The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1900-09-01
his condition these significant facts
were naturally unthought OF.
yyII.


CHAPTER xXII.
Police sergeants on duty Mt their
desks are practically always writing.
With a mien of p-rcternntural gravity
and great preoccupation they write
on u on. us the brook flows, "for-
ever" No mere mortal mind outside
the force" can conceive what they
n 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 an,bitiously training to become re-
corders of the affairs of the universe
In a weird hereafter of their own
imagining, and that they write will,
dry pens upon ever unsullied sheets,
Just for practice in the exercise.
When John Latham hid 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 i'll writing and
stood SO long waiting for his presence
to be noticed, watching the motion of
the pen, that he began to feel it mess
merizing him. But no discourtesy to
him was intended. The sergeant wal
writing; that was all. Eventually the
indefatigable caligraphist suspended
his task, or training. long enough to
look up and say interrogatively:
"Weil?"
II would like to get some informa-
ton about n young man who is, l UNI
derstand, locked up here, MIR. Chester
Sewell."
At the mention of that name the
sergeant seemed to wake to u new in
terest in life.
"Ah, yes" he responded promptly.
What. do you want to know about
him"
primarily, is he in custody herc?"
The sergeant seemed to reflect a
moment; then, exclaiming, "Ill in
quire; wait q moment until l see the
Inspector" darted into IN adjoining
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 n large, powerfully
built man in the prime of life. with a
kindly but resolute face and n suaye,
engaging d%emennor.
Yes" said the inspectors, speaking
in a voice that struck his visitor as be-
ing singularly resonant and mellow,
I'VE have Chester Sewell In n cell
down below. What Is your interest
in making the i%nquiry"
THAT of n friend. We occupy ad-
joining rooms. / have been away from
the city on business, aud upon my re-
turn home this morning received a
note informing me of his arrest, but
affording no particulars as to its
cause"
While speaking he presented his
card. The inspector, upon CHANGING
at it, asked:
"of the firm of Gaunett, stryker &
Latham?"
Eyes. You know the firm"
"Only by reputation. 1t affords me
pleasure to meet one of Its members"
Thanks. But about my friend?"
You speak OF him as your FRIEND
May | ask how long you have known
him?"
Ever since I 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 IN what charge he is held"
"He tried to swindle the keeper of
n cheap Bbwery restaurant out of the
price Of n meal and created IL dis
turbance when the man objected to
beng swindlcd."
Good heavens! You l,orrify me! I
knew that Chef had not been alto
gether successful In some of his specu-
lative ventures. but had noiden that he
was In so desperate a condition. Des-
titute of the c to purchase food!
Why, it is horrible! 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 NEAR 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. u more honest fell
low than Chef Sewall doesn't live"
The Inspector listened with an in
dulgcnt but sardonic smile to this
honest outflow of friendship and man
" sympathy. When it ended, ne
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 for
Identification by the owners If posi-
ble.'
why, good God, man., you surely
don't suspect poor Chef Of being Il
thief?"
cts hard to tell who won't steal
when he is hungry" replied the in
spector cynicnlly, opening n drawer
in his desk and exposing u miscel-
laneous lot Of trinkets among which a
fine watch and chain were conspicu-
Gus.
DO you know any Of these things?"
he asked.
.The watch and chain are his own.
That kknow positively"
And the jewelry? Women's, most
Of it,"
7 know nothing about that"
10 you know anything about
Ethis?" demanded the. Inspector, sud
denly bringing to view from a case at
his side Johns great silver fagon, his
fathers race trophy.
At sight of the treasured heirloom
in this place it's owners face turned
purple, his jaw worked coflvulsively
without bringing out any sound and
his eyes fairly protruded. When he
could get mis- breath, he calculated
fiercely:
where the devil did you get that2"
ut was pawned by Chester Sewall."
John Latham sank back in his
chair, gasping, heartsick at this reve-
lation of his trusted friends un-
worthy action, hot with fesentmen.:
against the treacherous degradation
Of a thing that he held almost sacred.
But the angry feeling was only mo-
mentary, and his generous nature
prompted him to forgive and shield
rather than denounce the man who
had been impelled by necessity to such
n deed. He even forced himself to say
pretty naturally:
"Oh, that's all right! The thing is
mine, but he knew he had authority
to use it il he needed it,
ITO use it," echoed the shrewd in
spector, quick to note the verbal dis
elimination. Yes, but did you auth
a.. L. 49, 49, i'd sE!.LH[Em-