The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-18

could make myself known and get in.
structlons from him. if he had any &c
give. several ladies spoke to me, under
the impression that | was a guest, and
IL was WhIle talking to one of them
that suddenly saw something which
maze me start A man dressed as a
costermongef walked across the floor
and spoke to masked lady Then lie
walked out into the hall and went up
stairs
VINO was that man" l asked
rather abruptly of the woman I had
been talking to-
1 don't Know she said. but if you
really want to know 1 can find out, fer
the woman ne Spoke to is our hostess,
Mrs. Wright
1 have a reason for wanting to
know l said. and my companl On
walked across the room without hesi-
tation and sat down beside Mrs.
Wright.
Il tell you I was on the anxious seat
then Why? Oh, nothing, excepting
mat on the legs Of the costermonger' 8
trousers, down at the bottom, there
| were little rows of brass buttons, and
mad seen that one was missing from
| the left leg, and that the buttons cor
responded with the one I found in
! Blanks bank.
why, That was Mr.. Wright said
| my messenger, returning: now take
me out and get ME some punch
How wanted to drop her that RIO
| ment ana get to work. But | went,
she chatting merrily and l with my
| thoughts anywhere but with her When
we got in the hall, out of sight of the
other guests, she speedily brought me
to my senses. Gripping me by the arm,
she looked me squarely in the face and
| said:
| :" See here, you're a detective. 7
know it. Now, what do you want Of
Mr.. Wright?'
You can imagine my Amusement.
When had recovered my composure l
tried to tell her that ii was idle curl
osity that had prompted me to inquire
who the costermonger was She
laughed right in my face.
Are you going to tell me or not?'
she said
" Madam, + said, for I saw there
was no use trifi1ng with her, I do ret
know YOU. and if l did I would have
no right to disclose matters that are
conhded to me by my superiors l am
detective, here by invitation of your
host, to concern myself with the well
fare of his guests and to do nothing
else. L have not sought to thrust my
self on any of the guests and
You shall tell me this thing at
once. she said, paying no attention to
my apologies. You can trust me- Look
and see If you can't?' and she raised
her mask ~
Il had been talking to the wife of
the president of the board of police
commissioners, a woman famous there
for her cleverness.
Il happen to know the work you've
been engaged on of late I'm interest
ed. too. Is it Wright
Il made no answer.
Is it Wright?' she insisted, stamp
ing her foot.
II cannot talk such things with you
here. l said.
Come to my house Tomorrow she
said. Before you go, though. let me
warn you to act quickly if you're going
to act at all. These people are nearing
the finish ss
She left me then and I lost no time
in getting out. I called early the next
morning, and from this woman learned
enough to convince me that our swell
Mr.. Wright was about as unscrupulous
scamp as ever walked the face, of the
earth. 1t isn't necessary to go into de-
tails about how she found it out. Size
had the facts pat, there was no doubt
about it.
And now she said to me in con-
clusion, the bubble is going to burst
Like all clever men. he has weakness
lie adores that wife of his and trusts
her. She is a bad woman and has an
affair on hand now. He has no money
save what he gets from time to time,
the life is dangerous, and it wouldn't
surprise me if she skinped out with one
1 oar prominent citizens at any time.
If Wright had a suspicion of this he'd
kill her without a doubt You must
act quickly or all your work will be in
vain
shortly after 10 o'clock the next
morning the president of the First Ma
tional bank in the city was seated in
his private office when James Wright's
card was handed to him.
Show Mr. Wright in he said, ana
smiling Mr.. Wright walked in and sat
down.
Mr.. President he said, I am going
to leave town to-day for good. My wife
has already gone. but as l had matter
of business to attend to before going, |
stayed over
Exactly. Mr.. Wright, exactly said
the president.
al want a check for $4,000 said
Wright
"A pretty large amount, said the
president. Have you the cash near
by?'
my dear sir, haven't cent in the
world
But, Mr.. Wright, we can scarce
ly'-
Now I'm not here to argue said
Wright, but to get the money. My
time is very limited, Since I have been
in town I have had to depend on the
carelessness and stupidity of it's we'll
TODD citizens for a livelihood You will
excuse me if I insist on a little haste
in this matter and James Wright
pulled out two shiny new revolvers. 1t
would pain me very much Ito have to
use these he said, but if it becomes
necessary, I shall use them without
any hesitation. Now please write the
check
THE president, man over 60, was
nightly frightened, and he wrote out
a check for $4,000 and tossed it over to
Wright.
Take it and go, you damned scoun-
drel.' he said.
Not so fast not so fast said
Wright. Your cashier would certainly
think I was joking if l took this check
out to him. And you, what would you
be doing? l don't suppose you'd sit
here patiently, would you? No. no, my