Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-16

strument with his fierce black eyes, and
the people who passed ,constantly to and
fro past him into the hotel Office.
But no news came of his missing
trunks. and his pale face seemed to grow
paler than ever.
Il shall be killed if / stay here" was
his constant prediction.
The next morning the landlord came to
to me. He looked grave and troubled.
doctor he said, IA half dozen more
of my guests, were robbed last night. 1t
this thing goes on l shall be ruined.
What shall do2'
could not advise him. It was inn
J possible to always escape misfo-tunes of
this kind in hotel situated at the juno
ton Of several great railroads, where
hundreds OF guests were coming and 60
ing every day.
1T is case for a shrewd detective"
l answered, and went up to the residing
70 m.
This room was on the second floor,
close to the ladies' parlor, and directly
across the hall was very small apart
mcnt fitted up with immovable desks,
inkstands, etc, for the accommodation of
I
My footsteps made no sound on the
thick velvet carpet of the hall, aud
reached the reading-room door unseen by
two persons whose voices heard in the
apartment opposite.
"A doctor, eh?" it was the counts
tones, and it was Matthew Sparks who
answered.
"a doctor and good fcller," Matthew
said "Come out here to fun raj of an
old amt with greenbac this ere place
wouldn't hold. She give 'um all to him,
and he's got ''um in his pill bags and
suthin' else, too.'
"What do you tell me for?' asked the
count in his queer English.
The boy shuffled his feet and winked
to keep time.
1--WE are paid for given gents informa-
ton in this country" was the reply.
The distinguished guest grumblcd
something about roboers," murder
his trunk 2 and Jewels" and then tossed
the young clown a coin.
| disliked Matthew Sparks then more
than had before. All he had told the
count about my visit to that place was
utterly false. I had been to no funeral,
and l never had an aunt in that part of
the country. Inever had carried spill
bags" in my life, nor did ever carry
greenbacks in ray valise, nor very many
in my pocket.
s'The miserable idiot! What did he
want to lie like that for?" Unused.
And then turned to my paper and
thought no more about 1t.
That evening when 1 went up to my
room what was my surprise when I I'M
locked the door and entered to see Mat
thew Sparks sitting unconce rnedly on
the floor in the middle of the chamber
with my valise between his knees and in
his hands curious looking implement
Of rusty STEEL.
With significant gravety he put his
fingers OH his lips and motioned tor me tc
lock the door. did so.
Now tell me- l said, sternly; sswhy
are you in here, and what are. you do
ing?'
You'll be mad, mister" he answered
audacious]y
"lf you do not tell me will send fol
the police and have you locked up
Mathew =
"Whew," he whistled softly, still
wearing that provokingly grave expires
sion that saw for once was not assum
ed. Dew you know what this be2"
He held up that queer thing of ru sty
STEEL a- -
"Well, it is a steel trap he went on
!" YOU Jest let me fix this ERE thing ii
your pill bags, and when that ar THE
comes to get the greenDacks to night i
will hold him It's Int. See.'
He opened the sharp teeth Of the stee
jaws and suggested, to illustrate his pro
posed experiment / should put m,
hand inside.
declined the offer of this voluntar,
detective, and wondered if he were fool
knave, or very cunning and keenwittet
boy.
< What makes you think the thief viii
come in here to. night?" asked him.
Swell, you see, I told a fellar yol
had lots Of money and other things il
ERE"
"And you knew I did not
= Il reckon he returned with a grin
we'll fix your thief-trsp."
said: IL only hope you may catcl
him.
And he did fix it in way could no
comprehend and cannot explain: and thel
he turned to me for what, as he had in
formed the count, gents always Civ
for information"
gave it cheerfully.
"You shall have more than that
Matthew SAID, ''if you trap the theft
II told him the fellar, you know
that you would be out tonight" he said
"You did? For what2"
$50 you could wait in the closet her
and watch him." answered Matthew
jingling his coin, appealingly.
And Matthew got another ten cents.
II shall act on the boys suggestion
thought to myself. s'There may b
something in his suspicious, and his ab
surd plan may not be so bad after ALL
So turned the gas very low, prepared
everything carefully, and made mysel
comfortable in my hiding place.
I had not long to wait--not more thai
an hour-when fancied that nv room
had an occupant.
Cautiously peered through the cracl
| had left as closed the closet door, ane
I distinctly saw dark form between M
and the gaslight.