Frank James in St. Louis OR The Mysteries of a Great City.

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1415, 28 August 1905, Page 4

Frank James in St. Louis OR The Mysteries of a Great City.

BY W. B. LAWSON.

CHAPTERVIII A SCAR ON THE FORBHEAD "Is 177 in, major?" ho asks the night olark nearest him, ,-' The latter glances at the box bearing that number -tho key is not in il. "Ibeliovoha is—Mr. Mnliory." ■ "Tb»t is thenamo. Will you aondmy card upP" ' "It is late," "I know, but it is vory important that I see him." , "You are a guest here?" 1 .' -»« Certainly." " Then the best way would be for you to t*ke tbo responsibility. Knock on his door. The transom is opon; if he has retired he will auswer." Thanks." So be ascends the stairs. It cannot be far from his own room, and ie has little trouble in finding it. A:light burns within. 'The transom is closed, but he on hear the low sound of vo'ecs beyond. . Then Julian Mallory has company, \ Never mind; the mission he bears will probably carry him into the presence of the gqntlemen. • . . „ Without waiting longer he taps, Ihe conversation ceases. 'A minute later the door opens, and ho sees More him—a man, Ar>./ oue would call Julian Mallory that he is one born to command. Description would be useless, sinco words fail to print a photograph: heloorfs much like our Stanley, of Dark Continent fame, only yoiingor. . As soon as Frank James seos him, he knows that here is a man fit to overcomo ~ the man of the orchestra chair, who seemed j .''to have such a powerful influence over tho ■' girl, "Is this Mr, Julian Mallory?" ".Yes.Bir." II This is a strange hour for a visit, but I have business of importance with yon," " Can it not wait until morning ?" "I think not?" "lam—»ther engaged just now, and ■. the hour is getting toward one," "I am tather engaged just now,,and the hour is getting toward one." " Perhaps my-business can hold over, Ton shall be the best judge of that, when I tell you that it concerns one Marguerite," ■ Well put that. Julian Mallory utters an exclamation, reaohes out bis arm aud plucks the other by the sleeve. ■ '• Ihat'name is one to conjure with hero , Come in," be says, Quickly. , ; Thoyißitor(obeye. ' One'glance around thi room fails to discover any one else present, but this is not muoh of a mystery, for a partly open door, leading, no doubt, into an adjoining room, 1 tells where the party is with whom Mai lory was engaged. Mr Mallory must be a man of moans, and this, fact confuses Frank James a little. ' At first sight of the man, he has an idoa that they have met before now, When an Iron Mountain train was stopped by a band of desperadoes headed by the James and Younger brother's, the messenger barricaded himself in his car, and fought desperately to protect the money intruded to bis oaro, 'ln the end the door was brokon open, • / . and bo fell seusoltss, a bullet striking bis forehead, . Frank James has never forgotten that . man, and that is why he believed at first '.! sight this Julian Mallory and he were identical.

been kept pretty well out of his hands thanks to a wise provision of her fathorV will." t "I suspected as much, You see I was I interested—how conl i I help it, mid began ! to speculate oil tho possibiliia I presumed that you worn her lovtr, and that this rain might hi her guaid™, Now. 1 .Mr. Mallory, you intend doin» something desporato; I can see it in your looks. J am always partial "• adyenturv, vnd if you t make use of my houl or hand let me assist, Ihavetakon un instinctive dblike to that man whilo silting back of him, and feelaereat desire to be connected with i downfall, What did you say his name i was?' " Colonel Leon Harper 1" . '! The devil!'' (7b k conlinuull

The ides seems prcpostorous—(hat mar was an express agent, who had to worl . ,■■ for a living, wliilo the one he has called upon seems to have the moans of s millionaire. "'Now tell me why you have spoken that name," _ Julian Mallory throws his (all' length into an easy ohair, and faces his visitor, Thefirst thing Prank James does is io look ai his foreLeaS, and he becomes uneasy as'his eyes detect the faint ontlinos of . a scar, j- r \ He knows what did it, A bullet from his own weapon, v Talk about fate; it seems as though he were meeting all the ghosts of his past since striking St Louis, . There is but little doubt now hut that this fine-looking man was the heroic express messenger who stood them all at bay until a bullet downed him. Since that, time fortune must havo lavished her favours abundantly upon bim. " I have something to tell you Mr Mallory," he says very quietly. Then he relates how ho sauntered into the theatre, and the manner in which the note was placed in his possession by tho girl in front. • *' Lot mo havo tho nolo, please." He devours the note, Then a look of fierce determination creeps over his face; seeing it Frank James thinks: " I would not liko this man to bo on my trail for a boot-leg of gold." In the battle to be waged betwoen Ibeso two men ho would be glad to woger all ho has on Mallory being tho winner. Finally he turns to h ; s visitor. "You have done me a great favour, sir; I thank you heartily for it." He extends bis hand, " I was inleres'ed; I followed them in a vehicle, and saw where they stopped. , '"H0.243," ! " Yes." . "Perhaps somo sort of explanation.is due you, sir. It may seem extraordinary that a young lady shoold doscond to such a means of sending a communication to me." , " I prosuuicdhor case was dosperato." "It is, indeed, The man you saw is her guardian and uncle. Ho possesses logal power over her, for she is not yot nf ago, though she looks somo year* beyond that point, !'Worse still, ho seems to control her mind so that poor Marguerite, in his presence, hardly dares to call Ler soul her own." " Monstrous!" "It is indeed. Sho comes into quite a snug little fortune when of age, and her unole intends to keep it in tho family. " He wouldn't doro marry her," " No but he has a scapc-graco son, whom ho moans shall finger her monoy that has