transom was open," said a low voice, which still seemed to be struggling with suppressed laughter. "I guess it woke him up," said another and harsher voice. "I heard a noise in there." . "You're certain he's there?" asked, the flrt voice with another chuckle. . "Sure, Dicky. I saw him go In, and t Tvrter and I have taken- turns on, watch "r since." ''iMell, It's time he came out," said . icky. "He can't be asleep after that racket. Say I" he called, "Harry! What's the matter with youT If you're dead let us know." They appeared friendly, but I hesitated In framing an answer. . "We'll have to break down the door.T ruess," - said Dicky. "Something must have happened." And a resounding kick shook the panel. "Hold on!" I cried. "What's wanted V "Oh," said Dicky sarcastically. "You've Come to life again, have you?" "Well, I'm not dead yet." "Then strike a light and let us tn. And take a look at that reminder you'll find wrapped around the rock I heaved through the transom. I thought It was open." And Dicky went off Into another series of chuckles In appreciation of his mistake. "All right," I said.. I was not entirely trustful, and after I had lighted the gas Jrt I picked up the stone that lay among the fragments of glass, and unwrapped the paper. The sheet bore only the words: "At Borton's. at midnight Richmond." ' This was the name of the agent of the Unknown, who had Sent the other rote. Dicky and his . companion must then be protectors Instead of enemies. I ) HKtened to unlock the door, and In WHikod my two visitors. The first was a young man. tall, well t-iaile, with a shrewd, good-humored "untenance, and a ready, confident air 1 out him. I had no trouble in picking 1 m out as the amused' Dicky. The other v xs a black-bearded giant, who followed ' hioM tiy in the wake of the younger man. "You've led me a pretty chase," said I u ly. "If It hadn't been for Pork Chops l re, I shouldn't have found yqu. till the i , finn home." v v "Well, what's up now?" I asked. ".hy, you ought t Know," said I , ) v with evident surprise. "But you'd 1 ti, r be hurrying down to Borton's. The 1 ' ( must bo there by now." I i.mid only wonder who Borton might . 1 11. 1 where his place was, and what , n-t ion he might have with the mys-. mys-. v , hh Dick took m by the arm and 1 me out Into the darkness. The : ...lit air served to nerve me Instead , ;.iei.s my spirits, as the garrulous unconsciously guided me to the a place. Joyously narrating some r adventure of the day, while the n-talner s'alked in silence behind. !i near the foot of Jackson street, t'rt smell of II1k water and the f t e sewers grew stronger, and the , ' vcf.els could Jimt be seen In the "Uiincl annliiKt the sky, Dicky t : peJ and drew me Into a I'.ir retainer dinnrpeared at i -aant, and the street was ap-t ap-t rtej. Then out of the nlht 1 - of a man approached uh r- teen." cronled Dicky.' n a vim hie start. ' ve," he croaked in return. I f |