Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-10-17
CHATTER X
The Maraul. Del cnsteliani.

When Detective Hantlin started OFF
with Humpy Jack. the ~bootblack. he
ave himself entirely to the guidance
of his companion.
They had walked a considerable dis
lance In silence before the detective OBJ
served that instead of going toward the
eastern part of the city, as he had In
stinctively expected, the boy was lead
ing him in a northerly direction, and
into a quarter which grew more ele-
CANT as they proceeded.
Why. Jack, where are you taking
me?" Hantlin asked, suddenly. coming
TO a s~tandstill.
TITS ell right, ~boss-which I'm Ago
in to s'prise yer. L dersay; but I'm a
takin' yer straight to the right place,
all er same"
Very well. come on" said the detect
I've. starting off again In the wake of
his conductor, who went ahead at a
pace which taxed him to keep up with
IL.
Jacky lid not pause again until they
were In the shadow OF one of the finest
and most fashionable hotels in the city.
Then. coming close to Hantlin, he whis-
pered, with a mysterious wink:
This yer's his boardin' house."
What" exclaimed the detective, sur
prised. You don't mean the man lives
In this hotel?"
IT see him a-standin' on them ere
steps as I was blackin' a gemman's
boots, an axed the beil-boy IL he lived
here, an he said yes; so / knows
but perhaps you've made a mistake
In the man, Jacky?"
mo. s~ir-reel That amt wot I'm here
for. An there amt n two men in
this ERE metropolis wot looks like that
one"
That's so, too. BY your description
of him, o wouldn't be likely to mis-
take him for any one else. But you
promised to show him TO me-"
$50 / did, boss. / j kinder thought he'd
stand right here TIL / got back. In my
excitement l forgot I hadn't never done
nothin' for him to make him anxious to
oblige me; hut I'll shom him to yer yet.
boss. IL you'll only have a little patience
with me-"
A right, Jacky; i've got any
amount OF patience returned the de-
tective, spontaneously. Come. now,
I'll walk on a bit, and meet you on the
other side OF the street. You can give
me a regular long careful shine-up. and
I will think out a plan for staying about
here without attracting attention"
Humpy gave an intelligent nod. and.
catching up his backing brushes and
box. sauntered easily off In an opposite
direction.
After a lapse of ten minutes, during
which he managed to see pretty much
OF everything on either side of the
street, Hantiin met Jacky o. the oppo-
site sidewalk, and the bootbalck pol
ished his boots until they reflected his
own presniring face like a mirror.
The boy gave them an additional
touch, then. from time to time, and ex-
pended as much time as he could on the
operation. with his keen glance directed
every instant to the hotel steps. He
began TO fear he should not win the
gold coin, after all, when, suddenly,
the object of his watchfulness emerged
from the hotel and came directly to-
ward them.
That's him. muttered Jacky, giving
The detective a smart poke with the
backing brush-which was wholly un-
necessary. for Hantlin's gaze was fast
ened on the approaching figure. as II he
wished to photograph 1t on his eye for
ever.
And. indeed. II was a remarkable
looking man upon whom he gazed-a
face and figure to attract attention any
where, and which Detective Hantlin
never forgot from that moment.
or a height that would nave beer un-
calmly In a less perfectly proportional
figure. a sculptor would almost have
adored him as the mode for a colossal
Apollo.
His complexion was a fair, pale olive,
almost golden in hue: his large, lus-
trous eyes were OF dazzling blue, and
glowed and glittered like Jewels; his
finely marked brows were heavy, and
several shades darker than his, shining
yellow hair. which, In its natural condi-
ton. waved In curling luxuriance about
his neck and temples. but was now cut
quite short.
His large. beautifully-sbApe hands
gfittered x9Eh rings, which he evidently
wished 20 display, for he carried his
Aght kid gloves carelessly In the hand
which held his cane.
Hs was dressed In the fashion Of the
Say. Hot sh0wliy. but with more atten-