The National tribune., 1897-08-05
CHAPTER XI.

1t was past o'clock before the rafting in
the street awakened Kent Halliday. He
instantly recalled where he was and looked
eagerly about the room. 1t was quite richly
furnished but very disorderly. For a long
time, at least, it had probably not been cared
for by more efficient chambermaid than
Jem Tile, whose talent did not lie in the
direction of Homework. There were the
same indications of the house being a de-
positary for stolen goods that he had noticed
in Jem's ROOM package of fine towels
lay On the marble washstand. The paper
bands on it had been broken to allow one or
two to be taken out for use. On the dress
ing case lay similar packages of collars.
shirts and handkerchief. green paste
board box of embroidered nightshirts stood
on the floor. One of these had been taken
out, used, and it lay on the foot of the bed.
Silver backed brushes and other toilet ap-
planes, and wardrobe filled with suits of
clothes from the NEST fashionable tailors in
the city, testified to the dandyish tastes of
the occupant Of the room.
Near the southwest window stood desk,
which appeared to have been often used, and
lately, for the ink looked fresh, and the
gold pen bright and clean. 1t was evidently
new from the shop. and Kent's heart leaped
rs he noticed on some sheets of letter paper,
where someone had been testing it there was
scrubbed, with many repetitions and
flourishes, the fateful initials, "W. X. r."
He hastily folded up the sheets and thrust
them into his breast-pocket, to show the
Superintendent. The first pigeon-hole that
he investigated contained book of blank
receipts of the Peoples Cooperative Real
Estate Association, which he also pocketed.
Rufn bo for he
Jem Tile stumping up the stairs. He
stepped to the washstand, and was making
his additions when Jem thrust his SCARED
face through the door. The ex-pugilist was
surly, as of wont after nights carouse.
"'Ere, kinch, yell ave to ike. Pad the
'oof, now, hand be smart habout hit. l
thought you'd mizzle hat day break"
81 did intend to 90 then" said Kent
good-humoredly, but was so tired 1 over
slept myself | want to thank you for Civ
iEg me good bed. Pll stop in that booz-
ing-place as 1 90 by and tell that cove to
send you in another bottle"
Kent halted for minute in Jem's room,
and looked admiringly at the handkerchiets
on the chimney piece.
Those are your colors," he said. "You
have a right to be very proud of them"
Jem had grown Differentiated as they
walked down stairs. This completed him
:" Hi say, knch," he said in tone meant
to be kindly, " Hif We carn't find no hother
place to sleep to-day, ye kin come back ere
tonight. Hid like to ave We read them
things hover to a friend O mine who's never
'eard 'em."
YES" answered Kent, promptly, "I1l be
glad to. I'll have to scroop with someone
till ! can get another start"
"Yekin scroop WI me tonight. hanyway."
Kent fulfilled his promise of sending
bottle of whisky into Jem, got his breakfast
at the first restaurant, and then hurried to
the Superintendent Office, where he waited
impatienty for the Chief to arrive.
The Superintendent clear-cut, intelligent
face lighted with pleasure as he listened to
Kent's narrative and looked over the
scrubbed sheets.
My boy" he said, with affectionate ap-
prevail, "you have done more than well.
We shall not only catch your man, but we
shall probably get on to a gang who've been
giving the Southside merchants much
trouble. Go out at once, get your two
friends, and bring them here Be very
careful not to give anyone the slightest hint
of this. | am going to put you to the very
front in this job, first, because you deserve
it, and second, because l have strong sus-
picons of some of the Armory people, which
this matter greatly strengthens [ am
afraid to let any one of them get an inkling
Of this until we are sutce ;sful. By the time
you are back with your friends | shall have
some plan of operations outlined"
Kent found Wat Sparger surlily attending
to his shop, while Con. Purtell was seated
on his dray i'll front, discontentedly Ticking
at the street sparrows with his blacksnake
whip, He saw Kent first, his face lighted up
with a broad Irish grin of welcome, and he
sent in sibilant whisper to Sparger Wat,
here comes Kent
You are wanted, said Kent briefly, with