if' SSi PRESS *v' '*V have known for years. I told you before what was below, scarcely distinguish 1138, of course, is reiaily nonbusiness of no other purpose but to deceive me. affair. "When I leftFairlawn after he was once lit my father's employ. came as the only glimmer of light mine, and the' only thing that has involved If I ever had any doubt of a crime, your dismissal, 1 had no thought of Now he Is a private detective, a the from far-distant street lamp at me is the (|eep Interest I hfcve It has vanished sin« this Interview." ever seeing you again. I have already and was employed on my. case, before The Case end of an alley, the faint rays creeping "What crime?" "1 felt in you.'%r. told yon the interest I had felt In you I advertised for you. I thought then In through holes in the fence. Yet "In me! Why that is rattier Inter* "Murder the killing of Percival up to that time, butyour abruptness he was not accomplishing anything, one black shadow seemed to promise estlng. It was to, serve me you came Coolldge. Is that plain enough, Hobart? during our last interview left me but at our Interview .Sunday, all was the sloping roof of a shed directly below I want you to understand. I herer •. angry, and with no Inclination to seek cleared up." but even with that1 to break his am fighting this case from now on In "At least I thought so. Shall I make your presence again. You can scarcely 'In the presence of Percival Coolldge?" j*'"' '-and v^"ii foil, It was a desperate leap. the open It is going to be man to it more definite? No doubt you are blame me for: such a feeling?" The Girl He stared Into those uncertain man." "V aware that you are an unusually pretty "No," she confessed. "I—I was so "Yes he was glyen a week In which depths, endeavoring to measure the "What the h—1 do you mean, you woman. Well, at least, I think so £or excited and nervous I was not very to straighten matters. That is why distance, deceived by the shifting cur?" one, and our first meeting, with its subsequent nice." he killed himself." shadows, afraid of what lay hidden C-- "Fll tell you," went on West coldly, adventures, was romantic -r "You certainly hurt mef I departed "But why Is it necessary for you below. For the moment he forgot all determined now to so anger the fellow enough to shake me out of a commonplace with a sense of wrong rankling, and no to meet Hobart in a place like this— .••.-• '." a* that was behind him, his whole mind -. as to bring the whole matter to a existence. In fact, I became desire to come back. But fate intervened. a veritable thieves' den?" concentrated on the perils of so mad vi u/ climax, reckless of the consequences. quite deeply interested in you." You know, perhaps, that I overheard She shrugged her shoulders, releasing a leap into the dark. The awakening "I charge you with murder. I havent "Why, really,"Captain," she interrupted, By Randall Parrish the sho£ which ended the life of his hand. came suddenly, the chair jerked from the proof, but ni get It I do not slightly puzzled. "I perhaps do Percival Coolldge, and I was the first to •'He has not completed his work, beneath his feet, his body hurled know the object, but I'll find out." not fully comprehend to what you refer. and does not think it best for us to discover his dead body. I supposed it a %u 1/ backward. He fell, gripping at the "You fool 1 You'll never get away Do you mean there wps something be seen together. I know him so well case of spiclde, and so bore witness at window seat, so that he was flung from here." between us? S6me special intimacy?" I am not at all afraid, even-here. Is the inquest. The whole matter would against the support of a side wall, "I am a soldier, and am taking a "Oh, no not that probably that all. Captain West?' .have ended there but the next day able to retain his feet, but not to wholly soldier's chance. Now listen. I feel dream of what Was occurring in your "It seems to explain everything," he you discharged Sexton also, and the ward off a vicious blow, which left no particular interest in the death of mind. Yet the circumstances of our admitted, yet far from satisfied. OoBcrricht BB2 by AUrad A. Knopf, la*. man sought me out at the cl!b." him staggering. Half blinded. West Percival Coolldge. In my judgment meeting were peculiar they rendered "And you will drop the whole affair?" SYNOPSIS She leaned forward, her lips leaped forward to grapple with the the world Is just as well off with him she asked anxiously. parted, a new light in her eyes, assailant, but was too late. Hobart dead as alive. But what this means "If I say yes—what?" CHAPTER i.