Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-03-04

! the most adorable girl In the world. The
more he thought of 1t the more the
! tramp's story about his marriage ap-
peared to be absolute flction-and yet,
the fellow had been so confident, so I'M
mis:akably pleased with his prospects,
and Bessie had said that she lived in
Buffalo. Was she deceiving him, and
. Mrs. Bowers, too? 1t was all very
strange. Why had he not taken the
precaution to learn the tramp's real
name? Had he gone and married Bessie
under tho name of Drane?
Lawrence shivered until no recalled
that the tramp had known Bessie in
childhood and therefore could not pass
himself to her under false name. This
was some comfort, but as he puzzled on
over the situation he began to doubt
whether he had done wisely in running
away from his Kansas City friends who
had como to New York to find him.
Undoubtedly, however, they would have
declared that the story of his advent
ures was the Pigment Of a disordered
brain.
So, with perplexities and doubts his
exultation gave way to anxiety, and
even the prospect of seeing Bessie again
failed to relieve his mind Of trouble.
1t was long past midnight when he
reached New Haven. A cab took him
to the Beaver House, where he was de-
MED admission because all rooms were
taken. Leaving an application for the
first vacancy, he found accommodations
! elsewhere, a sleepy Waterman. grum-
bling immoderately, showing him to a
tiny chamber on the top floor. When
he came downstairs in the morning to
pay his bill the clerk politely requests
him to register, formality that ha3
been neglected. Certainly he wou2
comply, and with . determination,
formed in a flash, to sail under true or
ors, he wrote his name and address with
q bold, legible hand. Then he stood b.
fore the window, apparently gazing iefy
into the street, really absorbed in forni-
ulating plan of action. Just as Mr..
Drane was registering shrewd-looking
young man with q notebook in one hand
and a pencil in the other entered the Of
fee. lie waited until Lawrence had
withdrawn from the counter and then
began industriously to copy the names
and addresses from the big book. The
clerk greeted him jocularly:
'Wcll, Jimmy what's the news to-
day?"
Read the Evening Dispatch and find
out" was the smart reply.
This brilliant repartee had done serv-
ice for opening the conversation be-
tween the clerk and the shrewd young
man daily for many months, and it 10
probably so serving still. There is moths
ing like having witty retort that is
warranted not to wear out.
OThe young man copied rapidly down
the page until he came to the last page.
Then he paused and scowled an instant,
after which he wrote Lawrence Drane,
Kansas City, Mo-, No. 846, pd.," very
slowly, and turned about slyly to scru-
tinize the broad back of the gentleman
at the window.
"Any thing up, Jimmy?" asked the
clerk, observing this action.
Jimmy winked and nodded mysteri-
ously, and began to search among the
newspapers lying on the writing table.
Presently he found New York paper
of the day before and turned to the ac-
count Of Mr.. Drane's escape and the re-
ward offered for his capture.
81 thought sol" he said, with a tri-
umphant grin, while the clerk looked
on in undisguised curiosity. Jimmy
gave him no comfort. Instead, he
heightened the clerks, emotion by sit
ting down where he could see Mr..
Drane's face and scanning the paper
again with frequent glances upward for
comparison.
''Mustache gone and clothes differ.
ent," he muttered; 'but it must be the
man. / wonder whether he'll become
violent and murder me if 1 speak to
him. Perhaps can inveigle him to q
police station"
While Jimmy was still debating what
to do to SCOOP" the boys on q big pieoe
Of news and gain humping reward,
Lawrence decided upon his own course
and started to leave the hotel. Jimmy
was on his feet Instantly and inter
ceshAd him.
Drane, 1 believer he said, in
terro yatively.
EYES," replied Lawrence, with a start
of surprise.
Lawrence Drans, Of Kansas City?''
continued Jimmy.
Eyes; what can do for you?'
81 want to ask you some questions
about the condition of affairs in the
West" said Jimmy, glibly, 1.-The crops,
you know. farm mortgages and their et-