The Red Cloud chief., 1895-12-06
CHAPTER VIII.
HANNIBAL ORION T.AKER.

The crowd has dispersed, each to his
or her special home or lounging-placc.
The hour is about six: the inquest has
taken nearly three hours. The barber
shops and saloons are filed with
crowds of men who are talking of the
many incidents which have been
crowded into such a short space.
The oroncr has gone TO his home to
eat his evening meal. and tell the wife
of his bosom the story of the after
noOn's proceedings. The chief of po-
lice has followed his example. II has
been rover tn the satisfaction of all
that Franklin Dyke has been the MUIR
dcrcr of good old DR.. Wilbur. Now
him until such time as court meets
and he can bc given "a chance to prove
his innocence.
Rather doubtful that the portly
chief mut.crs as he walks homeward.
lie eats his supper in comparative Sic
lencc. lie is II widower, this worthy
man, his good wife and faithful com
panion having gone to the great un-
known several years ago. His house
is looked after by his sister,
lie tells her what has been brought
to light, and hen settles himself To eat
and think. lie is thinking where he
can find Franklin Dyke. He las been
"a stranger to West Chester for many
years; no one there has any positive
knowledge as to his place of residence.
1t is generally supposed by those who
have Interested themselves in the
young mar at all that he makes Phila-
dclphia his home: but Philadelphia is
a large city: IL covers many miles.
How can he hope to find the man in
such "a place? But he must try: he
must call the well-regulated police SER
vice of the great mctropolis'to his aid;
he must be about it ut once.
He feels a certain amount of pride
in the fact that by his perspicuity SO
much has been brought to the surfaces:
he will continue on in the good work.
So he finishes his meal and orders his
valise packed. TO his sisters exclama-
ton of establishment he says:
II am going to Philadelphia. may
not be back for n week, perhaps longer.
Pack my valise. ! shall take the 1890
train for Prayer; | shall catch the Har-
risburg, express at midnight and he
leaves the house.
He walks with rapid footsteps to the
Turks Head" Hotel, the principal
hostelry of this thriving little town.
The office il filled with town people,
commercial tourists, and other travel
ers. The chief of police walks to the
desk. lie usually finds letters for him
there. He has his Office in the build
ing. There are none, however, to-
night.
Terrible thing this murder" com-
mcnts the clerk.
YES, very sad"
Sad that young Dyke should go to
the dogs So"
Yes, ! feel a great deal of sym
pathy for the young fellow. | am 60
ing to Philadelphia tonight TO arrest
him"
His words are spoken sufficiently
loud to he heard by those standing
near the desk.
Then you know where to find him.
Not exactly, but | shall hunt him
up. Never fear"
a stranger, dressed in black, wearing
q shining beaver hat, approaches him.
You are sure he:sis the guilty onc?'
he asks quietly.
The chief looks at his questioner with
mute astonishment.
"Sure? There can be no doubt of it.
] ca I say I'm glad of it, but I'm dead
sure"
The stranger turns away.
Throckmorton carries Oh his w
sation for n few minutes. and then goes
out npon the street. He finds the man
who has spoken to him in the Office of
the hotel, leaning against "a hitching-
post outside, calmly smoking.
As the chief of police steps out upon
the sidewalk. he looks up, knocks the
ashes from his cigar, and steps toward
him.
Can / speak with you for a few min
utes. Mr.. Throckmorton?"
"You know my name?"
1T has been brought into promi-
nence to-day. ! did not know it until
this afternoon"
So his name has been brought into
prominence. lie feels swelled up with
a sense of Importance.
~ can grant you q few moments"
he says.
He steps towards his Office. which is
near. in the same building. He opens
tho door, lights the gas, and shoves a
chair towards his companion.
The stranger remove his hat, and
looks about on the handouts, shackles,
notices OF reward, etc, which are lib
orally displayed.
Z ~ was at the inquest to-day" the
stranger begins, his eyes fixed upon "a
policeman's rattle upon the wall.
~ did not notice you"
Perhaps not. ! was there, how
ever"
"Welf"
IL heard the evidence, IL was very
interesting"
"Yes, very conclusive l thought"
"Yes, IL might seem SO to you"
The chief stares at his visitor. That
gentleman is gazing with interest upon
a large crayon portrait of the chief
which Ia suspenpnd over his dpsk