Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-10-17
CHAPTER Xxi.
The Marquis Del Castellnni.


When Detective Hantlin started off
with Humpy Jack. the bootblack. he
gave himself entirely to the guidance
of his companion.
They had walked considerable dis
tance 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 northerly direction, and
into quarter which grew more ele-
giant as they proceeded.
why, Jack, where are you taking
me?" Hantlin asked, suddenly, coming
to a standstill.
Its all right, boss-which I'm ago.
in to s'prise YER I dersay; but I'm a.
takin' yer straight to the right place,
all er same"
every well, come on said the detect
i've, starting off again in the wake Of
his conductor, who went ahead at
pace which taxed him to keep up with
It.
tJacky did not pause again until they
were in the shadow of one of the finest
and most fashionable hotels in the city.
pered, with mysterious wink:
"This yer's his boardin' house."
What" exclaimed the detective, sur
prised. You don't mean the man lives
in this hotel?"
81 see him a-standin' on them ere
steps as 1 was blackin'-a gemman's
boots. an axed the bell-boy If he lived
here, an he said yes; so 7 knows
In the man, Jacky?"'
mo, STREE! That amt wot I'm here
for. An there amt any two men in
one
That's SO, too. By your description
of him, you wouldn't be likely to mis-
take him for any one else. But you
promised to show him to me-"
$50 did, boss. kinder thought he'd
stand right here till got back In my
excitement forgot hadn't never done
nothin for him to make him anxious to
oblige me; but I'll shom him to yer yet,
boss, if you'll only have little patience
with me- +..
"All right, Jacky: I've got any
amount of patience" returned the de-
tective. spontaneously. "Come, now,
TIL walk on bit, and meet you on the
other side of the street. You can give
me a regular long careful shine-up, and
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 lapse of ten minutes, during
which he managed to see pretty much
of everything on either side of the
street, Hantlin met Jacky on the oppo-
site sidewalk, and the bootbalck. pol
ished mis- boots until they reflected his
own prespiring 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 smart poke with the
Backing brush-which was wholly I'M
necessary, for Hantlin's gaze was fast
0Icu Oh Iue DIS IL lie
wished to photograph it on his eye for
ever.
And, indeed, it 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.
OF a height that would have been un-
calmly in a less perfectly proportioned
figure, a sculptor would almost have
adored him as the model for a colossal
Apollo.
His complexion was fair, pale olive,
almost golden in hue; his large, lus-
trous eyes We're of dazzling blue. and
glowed and glittered like jewels; his
fnely-marked brows were heavy, and
several shades darker than his shining
yellow hair, which, in its natural condi-
ton, waved in curling luxuriance nDout
his neck and temples, but was no~ cut
quite short.
7 His large, beautifully-shaped hands
Fglittered with rings, which he evidently
wished to display. for he carried his
light kid gloves carelessly in the hand
which held his cane.
, He was dressed in the fashion Of the
Hay. not SLOWLY. but with more atten-