—Answering an advertisement very brief acquaintance Into what rushed back out of reach of his arms, to Natalie Coolidge is another matter calling for a young man willing "He told you something? He mad* promised to become a real friendship." and rapped sharply on the door panel. to engage in service of danger, Matthew Ton will be released from here, of entirely." you suspicious?" she asked breathless* West, ex-service man Just returned from "How do you mean?" It opened instantly, and big Mike, course, and the whole misunderstanding Wrance, where he had been captain of iy. "Surely you cannot have forgotten "She told you—* closely followed by another man, engineers, meets Natalie Coolldge, writer forgotten." "He caused me to see ijhe affair from •f the advertisement, and without being so soon," he explained in surprise at "Yes, she told me—a lie. That is pushed forward into the room. West "And otherwise?" Instructed as to his probable duties, a somewhat different point of view—a Is her attitude, seating himself once more was trapped, helpless one man pitted what hurts what makes me ready to engaged by her, and that., same evening "I have no means of knowing what point of View which, I confess, revived Introduced to her friends as her fiance. and facing her determinedly. "I came take any chance to put you where you against three. He backed slowly away, the men intend to do. They will accept my interest in you I began to believe to you in response to a strange advertisement belong. You have lied to her, deceived brushed back 'the disheveled hair from your pledge, I am sure." CHAPTER n.—That night. In the Coolldge you had been deceived, and your treatment her, made her your accomplice in his eyes, watching them warily, home. West Is startled by the appearance youtrusted me so completely "Possibly, but I am not so sure I his of a young woman, of me arose through a misunderstanding In room as to introduce me to your friends as crime. I'm fighting for a woman, because every animal instinct alert. will consent to give such a pledge." whom he takes to be Natalie, but who I thought you a victim, and Mike took one comprehensive glance escapes he can be sure. Next your fiance, and later confided to me she has got no one else to fight before "Then you do not accept my word |i that I would be a cad if I failed to morning Natalie tells West she has been \f *A' for her." at ]the scene, at the overturned chair, the special trouble you were in. I do not believe what I have told you?" troubled woman, apparently her by some stand by you. We put this and that "Oh, I see In love, hey—with her, the half-open window, the trapped double, Impersonating her. pledged you my assistance, and it was who has been "Not tha$ exactly, Miss Natalie together,, carried out some investigations or her money?" man crouching motionless against surely very natural that, under these I could have faith in your word, except CHAPTER III.—Percival Coolldge, Natalie's quietly, and arrived at a definite "With neither, so far as I know," the further wall. The meaning of it circumstances, I as a yotfng man, that I believe you to be mistaken, uncle and guardian, apparently conclusion." frankly. "She is a woman helpless In all was plain, and his bar-room training Is disgruntled by West's appearance as should have become rather deeply interested—" deceived. Hobart is not square he is Natalie's fiance, and the feeling of antagonism "What investigations?" your hands that Is sufficient." gave quick insight as to the part using you for his own ends. Under Is mutual. Natalie, Coolldge, and "In the field where the body was he was to play. He spoke gruffly out "But, h—1, she hasn't any use for West plan a visit of charity to a poor and "In both the case and the girl." these conditions, I would be a coward remote section of the city. found first," West went on steadily, into the dark of the hall behind him, you—didn't she tell you so?" "Yes so much so, indeed, that even to give such a promise, and leave you but no longer, looking at her, "tracing "Quite plainly—yes. But that is no an order to some one concealed there when I was rather harshly dismissed, CHAPTER IV.—Leaving West in the helpless in this man's power." a the different tracks through the clover. car, Natalie and Coolldge enter small excuse for any man to play the then shut the door tightly, and faced I could not accept It without a protest. "You intend then to refuse?' cottage, remaining a length of time which Then I looked up that cottage in Arch coward. I am not afraid of you, Hobart, West, his head lowered like a bull I had grown to feel that this was not causes him some uneasiness. Before they "I do I'll fight it out." street, and thus learned about Hobart. or your gang. You got me before about to charge. West understood return. West secures Information whlcn a mere business arrangement between She stared at him, scarcely believing leads him to believe Coolldge Is deceiving Somehow he seemed to fit into the picture, by treachery I was not looking he was locked in to fight it out—three us. Do you understand now?" her own ears, her lips parted, a Natalie, and has ulterior motives. and your mysterious visit there for trouble. But now I am. I am going against one. Hobart was nearest "I can see it from your standpoint. look of angry fright in her eyes. CHAPTER V.