Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-07-04

past him into the hotel Office. But n,
news came of his missing trunks. and hi
pale face seemed 20 grow paler than ev
or.
Il shall be killed il stay here" was hi
constant prediction.
Tho nn~t morning ti,v I.,r,llo.I ,.tr.o 4,
me. He looked grave and troubled
"Doctor.' he said. "half Il dozen more o
my guests were robbed !Ast night. If TIN,
thing goes on shall be ruined. Wha-
shall do?''
could not advise him. 1t was imDose
bic 10 always escape th,tor:nncS OF thi,
kind in Il hotel situ"tc, Al tile junction o.
s@N ral great railroads. where hundreds u
guests We're coming and going every day
III is case tor Il shrcwd dgtec!iyc."
answered. and went up TO the lrn,nn-
room. This room WAS on the second
iloor. close TO the ladies' parlor. and di-
rectly across tie hall was Il very small
apartment fitted up with immovtllc desks.
lak-sianis. etc, for The accommodation OF
those who wished to write in quiet. Nv
N .
velvet carpet of tie hall. and reached the
rcading-room door unseen By two persons
whose voices heard in the apartment op.
po,itc.
''A doctor. ell z" 1t was tie Counts
voice. and il was Matthew Sparks who
answered.
"A doctor and a good feller." Matthew
sid. "tome ont here to Il fan 'ral OF an
old aunt with grcenbacks this ere place
wouldn't hold. She gave I'm I'LL to him.
and he's get nm in his pill hags--;:nd sum
dim else. too
"WIiat do you tell me lor:' asked the
Count in his queer English.
The boy shatied his feet and winkcd TO
keep time. mcanHhile iing.ing the nick.ls
il his pocket. I'VE are paid for giving
gents information in t.iis country" was
the reply.
The distinguished guest gr.nhlc, SUnlc-
!hing about robbers. his trunks and lew
clS. ;:ni then tossed the Young clown 4
coin.
I d>ii&ed Matthew Sparks ti.cn more
than had before. All he had toll tie
Count about my Visit to that place was Ut
telly false. had been to no funeral, and
| never had an auat in that part ct the
countrI. never lad carried ''piIl bag"
not did ever carry greenbacks in my va
lise, nor very many in NY pocket
The m:so.sl4ie iIiotL What did he ,-.nnt
To lie Ike that for@' muSed.
And then | turned 70 ny paper and
thought no more ajout It.
That evening when | went up to my
room what was my salpr.se when IN
locked the door and entered IL Sc Nat-
fhcW SPARKS sitting uneoneerrcIl. "a ,Ec
ioor in tie middle of TIE chamber wllh
NY yalisa between bis knees and III his
lani 2 curious looking Implement OF steel. I,
With significant gr:svi:.. lie pat his fr.ger
pn his lip ant' motioncu for ne to Lock Tx.
loor. ! did 50.
~" tel me ] said, s.crpiy, "w.ly
re you in here, and what are You do
ng:"
You'll be mad, mist er,'' he answered.
ludaciously.
III You do NOT tel me directly | will
,end for the p",lce and have you locked
lp. Matthew
Nv hcw y re whistled softly. still wear
ng tila plovol.in@ly grave expression that
sa"t for once was not assumed. DO
, Oh Hnow what this be- He held up
lat queer thing of rusty steel.
"WeIl. its Il steel trap" he went on.
" on iist let me fix this ere thing in your
pill bag. and when that ar thief comes to
get the greenbacks tonight it will hold
him tight. See He opened the sharp
teeth of the steel jaw and suggested to
illustrate his proposed experiment if |
would put my hand inside. | declined The
offer Of this voluntary detective, and Won
!ered if he were fool. knave. or Il very cum
ming and keen-witted Yankee boy.
What makes you thinl, the thief will
come in here to-nght:'' asked him.
"Well. you see, told ieller you had
lots of money and Other things in ere"
And you knew did not.
IL reckon.". he returned with a grin
'.well fix your thief-tap."
| said, Il only hope you may catch
him.
And lie did fix it in way could not
and cannot explain and then
he turned to me for what. as he had in
formed the count, gents always give tor
| gave it cheerfully You shall have
more than that. Matthew" said. Iii you
trap the thief"
Il told him-thc feller, you know-that
you would be out to tie theatre tonight
ne said.
'.You did? For WHAT - EYE.
80 you could wait in the closet here
and watch him." answered Matthew, jing-
linz his coin, appealingly.
And Matthew got another ten cents.
Il shall act on the BOYS suggestion,"
thought to myself. There may be some
hing i'll his suspicious, and his absurd
plan may not be so bad after ALL So |
turned the gas very low. prepared every
ding caretully. and made myself comfort
,ble in my hiding place. had not long to
yait-not more than an hour-when fan
led that my room had an occupant. Can
iously peered through the crack | bad
eft as closed the closet door, and l dis (
inctly saw dark form between me and
he sasIght. Still. tor Il moment, fan
lied | might be the dupe of one OF Mat
hew Sparks practical jokes. but rs the in I
ruder bent over the valise, | saw from his /
movements that he meant robbery and
nothing else. Breathlessly | waited for
he result Of Matthew's stratagein. The
my key clicked in tue small locks. The
nan thrust in his hand. There Was a snap
If steel, the crunching of flesh and bone.
md then full, round curse in unmistaka- !
de English, followed by long drawn
gasp of pain. sprang into the room and
~, tI,a h,i.rl. Eorhs