Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1893-03-16

gas he mentally breathed prayer for
the loved ones at home, away east OF the
Alleghanies, and tired out by his long
ride was soon deep in slumber.
Two, nearly three hours he slept, when
| he was partially aroused by noise as Of
some hard substance striking the fl Dor.
Just as he had concluded that his over
coat, iu q pocket of which was a volume
! Of KipliDg's poems, must have been
Jared off the hook to the fl DOR so that
some agency was responsible for the mis-
hap, he heard loose board In the room
creak and the next moment sponge
charged with chloroform was pushed un-
! der his nose and despite his struggles to
prevent, he was quickly rendered uncon-
scious by the deadly drug.
Uttering long drawn sigh Willis fell
back senseless on the pillow, from under
which his assailant quickly abs, racted
the morocco case, ignoring the presence
of the watch or revolver. Then noise
iessly retreating from the bed he stood
on the chair, peeped over the transom,
by which he had gained entrance, noted
that the coast was clear, and springing
back the lock opened the door gently
and disappeared.
! 1t was long after the breakfast hour
when Willis shook off the ilfl fence of
the Opiate and regained possession of his
senses. His first thought was of the
fallen overcoat containing the book of
poems, the sound of which striking the
floor had been the last impression re-
tanned by his brain before it was rem
dered imperative. Evidently it had been
brushed off the hook by the midnight
marauder in passing through the tran
som into the room.
Oppressed by the sickly smell Of the
chlorofoim, he was seized with fit of
vomiting that left him so weak and
trembling he could scarcely dress him
self. Long before this, however, he had
discovered the loss of the diamonds, and
the agonized groan which escaped him
but too plainly indicated the severity of
the blow. Ruin, utter ruin, confronted
him. No matter how innocent he might
be his reputation was forever blasted
should he fail to recover the gems, while
if he attempted to make good the loss it
meant for him the sacrifice of lifetime.
Little wonder that his mental agony was
intense.
| Out in the clear, cold air Willis walked
to calm his perturbed feelings, and to
formulate some plan that might aid him
in tracing the thief. Long ago he had
come to the conclusion that the man with
the yellow mustache was responsible for
the crime, but how to establish the
| theory and recover the diamonds were
problems difficult to solve. By this time
the robber was probably 100 miles away,
in what direction who could tell? Yet
stay! Why should the fellow fly when
no danger threatened? From his atti-
tude on the train it was apparent that he
supposed Willis had never seen him be-
fore, thus clearly indicating that he be-
lieved he had escaped observation In the
jewelry store at Minneapolis. Arriving
at the hotel alone, an entire stran-
ger to everyt ody, he manages in some
way to secure a room, and, having per-
formed the robbery secretly, concludes
that it is safer to remain quiet than to
arouse suspicion by hasty retreat.
| stYes," exclaimed Crandall to himself
after following the above line Of thought,
s'the thief is still Ia the hotel, and | will
get back what he has stolen or die In the
effort. Meantime / will say nothing
about my loss for fear 1t may defeat my
plans"
Refreshed by his walk, and with mind
made easier by his cogitations, Willis re-
turned to the hotel In time to eat fairly
hearty dinner, after which he examined
the register, to find the name Of Felix
Chambers, St. Paul, written in sprawl
ing hand just below his own neat sigma
ture. The man had been assigned to
room 80, which, as Crandall knew, was
on the floor above him: Wondering how
a traveller arriving still later than him
self could have been accommodated, he
hung about the Office until the night
clerk went on watch and then, while cas-
ually scanning the register, laughingly
observed that Chambers was pretty
lucky to get room the night before.
The clerk looked puzzled until Willis
pointed to the last autograph on the page
Of the day previous.
"Oh, yes! The man with the yellow
mustache," he rejoined. Registered
shortly after you did and then kicked
hard when he found we were full. Ran
into delegate who came to give up his
room and fell right into snap. He was
lucky, you betty
Willis echoed his former observation.
"By the way" he continued, ''don't for
get that you slowed me away in dingy
little back room. Wish you would make
a change the first chance you get.'
The clerk turned to his room list. s'NO.
35 will be vacant after O'clock" he re-
marked presently. "Let you have that
il you wish it's good front room.'
Striving to contol his voice, which he
was fearful would betray him by its toe
eager ring, Willis ans wered that he would
be mighty glad to get it, and after pass.
ing few commonplaces stolled off in
a corner to think.
Number 80. That must be the room
adjoining the one occupied by the man
whom he believed had stolen his dia.
monds. The opportunity for which he
had been praying was suddenly thrust
upon him, and in the most unexpected
manner. He would lose no time in exc.
cutting plan of reprisal which had dart
ed into his brain the moment the clerk
had announced the number of the room
| to be vacated. 1t should be case OF
retributive justice wherein he would not
trouble the officers of the law for assist
ance.
The key to No. 33 was in the rack at the
Office when the clerk turned over 70 Dm
No. 30 to Willis Ciandall. The bellboy
of the previous night helped him make
the transfer from No. Is, and this time
Willis allowed him to carry his valise up
the single flight of stairs to his new
quarters. For this assistance he received
a shining quarter, much to his astonish-
ment, as ne had already sized Willis up
l q a N - thov,