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

| q search warrant for the Manhattan.
Chemical company's place. In the
meantime, If Chatham should attempt
ITO make tracks, hang on to him like
his shadow and send back word here as
| soon as you can"
"All right, sir"
Sturgis, after leaving Conkln,
walked along the street which the de-
tectivc was watching and carefully in
spectcd every house on the block. Al
most all were huge Office buildings; but
here and there an old-fashioned brown
stone front stood out conspicuously
against the broad expanse of brick
walls and iron columns. Halfway
down the street one of these old houses
| stood well back from the street line
behind small garden. The reporter
stood near this and read the numbers
on the adjoining buildings.
"This is directly back of the Man
| haitian Chemical company's Office" he
| unused. II wonder who lives here. 1t
! looks like a respectable place enough
One could obtain good view of the
| rear of the Manhattan Chemical com
pany's Office from the back windows
| HIM"
He stood thoughtfully considering
what preteSt he could use to gain adj
| mission to the house, when suddenly
he became aware of the presence of
man who had approached with
noiseless steps.
"Ah, is that you, Mr. Sturgis?" said
the calm, sardonical voice of DR.. Muir
dock.
The reporter started inwardly, but
gave no outward sign of surprise.
Were you about to do me the honor
of calling?" continued the chmeist.
YES" said Sturgis, deliberately;
II was about to seek an interview
with you. Can you spare few min.
| utes?"
"Who is it that asks for the inter.
yiew?' inquired Murdoch, with quiet
Sarcasm. rs it Mr.. Sturgis, gentle
man; Mr. Sturgis, reporter, or -"
Sturgis met cold CLEAN from Muir
docks inscrutable eyes.
COR Mr.. sturgis, the famous de-
tective?" continued the chemist with
an imperceptible sheer
II represent the Tempest" replied
the reporter, quietly.
Murdoch glanced carelessly up and
down the street. There was no one
in sight.
"Oh! very WE'LL" he said, taking out
his latchkey and leading the way to
the house; come into my study and
let me hear what I can do for the
Tempest"
On entering the house Murdoch mo-
toned Sturgis to the door leading
from the hall into the drawing-room.
"If you will step into the parlor for
q few minutes. l shall be with you d.
rectly," said he.
| Sturgis nodded acquiescence, and
while Murdoch walked toward his
study, which was at the extreme rear
of the hall, the reporter opened the
drawing-room door. He did not open
1t very wide, however, neither did he
enter; for although the room was
rather dark, his quick eye caught a
passing glimpse of feminine head
cozily nestled upon a distinctly mas
culine shoulder, the owner of which
had his back turned to him. Bach
elor cynic though he was, Sturgis hat
not the heart to interrupt SO inter
esting situation; and, as the couple
were SO absorbed that they had MOI
noticed the intrusion upon their tete
a-tete, he discreetly retreated and
softly closed the door.
II BY this time Murdoch had passed
into his study, so that Sturgis found
himself alone in the hall. He was
glad of a short respite during which
he might collect his thoughts; for
having been taken by surprise, he ha6
not had time to select q plausible
topic for the interview which he has
solicited from Murdoch. Not know
ing that the house was that of the
chemist, his sole object had been te
gain admittance, so that he might be-
i. able to observe the Manhattan Chem
ical companys offices from the rear
and if possible to ascertain how Chat
, ham had managed to give the detec
tives the slip the first time he ap
peared to them.
Now that he was in the house the
. reporter was confronted with the ne
cessity of explaining his presenc,
, there without betraying his true pur
: pose. This would not have been {
J difficult matter had the inmates O
the house been total strangers; bu
he felt that it would be by no mean!
SO easy to offer an explanation which
would be satisfactory to man O
Murdock's keen perception. And Muir
, dock was the last person to whom hi
would have confided the true reason
of his visit; not only because thu
chemist, as his opponent in the wager
concerning the Knickerbocker banl
mystery, was interested in thwartine
J, rather than in aiding his investiga
ton, but chiefly because he felt {
strong Instructive distrust of the man
AS these thoughts were passing
through the reporters mind. he slow
ly paced the long hall, back ant
forth, with his hands behind his back
| In SO doing, he passed door which
was slightly ajar and caught
glimpse of long rows of bookshelve
e loaded with beautifully bound edi
tons. The place was evidently tn
library. 1t occurred to him that
library is a public room and that h,
, would be more comfortable In Their,
than In the hall.
} He pushed open the door and looked
: in. The room was empty. He en-