Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-09-01

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ing to himself that of course 1t could
only be some trivial scrape Chef had
got into, one that might doubtless be
squared with the complainant easily
after he had taken the lad out on ball
and given him a breakfast. Had
John Latham been more than half
awake 1t would probably have oc-
CURED to him hat prisoners on trivial
charges arc no.. customarily confined
at headquarters" MOI are officers
sent to searcI. their rooms. But in
his condition these significant facts
were naturally unthought Of.
CHAPTER XXI.
Police sergeants on duty at their
desks are practically always writing.
With a mien OF preternatural gravity
and great pr~eoccupation they write
on and on, AZ the brook flows, for
ever" No mere mortal mind outside
"the force" can conceive what they
find to write so much about. And
proportionate results from their tire
less toll are not discovered in the
huge official looking tones over which
they labor. 1t seems as il they must
be ambitiously training to become re-
corders of the affairs of the universe
in a weird hereafter of their w
imagining. and that they write with
dry pens upon ever unsullied sheets,
just for practice in the exercise.
When John Latham had threaded
the labryinthine ways at police head
quarters to the office of.the detective
force, he of course found the sergeant
at the desk engaged in writing and
stood so long whiting for his presence
to be noticed, watching the motion oil
the pen, that he began to feel 1t mes
merizing him. But no d~iscourtesy TO
him was intended. The sergeant was
writing; that was all. Eventually the
interchangeable caligraphist suspended
his task, or training, long enough to
look up and say interrogatively:
"Well?"
IL would like to get some informa-
ton about a young man who is, un-
derstand, locked up here, Mr.. Chester
Sewell."
At the mention of that name the
sergeant seemed to wake to a new in
terest in life.
"Ah, yes" he responded promptly.
what do you want to know about
him?"
primarily, is he in custody here?"
The sergeant seemed to reflect n
moment; then, eXclaiming, I'll in
quire; wait a moment until-f-see the
inspector" darted into an adjoining
room. After a minutes absence he
returned and ushered the inquirer into
that room, the private Office of the
famous head of the detective force.
Mr.. Latham looked with interest at
the inspector, whom he had never met
before, so far as he knew, but of
whom he had heard a great deal. He
saw before him a large, powerfully
built man in the prime of life, with a
kindly but r~esolute face and a suaye,
engaging demeanor.
YES" said the inspector, speaking
in a voice that struck his visitor as be-
ing si~ngularly resonant and mellow,
"we have Chester Sewell in a cell
down below. What is your interest
in making the inquiry"
'That of a friend. We occupy adj
joining rooms. l have been AWAY from
the city on business, and upon my re-
turn home this morning received q
note informing me of his arrest, but
affording nc particulars as to its
cause"
While speaking he presented his
card. The inspector, upon glancing
at it, asked:
"Of the firm of Gaunett, Stryker &
Latham?"
"Yes. You know the firm?"
Only by reputation. IL affords me
pleasure to meet one of its members
Thanks. But about MY friend?"
"You speak Of him as your friend
May l ask how long you have known
him?"
Ever since | can remember. We
were boys together. i lost sight of
him a little while he was going to col
lege, but since his coming to New
York in November last our associa-
ton has been intimate. But you don't
tell me on what charge he is held"
"He tried to swindle the keeper of
a cheap Bowery restaurant out of the
price of n meal and created a dis
turbance when the man objected to
beng swindled."
"Good heavens! You horrify me! /
knew that Chef had not been alto
gether successful in some of his specu-
lative ventures, but had noidea that he
was in so desperate q. condition. Des-
titute of the means to purchase food!
Why, it is horriblel He certainly had
no intention of swindling the man.
He could not have had. The thing is
impossible, ] assure you. He might
have wanted credit and could safely
have been trusted, for he was sure of
having means to pay as soon as / got
home. All he would have had to do
would have been to ask me. The res
taurant keeper would have lost moth
ing by him. Why, a more honest fell
low than Chef Sewall doesn't live"
The Inspector listened with an in
dulgent but sardonic smile to this
honest outflow of friendship and man
ly sympathy. When it ended, he
coolly remarked:
"A bundle of pawn tickets was
found in his possession wnen he was
arrested, and the articles represented
by them have been reclaimed from the
pawnbrokers and brought here foI
identification by the owners If posi-.
ble."
"Why, good God, man., you surely
don't suspect poor Chef of being d
theft"
Its hard to tell who won't stea
when he is hungry" replied the in,
spector cynically, opening a drawer
in his desk and exposing a miscel
laneous lot of trinkets among which G
fine watch and chain were conspicu
Gus.
do you know any of these things?'
he asked.
"The watch and chain are his own
That know positively"
Sand the jewelry? Women's, mos
of it,"
II know nothing about that
do you know anything abou'
thisP" demanded the inspector, sud
denly bringing to view from a case a
his side Johns great silver flagon, hi
fnfh ~ 49, ---1