—On the party's return to made me anxious to interview the man. through that door, and if you try to him, his face swollen and red, his But nevertheless, I am surprised, Captain "Yon area fool. Captain West," she the Coolldge home, Natalie Informs West He had left no address, however, just to stop me you are going to get hurt." eyes ugly slits, with feeth snarling between West You—you mean you actually •he has been mistaken In her suspicions burst forth at last, unable to hold faded out of sight Suddenly, which increased concerning her "double," and that she thin lips. The fellow laughed fell in love with me?" The fellow grinned, one hand thrust has no further need for his services. suspicion. Then, when we' .sneeringly, as their glances met. into the outer pocket of his coat, his "I felt a very, very deep Interest in West is astounded, but helpless. He leaves. were completely baffled, Sexton learned "Now we'll take care of you, Captain," eyes narrowed into ugly slits. you," he admitted gravely, "a greater CHAPTER VI.—On his way out of the about your conversation over the telephone." "You think so! Yoii haven't a he taunted. "Never mind his Interest than I have ever felt in any grounds, West hears a revolver shot, and guns, Mike there's not a load in weapon on you, West, and if you take Investigates. He finds Percival Coolldge other woman. That is my sole excuse dead, apparently a suicide. The inquest "How? Was he at the house?" a step, I'll put you out of commission. either of them. Give the guy what he for becoming Involved in your affairs. so determines. In the city West Is visited "Yes he went'out at my suggestion." I know how to handle your kind, you is looking for. Come on, you terriers 1" by Sexton, an old servant of the Coolldges. I could not bear to see you make a Sexton tells him he has been abruptly "And heard me repeat this number?" big bluffer. What I want to know is But West did not wait. There was mistake it might be in my pofter to dismissed, for no apparent reason. "It makes no difference how he got what you have got in your head, for, only one chance, and he took It—to He gives it as his belief that Coolldge prevent." & was murdered, and about convinces West the information we knew you were believe me, I don't take any stock in carry the fighting to them. He had no "What mistake?" he is right. coming here this afternoon, and doubt of the emptiness of his guns, this woman stuff. Are you after a "Well, first of all, trusting in this Jumped at the conclusion that yon slice of old Coolidge's boodle? There's 'and hurled one straight at Hobart's CHAPTER VII.—Sexton has overheard man Hobart." a telephone conversation in the Coolidge were going to meet Hobart for some enough of it for all hands to have a head, leaping forward with the other She laughed, her eyes glancing up home, in which a man demands Natalie's reason." dip. How does that hit you?" clutched in his hand straight at Mike, presence immediately. He gives an address, quickly Into his face. and with Sexton, West, his suspicions "Very bright, I am sure," and there who had scarcely time to fling up one "Sounds interesting, at least," admitted "And, why not, please? Remember of things not being right strengthened was a tone of relief in her voice. "And West, so earnestly as to attract hand In defense. The thrown weapon by his learning that Coolldge had your confession I may think this only lied about the reason for the trip to the that is your whole story, I suppose? missed its mark by a narrow inch, the other's attention. "But let's Jealousy." cottage, visits the place. It Is a disreputable What does it amount to?" talk It over among ourselves—who Is striking the wall behind, and falling saloon. "You are not so silly as that," "Not very rfiuch, perhaps." listening there?' clattering to the floor, but the other earnestly. "Moreover, I may as well be CHAPTER VIII.