"All's well, sor, but I've a bit of paper for ye." And after some
hunting he brought it forth. "I was asked to hand this to ye."
I took it in wonder. Was there something more from Detective Coogan? I
tore open the envelope and read on its inclosure:
"Kum tonite to the house. Shure if youre life is wurth savein.
"Muther Borton."
CHAPTER XIV
MOTHER BORTON'S ADVICE
I studied the note carefully, and then turned to Policeman Corson.
"When did she give you this--and where?"
"A lady?" said Corson with a grin. "Ah, Mr. Wilton, it's too sly she is
to give it to me. 'Twas a boy askin' for ye. 'Do you know him?' says
he. 'I do that,' says I. 'Where is he?' says he. 'I don't know,' says
I. 'Has 'e a room?' says he. 'He has,' says I. 'Where is it?' says he.
'What's that to you?' says I--"
"Yes, yes," I interrupted. "But where did he get the note?"
"I was just tellin' ye, sor," said the policeman amiably. "He shoves
the note at me ag'in, an' says he, 'It's important,' says he. 'Go up
there,' says I. 'Last room, top floor, right-hand side.' Before I comes
to the corner up here, he's after me ag'in. 'He's gone,' says he. 'Like
enough,' says I. 'When'll he be back?' says he. 'When the cows come
home, sonny,' says I. 'Then there'll be the divil to pay,' says he. I
pricks up my ears at this. 'Why?' says I. 'Oh, he'll be killed,' says
he, 'and I'll git the derndest lickin',' says he. 'What's up?' says I,
makin' a grab for him.
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