The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-11

Whenever any newcomer entered the rooms
he looked up to see if it were Cunliffe. HIS
chair was so placed in the window that he
also commanded an outlook down the av-
enue, and he kept his eye open for the APP
proach of his friend in that direction. But
II o'clock came and went, and still no Cum
life. The Captain finished his cigar, and
debated whether to light another. He de-
cided the question in the negative; he was
not an excessive smoker, and cigars were
only part of his professional equipment.
AT IL 80 he rose from his chair, shook out
first one leg and then the other, stretched
his arms, yawned, and walked over to the
fireplace.
Hello, Hamilton" said some one, from
the depths of an easy chair near by, lis that
youa / took it for granted you must be
Cunliffe, sitting in that window"
by the by, where is Cunliffe2" the Cap
tain asked.
mo idea, ought to be around here some
where.n
"Cunliffeq" came from another easy chair
on the other side of the fireplace. HE
won't be here to-day, guess. Met him on
the way up here. Said he was going out of
town, think. He had valise."
"Confound the fellowm calculated the
Captain, rubbing his whiskers, 'he had an
appointment with me this morning. Did he
say where he was going~
II don't know. think not. / didn't ask
him. He seemed rather in a hurry. Jumped
aboard horse car"
''Humph! He's a nice chap, to leave me
in the lurch this wayr tho Captain
growled. "Well, can'twait any longer. If
he should happen to come in, and any of you
fellows see him, just tell him | waited an
hour, will you" And with the air of one
who has been rudely treated, the Captain
strobe out.
Inwardiy, however, his emotions were
much more active and acute than appeared
in outward manifestation. The state OF
his mind, indeed, could be best described as
one of CONSERVATION. If Cunlitfe had
bolted, there must have been some pressing
reason for him doing so. Club men do not
take trips out OF New York in the dead of
winter and the height of the season without
grave cause. And the departure was as
sudden as it was unusual. Hamilton had
seen him the evening before, and nothing in
his manner or his words had indicated that
he had any such design in view.
OF course his fight was the strongest pos
sibe indication of his guilt. There were
two ways OF regarding the event. Either he
had made all the money he wanted, and
had made his preparations deliberately, or
else he had been alarmed and had boted at
short warning to escape arrest. In either
case the question was where had he gone!
He had at least two hours start. 1t was to
be feared that the pursuit would be too late,
even if it could be begun Immediately.
But it was first necessary to make in
quiries. Upon leaving the club. Hamilton
betook himself southwark and westward to
Cunliffe's lodgings. Upon entering the
street, he saw a man lingering along the
sidewalk, with his hands thrust up the
sleeves of his coat and his head low down
in his cellar The man approached him,
touching his hat, and otherwise conducting
himself after the manner of the street beg.
gars who make club men their prey. Ham
ilton walked along with an aspect of studied
Inconsistencies; meanwhile this converse
ton occurred:
Hamilton-What are you here for?
Beggar-Wa tchin' out for that Teller,
sir.
Hamilton-Don't you know he's skipped ?
When did you come here9
BegGar-Seven o'clock, sir. He amt
been out since l been here.
Misunderstanding to my information,
he's gone l wilFinquire at the house. If
he's not in, III take out my handkerchief,
and do you go down and report at the Office
If he is, stay here.
Besgar-All right, sir.
Then Hamilton, with the air of one who
submits to extortion for the sake of peace
and quiet, handed the beggar coin; there
upon the latter touched his hat again,
turned on bis heel and walked off.
Hamilton ran up the steps of Cunliffe's
lodgings and rang the bell. After a long
delay, and just as he was on the point Of
ringing again, the door was opened by fe-
male, who presented a countenance of pre-
ternatural stupidity.
MIR. Cunliffe inn demanded Hamilton,
briskly.
The woman gazed at him with lack
lustre eyes for several moments, and then
said
"Mr What?"
"Cunliffe-Mr Frank Cunlife-is he inY'
''Mr. Cunliffe," repeated the girl and
stopped to consider NO" she said, at
length, staring at the Captains necktie as
if under the impression that she had seen it
somewhere before. 'No, he amt in-Mr.
Cunliffe."
''Not inl That's odd! Did he leave any
word for Capt HamiltonW
Capt Hamilton' Who's hes"
81 am Capt. Hamilton. Did he leave any
message or note for mep
mo; he didn't leave nothing for no.
bodyw
What time did he go away7"
The girl shook her head slowly.
II don't know. This mornin', guess. l
didn't see him"
'Well, see here; can | step up to his room
for moment? Pm a friend of his, you
know, and expected to find him here-im-
portant business-and Just write note for
MIN. Just let me up to his room, will
your
Cant do it" said the girl, still shaking
her head. Hes locked the door and took
the key off with him."
ooh the deuce he hast Where's the mis-
tress of the housep
''She's gone marketin'."
By this time the door was nearly closed;
and with the final words it was clapped to-
gether with bang and the Captain was
left out In the cold.
He muttered au anatheTna, faced about
and descended the steps. The beggar W
still lounging at the corner of the street
Hamilton took out his handkerchief and
blew'his nose and the beggar disappeared
round the corner and was seen no more.
Hamilton walked on to Sixth avenue and
stood there taking counsel with himself
As the result of his deliberations he took a
car down to Fourteenth street. then
across to Lexington avenue, and so to a
small house where he again rang at the
door.
An elderly lady in black dress and
white cap and apron answered the ring.
'Is Miss Kitty Give inf'
II will see, sir. What nameF
Capt Hamilton. | am a friend Of Mr..
Frank Cunlffe, and would like to speak to
her moment on business connected with
him."