—West is taken by surprise, Hobart glanced behind at the nearly broke through the big saloonkeeper's "And the two of you came out here knocked out, separated from Sexton, perfectly frank. I did confess an interest guard, and sent him reeling to his seeking to learn my business, to pry closed door. It was for only a second and comes to his senses to fbid himself in you, and in a measure, I still bound and helpless, and confronted into my personal affairs. That was he was off guard, yet that was enough. knees, a gush of blood reddening his feel eager to serve you in every possible toy a man named Hobart, whom West With one leap forward, West struck, hair., Again and again West struck not a very gentlemanly act, Captain knows to be the man who had rented the way but you have changed so house which Natalie visited. The man him, driving him prone to the floor West, and I hardly see how you can his clenched fist smashing against the greatly, Miss Natalie, that my confidence tells him he (West) is interfering with side of the fellow's jaw. It was a before the other two dragged him justify yourself." his plans and if he persists will be done In you has been severely tried." away with. West refuses any compromise. wicked, vicious blow, with all the propelling away, wrestled the weapon from his "I had two purposes." he insisted, "You no longer believe?" Hobart sends for Natalie, hoping force of the body behind It, hand, and closed with him in a desperate "either of which justify. I felt it a «he can induce West to give up his quest. "I hardly know I fail utterly to understand death grapple. duty to locate this man Hobart and and Hobart went down stunned, you of late you seem an entirely crashing the door tightly shut as he What followed he never could relate. also to warn you of the danger you different girl. For one thing, you CHAPTER IX fell. Once he strove blindly to reach He was mad with fury to fight. were In." have deliberately deceived me." A mere animal defending life with "Warn me!" she laughed scornfully. his feet, tugging madly at the weapon "Indeed! in what?" West Makes His Choice. every means at hand, caring nothing in his pocket, but West, feeling no "That is ridiculous enough surely. I "In your visit to Arch street with The girl neither answered, nor hesitated, mercy, and wide awake to the fact for either wound or hurt so that he have a perfectly good reason for being Percival Coolldge. That was no mission but crossed the room swiftly, won out in the end. Mike was out of that any shooting would mean a call here, but I am not accountable to you of charity to a poor widow and her hands seeking the lashings about "Now Look Out." it, but the two grappling him fought for help, struck again, sending his in any way for my movements. A duty children." his wrists. Her movement thrilled him, groggy opponent flat, and unconscious. like wildcats, rough bar-room fighters, you say—a duty to locate this man? A back the words. "I have done my best "What then?" and his blood leaped at t|ie soft touch resorting to any tactics t5 disable It was all the swift work of a minute, duty to whom?" for you, and you spurn that. Now look of her fingers. "An arranged conference with this their opponent. Yet it was this that "To the state, if no one else," he janswered and there had been no noise to out." fellow Hobart. He rented that cottage "Really, I did not realize you were saved him. Crazed as he was, madly arouse alarm. Hobart had not even gravely. "Percival Coolldge did She stepped backward, still fronting for no other purpose, and left it the tied into the chair," she exclaimed indignantly. cried out the only audible sounds as his brain whirled in the fieree not commit suicide he was murdered." him, and, with hand behind her, next day. You made a mistake when "Hobart Is a fool to do being the sharp click of the door, and struggle, his long training held supreme—he "Murdered!" she came to her feet rapped sharply on the panel of the you took me along." the dull thud of a falling body. knew how to fight, remembered with utterance of the word. "You cannot door. She straightened up slightly in the West emptied the man's pockets, instinctively every trick and think that!" The change In the girl was so pronounced, chair, yet spoke rather indifferently, guards Again and again his clenched slipping two revolvers Into his own "I know it, Miss Natalie the evidence her action so impetuous, as her voice cold. fist reached Its mark, and slowly he is beyond question he was murdered to leave West startled and silent. The then stood for an Instant motionless, "No doubt I did," she said tersely. bfoke away from clutching hands, and in, cold blood." thought came to him instantly that staring down into the white upturned "Indeed I have already discovered, regained his feet. It was a terrific "But by whom? For what purpose?" she was not the innocent victim he face. He had followed the impulse of Captain West, that I made an even struggle, but luck, as well as skill, "These points are not yet determined had supposed. Her words and movements the moment had struck savagely greater mistake when I first took you was out with him. The next he knew, I am only sure of the crime." expressed disappointment, rather knowing it was his only chance. Thus into my service. You have proven altogether of the red Hobart ruck, was that he had "Yes, but—but you suspect Jim Hobart. than regret. She was angry at his far he had done well but what next? too inquisitive. Now I will be by the throat, jammed against Isn't that