The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-06-27
talking OF another man altogether. 1t

talking OF another man altogether. 1t
is impossible"
ave are all liable to mistakes" said
Simmons, slowly. at is coming pretty
close this time. BE told Steve he had
got into scrape, and changed his hat
and coat in there. He went out the
back way, crossed fence, and walked
out on the next street The simplest
thing in the word. He walked through
q saloon after he jumped the fence"
II don't believe Beauchampe could be
paid to do it," said Livingston. "Nor
would you, Simmons, II you could see
him and talk with him five minutes"
Livingston spoke with considerable
feeling, at first with spirit, then shade
of disappointment was manifested.
sYour business make you suspicious;
you can't help 1t, but the thing is i'm.
possible
aTheres good deal in what you say,
but Steve says he said the fuss was In
the theater. He knocked two or three
men down, beside clipping the police.
man they brought in. There is no mis-
take about that Then he is the only
man Steve knows thai can do that trick
with the handcufs-and Steve says he
has seen him do it more than once, but
never knew just how he managed. l
think I know it. Did you ever notice
anything peculiar about your friends
hands?"
"No," said Livingston, absent-mind-
edly.
aEverything all right? Thumbs usual,
size? No marks on hands, no"
@Simmons, once for ALL, said Living
ston, in positive tones, "you are all
wrong. As for Beauchampe's hands, I
never noticed particularly, more than
that they are finely formed, but they are
not small, and he is very particular
about them. That is why I am con-
vinced there is an absurd mistake.
Beauchampe is the soul Of refinement
utterly incapable Of such deception. He
could no more associate with that vii
famous crowd"
"He got drunk. You saw him punch
the usher"
u did-but that is what I want cleared
up, Simmons.
"Very we'll. Stick to your friend, Mr..
Livingston. That's all right. 1 admire
you all the more for it. But now you've
got my curiosity aroused. I'll see 1t
through if it takes months. There's my
hand on it."
Simmons extended hand, which Liv.
ingston grasped cordially.
@There's just one more place want to
look in now Steve thinks he might be
there-he was heading that way. We
can walk-no need to get in car am
going to convince you that Beauchampe
Is another sort Of man, and satisfy my
self; then We'll arrange to get him out
of the road for awhile. That is your
idea?"
"Precisely," Livingston replied. II am
putting the matter entirely in your hands
now, Simmons"
"If you have anything Of value, just
put it in safe place. could get it
back, but there is no use inviting trou-
BILE. You'll only meet 'crooks-there
isn't man there that could be hired to
murder you. Altogether different from
that crowd we left Steve says your
friend isn't prime favorite on that &C
count HIS goes there oftener than he Is
wanted"
"Among pickpockets?"
aSteve says he has seen him there
often"
sBeauchampe in rendezvous with
pickpockets-a common associated"
1--WE are going right to the bottom OF
this business now," said Simmons, reSo-
lutely. There's no stopping-place.
His professional pride was piqued now.
"Why isn't he favorite? Has Beau
champe killed his man, too? III believe
it when he tells me-"
"There's something back of their dis
like. Steve thinks it the most natural
thing in the world. Here we are. This
way"
Simmons led the way through an en-
try Livingston had remarked hum
dred times.
The passageway had always been as
sociated in his mind with dingy little
store He had assumed the passage had
fallen into disuse because the occupants
of the store found it more convenient to
pass in and out of the Storc-room.
/ When Simmons stepped clear Of the
passage, and opened door on the left
In the rear building, Livingston looked
into pool-room in full blast.
TTo BE Continued