The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-07-29

slsl you. what letter were you tracing!
IS. Ny friends name is Stephens-C
A. Stephens
mo such name here" said the clerk,
"and | never heard Of a c. a. Stephens
Here is the wholesale grocer, Charles NJ
Stephens. He is an old man near seventy
and resides on Laurel street. Here are {
dozen others commencing with G, but N
c. \. What business is your friend en-
gagged in?"
"Oh, he is not a friend, merely q friend
to parties with whom | am acquainted
and who wished me to look him up. They
were not certain that he was in Balti
more. 1t does not matter in the least. Il
| encounter him, well and good; if not the
same" and SO saying Mr.. Maltby turned
away and a half hour later entered the
office of John l.. Thorp, chief of Balti
more detectives.
Gould see the chief" he asked of the
young man who was seated at the desl
within the railing
He is engaged in his private office,
said the secretary, but | will take in your
card
Il declare 1 forgot to provide myself
with one" said the planter. Just tel
him that o. y. Maltby of South Carolina
is anxious to see him
The secretary vanished. but soon retur1-
cd aud conducted Mr.. Maltby TO an irler
office.
Pray be seated, Mr.. Maltby," sad the
chief.
The planter complied, and the ecretary
withdrew.
What can do for you. si' You are
a planter, Judge. Runawaylegroes that
You are trying to locate:"
NO, sir. No, Thorp, no. | have come
to interview you" said Shltby, in an en-
tirely different voice frcn that the chief
had heard when he injured for him in
the outer office.
Hey" exclaimed rhorp, jumping to his
feet. We'll, III b-So you have turned
planter, Mr.. SelIas-planter. Give me
your hand. havenot seen you in Coon's
age. What VIM blows you here?"
Thorn, yo, sized me up about
right when entered the office. / am
Planter MalDv of South Carolina. for the
time being. md | am here to inquire if in
your department you have any record of
one c. ~ Stephens
Il can answer that without even refer
Ping to me books. l never heard the name
before. Baltimore contains no man of
that name"
Are You sure, Thorp:'
Certain. To be sure, some one of the
many crooks that infest the city may on
occasion have used the name"
Il understand that What | wished To
ascertain was whether there was a man
Known to your department as c. \. Ste
phens."
There is not; but what crime has c. A.
committed?"
None that | know Of merely wish 70
locate the man."
Il see! He may have committed
crime. Well, | can't help you without a
description of your man, perhaps not then
What does he look like:'
Il have never seen him, TO my knowl-
sdge"
MOP"
''Nor have 1 his photograph. l under
stand he is about six feet in height, of
middle age and has a grayish mustache.
That is all | know about him"
"Humph, You will find FIVE hundred
men in Baltimore, who would answer to
hat description
4 know it. l imagine he is a sporting
a drummer"
You might make a round Of our gam
bling houses. No one on earth would
know you. True, some sharps might try
to DO YOU
Il am willing" said Selars.
Yes; well, | will give you list of the
new houses. You know the old ones, or if
YOU will wait ten minutes | will go with
YOU"
Good. l will
Two planters were soon making a round
Of the gambling houses.
They explored fully dozen, and several
men whose faces Planter Maltby closely
scanned would have come up to Adams
description of c. \. Stephens. but some
thing was lacking. OF course. Thorp knew
them all, and Sellars was fully satisfied
that he had not yet encountered his man.
There is but one more of any note"
observed Thorp, as they stepped from the
door of partridge Brothers about -
0 clock
And that?'
"Abbott's, on Calvert street"
We'll, it's on the way to the hotel" said
Sellars
Ten minutes later our two friends enter
Ell ,he gilded dive Of Abbott, which at the
time was the most notorious gambling
house in Baltimore. As late as it was, the
large rooms We're yet filled with men from
all stations Of life.
Two roulette wheels kept up a ceaseess
hum in their circles. and players were
seated at three faro tables, while the old
fashioned game of poker monopolized the
attention of many.
The two planters laid a dollar or two
here and there to divert any suspicion,
and soon left the place
- they neared the door "a nu>hily dress
ed young sport entered it, and Sellars
heard him ask an attendant if Abbott had
returned.
Hes doing the boys in Washington"
was the answer.
Thanks, Thorp," said Sellars. when
they were again on the street Il have
at least accomplished all | expected to this
trip. | have learned that if c. 4. Ste
phens is 4 Baltimore man he was sailing
under an alias on the seventeenth of last
month. That Is not much, but it will help
me to shape my course"
You are entirely welcome, Lang. |
am at your service at any time | can be
Of assistance Good night"
At ! o'clock on the night of the third,
Sellars entered the door Of his home in
Wilmington.
After supper he entered the office light
81 his pipe. sat back in his armchair and
sent for Calhan.
Is got nothin' TO port. Mars Lang"
said the negro, as he entered the office.
Il has watched de bankers house cherry
night close, and no one amt gone in or
come out 'ceptia' them l know
That was all you could do. Calhan.
There, see who is At the door"
The negro opened it. and Aunt Hannah.
looking much aGitated, entered. followed
by her daughter Mile.
All. you. Hannah. and Mile. too: Two
chairs, Calhan, Here, set them close to
the desk. You have something new, Han.
nahG"
Mars Lang" said the negress. excited
y. "Mille de one what's got news. and il
may be 'Portant news. jes fine il out
to-day"
Well Mile" said Lang, encouraging
" what i IT,"