true? You came here choice, ready to withdraw from him He was conscious of but one thought, plain with you. Whatever need I once the wall, with fingers clenched in the all sympathy, all assistance. Her plea seeking him—yes, and me. You even one purpose—to escape from this supposed I had for your services ended throat. Then he saw the other coming, think I know how this death occurred. had failed, and the woman had become house, unpledged and still free to act. with the explanation I'.received in that he a dim, shapeless thing, that a tigress. Then she must have You—you connect it with my fortune." Yet how could this be accomplished? Arch street cottage. I told you so very kicked at viciously. The boot must been endeavoring to deceive him as "No, Miss Natalie," he protested He had no plan, no knowledge even distinctly after our return home. You have landed, for he was suddenly free deeply Interested as-these others—in stoutly, moved by her agitation. "The of his surroundings, of what lay beyond recall that interview, no doubt?" to strike the purple face fronting him, cause is a mystery, and who did It getting him safely off the trail of this the walls of this room. His eyes He bowed, waiting for her to go on. and fling In the helpless rocking body crime. It was a hard lesson, one that equally mysterious. The, evidence thus swept the bare interior, seeing nothing "You were then and there dismissed a huddled mass on the floor. instantly turned all his theories upside far unearthed is ali circumstantial." to inspire hope. Hobart had said from my service. That should have It was over with he had won "Then why did you come out here down, but the truth came to him this room was practically a prison, been sufficient. I knew nothing of your breathing space, a chance to see what with blinding, sickening force—she searching for Hobart?" and it looked It—the walls bare, and silly feeling of personal Interest in was about him. Yet that was all. The "Because of his strange meeting with was as guilty as Hobart they were unbroken, and a rough single cot. All me nor did I realize any occasion for fellow he had kicked was already up, Percival .Coolidge the very day of his both working to the same end, endeavoring possibility of egress lay In the closed discussing with you the reasons causing doubled from the pain of the blow, to get him safely out of the death because his sudden disappearance door, and a narrow window high up me to change my plans. You were but with mad eyes glaring at him. Hobart way. They would accomplish this furnished the only clue." In the opposite wall, also tightly shut, my employee, %nd I discharged you had struggled to his knees, cursing with lies if possible, If not then with "And that is all, the knowledge you and shaded by a heavy curtain. that was all. It is true Percival fiercely as he swept the blood out force. It was for no other purpose he i.ossess, absolutely all?" His hand tried the door cautiously Coolidge took me to that cottage to of his eyes. They would both be on had been granted this interview alone "Yes I am no m6re than groping in the knob turned easily enough, but have certain mysterious things explained, him again in a minute, more desperate —In the hope that he might thus be the dark. My main object in coming there was no yielding to his pressure. and they' were explained to tjian ever, and the door was locked deceived by her. Now he saw through was to put you on your guard." The lock was evidently on the outside, my complete satisfaction." —there was no chance there. The the trick. "You have repeated these suspicions and he could discover no keyhole, "By Hobart?" window! Ay! there was the window. These thoughts swept West's brain To no one else? The police?" no possibility of operating it "Yes." D^ath either way, yet a chance and -n in a sudden flash of revelation, but he "To no one. Only Sexton and I have from within. Then besides in all "You, knew the fellow before?" he was man enough to take it. He had ncr chance to act, to denounce even talked the matter over. We are probability, a guard would be posted She hesitated slightly, although leaped on the chair, and clambered "Hobart Is a Fool to Do Such a Thing." her, to make a single movement, before both too loyal to you to ever say a outside in the ball, waiting for some there was no perceptible change in the up he heard Hobart swear, and felt the door,opened swiftly, and Hobart word which might be to your injury."1 signal from Hobart. West glanced answering voice. such a thing. Why, what has caused the grip of a hand on his dangling slipped eagerly into the room. She suddenly held out her hand, and again at the recumbent figure, bending "For several years he was in him to become so frightened? Tell me, leg kicking himself free, and was on The first glance the fellow had of the he took it, conscious of the firm clasp over to make sure of his condition, my father's employ the—the whole Captain West, how all this occurred?" the ledge. He never looked below, or prisoner, standing erect and unbound, then, gripping a chair, silentU of her fingers. trouble originated In a joke, and—and "You know nothing?'