Part 12 (2/2)

Mr Heatherblooht a different part of the store--- a small reception-room, where custoe in ain purchases There he perused hurriedly, and by snatches, the volume; there was plenty of fire and plenty of sword in it; huht and a suppressed exclamation fell from his lips; he closed the book sharply

One or two old ladies looked at him but he did not see them His vision, clairvoyant-like, seemed to have lifted, to traverse broad seas, li to reach and clutch soot up dizzily As he stepped once ht was falling He stopped at a pawnbroker's, purchased a revolver and cartridges He ht need the weapon now more than ever And money--he needed far more of that than he had He spread in his palreenbacks he took from his pocket; counted the a ticket office, he made a few casual inquiries; a shadow rested on his countenance as he eold pieces in a bankshone lass between hian to count them, but suddenly turned from that profitless occupation and stood with his back to the

What availed resolution without dollars? His purpose iant, laid its hand on his shoulder, crushi+ng hi him there, impotent, until the stocky man and his cohorts of the private detective office should coet hiht of when crossing the bridge to Brooklyn!

He fell back into a doorway More ht over his breast To think that this should be his one great, crying need--his!

Above, he heard footsteps descending the stairway at the foot of which he stood; Mr Heatherblooe to the sidewalk and moved on Chance took him back the way he had come; he had no choice of direction Now he looked once more at theof the pawnbroker, where he had stopped a short tis, watches, flutes, old violins; what not? If he only had soo

All? He started slightly; considered; walked on But he turned around, hesitatingly, and carewthe proprietor time to come to the front of the shop, Mr Heatherbloom moved at once to the back where the other sat behind his dusty glass cases

”Here I aaiety

”What you want to buy now?”

”I don't want to buy anything; I want to sell so”

The pawnbroker's interest in the visitor at once departed

”I have everythings! Everythings!” he grumbled ”Nearly every one wants to sell I have no roo special,” said Mr Heatherbloom As he spoke he took from an inner pocket a little parcel in pink tissue-paper; he fingered it aan ivory miniature from a frame, passed the paper quickly about the picture once more, and returned it to his pocket Then he handed the frame, over the case, to the pawnbroker ”What do you think of that, my Christian friend?” he said with a show of jocularity that didn't ring quite true

The pawnbroker bent his dull face close to the article; it was gold A pretty trinket, set with a nuht have come from the Rue Royale or the Rue de la Paix

”Cost about five hundred francs,” observed Mr Heatherbloo the other closely ”One hundred dollars, without the duty”

”Where'd you get it?”

”None of your business” With a smile

The man oing to do?”

”I am curious”

”'Phone the police”

”Is that an invitation for me to depart? If so--” Mr Heatherblooold fraraceful article ”The police will find out who this belongs to”

”Tut! tut!” observed Mr Heatherblooe of the showcase pointed over it; the hand the proprietor professed to raise toward the telephone fell to his side; he seemed about to call out

”Don't!” said the visitor ”It's loaded; you saw ame is very passe; I had it worked on me once before, and placed you in your class--a fourth-rater, with a crib for loot!”

The other considered; this customer's manner was ominously quiet and easy; he didn't like it A telepathic aze above the shi+ning tube suggested an utterly frivolous indifference to tragic consequences The proprietor moved away from the telephone