Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-09-25
CHAPTER XVII.
THE QUARRY.

Halt an hour later Sturgis was walk
ing briskly down Broadway, with his
usual air of absent-minded concentra-
ton. Presently he turned into a side
street and at once slackened his pace.
He now sauntered along like lounger
at loss how to kill long, idle day.
The show window of o brto-a-brac shop
arrested his attention. He stopped to
examine its contents.
A little farther up the street was a
liquor saloon, outside OF which stood
group of boisterous young rowdies.
An older man, evidently in his cups,
was seated on an adjoining stoop,
where, with maudlin gravity, he seemed
to be communing with himself.
On the opposite side of the way stood
low, dilapidated brick house, A
painted sign over the windows of the
ground floor bore the name: MAN
HAITIAN CHEMICAL CO."
The drunken man rose unsteadily to
his feet and approached sturgis with
outstretched hand.
Say, Jimmy, get on ter his nibs
oGA4AiAA NC bAonO VI u lANhCk ICI XII
medicine fur his sick mudder!" ex-
claimed one OF the young rutfians.
MISUNDERSTANDING individual thus
designated seemed hardly able to stand
as he steadied himself against an iron
railing; but the eyes he turned upon
sturgis were bright with intelligence
and the words he spoke were uttered in
low, firm voice:
Hes been here-been here twice."
"Twice?" echoed sturgis, surprised.
Where is he now2"
II don't know"
"You don't know?"
mo, siri but guess Conklin does.
This is how it was: 1t was my watch
yesterday afternoon. when Chatham
came the first time. He went into the
Manhattan company's place through
the basement at u quarter after five.
So just settled myself out here and
waited. Well. waited and waited, but
there wasn't any sign of Chatham, and
when Flagler came along to relieve me
at ten o'clock Chatham hadn't come
out yet. Flagler he spotted the place
until six this morning, and then Conk.
lin took his turn again until two
o'clock, when 1 came on for my watch.
Just as Conklin was telling me how
things stood, who should come down
the street but Chatham himself, large
as life"
''Down the street2" exclaimed Stur-
gis.
eyes, sir. And up he goes, as If moth
ing had happened, and into the Man
haitian Chemical company's place
again."
HE had put up the back-door game
on you, said the reporter.
Eyes, sir; just what said to Conk-
lin. So, quick as wink, sent him
around the block to keep his eye
peeled on the next street, and waited
here. And here I've been ever since
If Conklin isn't on the block above, it
must be because Chatham has made
tracks again, and he after him."
'I'll go and find out" said Sturgis,
HAS anyone else called at the Man
haitian Chemical company's office since
you have been on watch?"
"No, sir; but couple of hours ago
an express wagon came along and de
livered long wooden box; might have
been chemicals for the wholesale de,
partment, for it was lowered to the eel
lar by the hoist in the areaway. The
blond young man receipted for the
box"
Every we'll, Shrady. Hang on little
while longer, and shall have you re
lieved just as soon as possibly cam"
So saying. the reporter, who had
| been pretending to look through his
pockets for coin, ostentatiously
slipped nickel into the outstretched
palm before him. The light seemed tc
die out of the sharp eyes of the detect
i've, and it was the miserable drunkarc
who staggered back to his place on the
stoop next to the station, unmindful OF
the gibes of the young rowdies congre.
| gated there.
Sturgis walked up to the next street
where he found second detective OF
duty.
Anything new, Conklin?" he asked
'sNo, sir; he's been lying low; looks
like he knew he was spotted thi.
time"
] GOOD, Stay here until / cpn notify