* took time to poise for the leap. Heedless. must have deceived him into believing "I thank you, Captain West," she crossed the room. was quite amusing, once I understood. "Only what has been said since I desperate, scarcely realizing what the girl had succeeded in her quest. said sincerely, "and believe your purpose There was not a minute to lose. He Of course, after that, I had no further entered the room. Mike simply told he was doing, he flung} his body out "So you've set him free," he exclaimed. was honorable. You have told me knew that he must choose quickly need for you. Why did you persist In me they had a man here who Hobart over the edge, and fell. "The fellow has come to his frankly all you suspect, and doubtless whatever course he pursued. Any lnstand annoying me?" thought was a detective, and he wanted senses, has he?" (To be Continued) you have reasons. You have simply Hobart might recover consciousness West hesitated an instant, his mind me to .come in a momept. I came, and "No, he has not," she snapped with and gain assistance by a rap it made a mistake, that is all. Percival mm struggling with the situation. Was she fouhd you. Now, please, what does It temper darkening her eyes. "I was Coolldge was not murdered he klllefd on the door indeed his confederates How Not to Take Cold honest, truthful,, in this statement? *11 mean?" not afraid of him, so I let him loose, without might not wait for the signal. himself because he had muddied my Some persons are subject to frequent jir— Could he say anything which would She slipped back to her seat again, but he's made me no promise. Now It The silence within, the length of time, affairs, and knew he was about to be colds, while others seldom, if ever, change her viewpoint? She must have lier eyes on his face, as he arose and 18 up to you I'm done." discovered. You have got upon a might arouse suspicion. The only have a cold. You will find that the been deceived by these men, yet how stretched his limbs to restore circulation. She slipped out through the opening, chance lay in immediate action. Standing wrong trail. Will you accept my word could he. expose them so she would latter take good care of themselves. To.his quick glance her face expressed and Hobart leaned against the on the chair West found the window for this, and drop the whole matter comprehend? He was so little certain only sympathy, and Innocent They take a shower or cold sponge door, pushing it shut behind her, his had been securely nailed into here?" of the facts himself, that he had nothing interest. Any doubt he may have felt scowling eyes watching West intently. bath every day in a warm, room, avoid place, but this had been done so long i. West was almost convinced, but not but suspicion to offer. as to the sincerity of the girl vanished overheated rooms, sleep with a window ago, it was quite possible for him to quite the explanation had not been "Why do you not answer. Captain instantly whatever of crime was concealed "So. that Is how it stands, is it, my work the nails loose, yet It required open or partly open, avoid ^xcesses, sufficiently explicit.' v.1 "^1 West?" here, she had no suspicion.'He man?' he growled threateningly. "You all his strength to press up the "This man Hobart—who Is he? What overeating, becoming overheated cotild tell hef the whole story without The girl's eyes were clear, Insistent, even refuse to accept the word of the warped sash sufficiently far to enable connection does he have with your affairs?" and then chilled and getting a little amused they somehow aroused fear. lady, do you?" a hlti) to gain view outside. It was the feet wet. Then, when they feel his determination. -:..['t, 'Til try and explain, Miss Natalie," "Those are very nearly the facts," She hesitated slightly, yet her .eyes the first indication of a cold, they take "I will endeavor to makeyou understand, not encouraging. Evidently he was he began rather lamely, "although per* West replied steadily. "Then I told did not fall, or her apparent cordiality Miss Natalie," he explained Chamberlain's Cough Remedy without hn,)s, you may not' wholly understand her I thought she must be mistaken upon the third floor, at the rear of the change. slowly. "I would not have you feel that a ti'.v.tMofiyes,r-h|ch have prompted me. building, looking down Into cluttarffiro delay and it is soon over. On sale at now believe she was^, sent here for "Mr. Hobart," she explained -I I jteUbegg&ly pushed myself into |hts frgcfc 2B£& £iB ftYCT .Cpujd S. N. Rubin's. .. A ..