Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-08-01
CHAPTER XIX.
THE uNpEReRo1INn pAssAcn

| CHAPTER XIX.
THE UNDERGROUND PASSAGE.
AS he reached the corner Sturgis
came upon Sprague, who was waiting
\ for q car.
"Oh! say, old man." exclaimed the
artist. hardly able to conceal his Ella
ton, 81 am glad to see you. l have
news to tell you"
so have 1. But I am in hurry
now. Come along with me; we can
exchange condolences on the way"
very we'll; whittier IRE you
bound?"
II am on the track of big game.
Can you spare couple of hours? L
think | can promise you an interest
ing afternoon"
what is 1t? The Knickerbocker
bank case2"
"Yes."
Sprague readily consented to &C.
company his friend.
"By the way" inquired sturgis,
have you any weapons?'
Any quantity of them among the
properties of the studio" replied
sprague, surprised; "but do not go
about armed in broad daylight"
You would better have revolver"
said the reporter. "You will probably
have no occasion to use it," he added,
in answer to his friends glance, ''but
1t is best to be on the safe side"
"Very we'll; shall go home for one.
Where n m tn ,,,naf va,
cat police headquarters in about
half an hour. Let me see; it is now
nearly five o'clock. Say ut half-past
five. 1t will be necessary to obtain n
couple of warrants and the help of
the police before we start"
After Sprague had left him Sturgis
approached Detective Conklin, who
was still at his post.
did Chatham show up while
was in there?" he asked, indicating
Murdock's house.
mo, SIR"
did you notice the man with whom
went IMP"
eyes, sir"
well, let Chatham go for the pres.
ent and stick close to that man if he
stirs from the house. l shall be back
in less than IN hour"
"All right, SIR"
When sprague reached police head
quarters he found the reporter ready
to start with four detectives. He had
not, sAsrefess, ssy eYrortx.i1 for
conversa Hon With his fstend unsil the
party reached its destination. There
two of the detectives relieved the men
previously on duty, while the others
accompanied Sturgis and Sprague to
the Office of the Manhattan Chemical
company.
1t was after six o'clock. The place
was closed for the night and seemed
quite deserted. One of the men rang
the bell. The tinkling echoes died
away, but no sign of life manifested
itself from within. Then he seized
the pull and piled it again repeatedly
and vigorously.
THAT will do" observed Sturgis,
presently; "the old woman is coming
as fast as she can"
"What old woman?" asked the de-
tective.
II don't know. Perhaps ought to
have said an old woman. hear her
hobbling on the stairs
The detective placed. his ear to the
keyhole. After listening attentively,
he turned to the reporter with an in
credulous smile.
swell, Mr.. Sturgis," said he, ST you
can hear anything in there, your ears
are sharper than mine. That's all
can say"
she is on the second flight" replied
the reporter, quietly. ''Now she is in
the second-story hall-and now you
cnn surely hear her coming down the
last flight"
BY this time, sure enough, the sound
of footsteps began to be audible to the
other three men; and presently the
door opened and disclosed the scared
face of an old Irish woman.
"And phwat might yez be wantin,
| gintlemin, to be after scarin' an ould
woman most to death wild yer ring
IMP" she asked, somewhat aggressive
ly.
1--WE want to see Mr.. Chatham" re-
piled one of the detectives.
mister who, isit?"
"Thomas Chatham. Showme the way
to his room. I'll go right up, and my
friends will wait for me here"
mister Thomuz Chathum, is it?'
said the old woman; well, we've come
to the wrong house to see him, do be
thinlin', fer he don't live here"
"Comc, that won't do" said the de-
tective, sharply; 1--WE belong to the po-
lice, and we saw Chatham enter this
house."
AT the mention of the police, the old
hag's parchment face became shade
yellower and her eyes glistened.
"Sure, thin, if he do be hidin' here,
it's mesilf as 'ud know It," she said,
after short interval; "but yrz can
foind 'um, if yez loike; yez can foind
'um."
Whereupon she turned and hobbled
off, leaving the intrudors to their own
resources.
They found themselves in narrow
hallway. On the right was a riekety
staircase leading b business Offices in
tho upper part Of the building; on the
left, a door opening into the Office OF
the Manhattan Chemical company, and
at the end of the hall another door
marked:
!: PRIVATE OFFICE. !:
!: No ADMITrANcE. !:
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