The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-17
THE ADVERTISERS !. # N
 .s = DAILY SHORT STORMY
Copy right. Isos bx Daily Story Puslshi.s cs.l

4 vivid blush leaped Into the race of l the girl when her eyes rested on the ornament. She recognized it but did not immediately reply. At last, hay ing given it the minutest inspection, she saids
 Tt was mine once. but I-I gave it away. Yet who could have cut the gold mounting from it?" A vagrant thought of the Mint bar keeper was expelled with indignation from Ellington's mind so soon as It entered 1t. But he inquired gravely:
 You gave it to someone in the city?"
 "Oh, no; I sent 1t away in a letter. g
 Yes: 1t could not be that the donee returned it here to some friend?"
 Impossible" replied Miss Cudworth. Again two brilliant splotches of crim- son contrasted with the pallor of her complexion. Ellington caught himself whistling a note or two and imrne- diately apologized for his sudeness.
 Would you permit me-" he asked. "to retain this ornament for day or two? As understand the situation 1t should now be in the hands of cer- tain person who, probably. never re- ceived it.
 You may as well lay the prob ability aside It is certain the person never received it. Or, if the person did receive it the person must have lost 1t. However, as there appears to be some mystery attached to 1t have no objection to your keeping it day or two if you think you can clear the matter up."
 You say that a man named Bill Cooney gave you this tooth?" said FL lington, addressing the barkeeper of the Mint.
 No; he didn't exactly give 1t to me. He tossed 1t off for couple of drinks. You see this man Cooney has recently lost several hundred dollars at faro, and Is broke"
 Where would a man like Cooney get several hundred dollars?"
 T don't know"
 What does he do?"
 "Gambles. drinks, loafs. He has got room up here a couple of blocks"
 From the Mint Ellington directed his steps to the central police station. Two of the plan clothes men" were seated by the stove playing checkers.
 You haven't got a line on the mail robbers yet, have you?" inquired Tom.
 "Oh. we have shunted that job off on to the Postoffice Inspector" replied one of the players. Hell get 'em about the time the pigs begin to fly. ha! hal"
 Where does the Inspector stop?"
 "Gorman House."
 When Tom Ellington, accompanied by the Inspector knocked at the door of Cooney's room they expected, as the hour was late to find only that in- dividual abed and asleep. But Cooney was wide away and dressed. So, also, was his companion, Skyline.
 Hands up!" cried the Inspector, bursting into the room, "and 1 will drop the first man in his tracks who offers resistance! Ellington, grab that grip full of envelopes. They complete the evidence"
 The two thieves comprehended the situatio nat a glance. The room was too small for any practical resistance. The Inspector soon had pair of hand cuffs on each man. He then suggested that it was time to run them down to the station. Ellington looked at his watch. It was 2:30 a. m."
 Inspector Bowles," he said, fin con- sideration of my share in this nights work would you do me favor?" Certainly" replied the Inspector.
 My situation on The Morning Star really depends on my producing some thing exclusive for the paper. The city editor says am not making good as @ reporter. If these two gentlemen are taken immediately to the station The Sunrise Signal will have just as i good story us Tine Star. Ana I've worked too hard on this to see it go that way. While write out my copy promise me that you will not take them to the station before 3 o'clock. By that time The Signal will have gone to press"
 Certainly, my boy, I'll do that" re- piled the good -natured Inspector. q | don't know who deserves favor more than you do.''
 Tom Ellington got his "beat" into the first edition of The Morning Star. The city editor of The Sunrise Signal explained to his chief that the two thieves were not brought into the sta tion until the last edition of The Sig nal had gone to press. But how did The Star get it?" was the awful question that followed. Search me-" answered the city edi- tor. "As I have it the men were not locked up until after sunrise. Tom Ellington had made good" When he went to return the ornament that had SO notably assisted him in his hour of tribulation, he was introduced to Mir. Harry Dexter of St. Louis. the theoretical owner of the illustrious toth.