The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-22

LIN NEAPOIlS JOJRl
sailor who had struck me as such a PEE
acnliar chap stood in the room before us.
I forgot, she walled out. What am
to do with him?'
1.-The sailor who was no sailor; stared
straight before him, as well he might,
for he had left lighted room and found
dark one. Yet in that state there was
a look Of pain easily to be seen by the
light thrown out by the red-hot stove. He
didn't mind Mother Merrys cry He had
something else on his mint He looked
like a man suddenly Weakened up, and
had strange idea that his dreams, If
he had had them, held him just then in
closer grip than the facts he had come
among.
1T is SO later he sighed; and started,
for the voice was that of a gentleman.
seemed to bring fresh trouble to Mother
Merry.
't'Oh, the ill-luck!' she walled The
cops are at the door. The place has been
threatened for month, and tonight
they are closing round VIII you face
them. or shall I open the trap again
Oh, don't!' she groaned, as he gave a sud-
den reel Backward it makes me feel
wicked. I ought to have warned you
at would have made no difference
he said. I should still have gone up. Help
me, if you can, and remember what you
have sworn. Tomorrow / will send
money. Oh God! o God! to leave
now
"'You cannot leave. Hank, that Is the
second signal. In another moment they
will be here. Do you want to fall into
their hands? 2
4 had rather die Quick! Some place.
Money is no object. Let that fellow l
see over there help me. He looks as if
he wasn't afraid of the ssolice. Let him
change toys with me-
60 I am a private detective, I whispered,
going very close to him in the dark
My name is Yox, and you will find pa
pers to support the name and business in
my coat pocket. They may hold you for
a day, but no longer and I handed over
my coat.
"'I am sorry that I cannot confide my
name to you with the same ease I do
this coat he replied, as he Grew me the
garment which had so disfgured him.
But my name is the secret I would de-
fend with my life. Say that you are Ben
iamin Jones'
"'First fork over the cash which you
say is no object to you'll I cried.
"You must trust me for that he an
swered. If I get off without discovery
you will receive a hundred dt\'ars at your
address within the week. I have left all
I had above
'Chaff!' muttered.
He will pay, Mother Merry assured
me.
Then here's my cap, grumbled, not
any too well pleased.
"He took it, and though it was com
mon one enough, he looked like another
man in it.
Support me in my character! he or
dered Just as that blowing curtain was
caught and held back by hand from
without and the face Of a policeman
looked I'M
"Hey, there! lamps up was the order.
We got light flashed over us from the
doorway.
1.-The man at my side advanced to meet
it., and 1 saw him talking with the officer
who lad pushed his head through the up
Per half Of the door. ~ Then everything
about and before me became mixed in the
rush the police made from every side.
aid i failed to see anything again for
some minutes. When a minutes quiet
came about again, and l had the chance
to use my eyes, did not find the man to
whom 1 had lent my coat and my name.
He had been allowed to slip away.
"But had no such luck The place be-
ing turned over. and only few women
found, they turned on me. But l was
game, and was soon able to show them I
was one of their own sort. At which
there naturally came the question as to
who the other fellow was. But l did
not help them out on this, and it ended
| in my being taken to Jefferson Market
with the rest. --
| eve all got off next day and without
| much trouble l have always thought
that fellow paid the fines; at all events,
enc week from that day I found an en-
yelope addressed to me. lying on my
desk at the office. 1t contained bills to
the amount agreed upon.
Now, Mr.. Underhill, who was this man
l have been asking myself that question
ever since I pocketed his money. me
fellow who can pay out hundreds like that
| is man to know
| I waited for the answer, which was slow
| in coming But then Underhill was al
ways slow. When he did speak it was
lazily enough.
| ''Didn't you say you had some clue to
his identity; O match-bo or something
of that kind, which you found in one OF
| the pockets of the coat he gave you!
| Eyes, have that
sAnd that there were initials on 1T which
Won had not been able to decipher?"
ooh. yes, initials: but what can. fellow
make out of initials?' ...
mot much, of course. Have you that
match box with you?' ..A.
| .T lust have I sport it. everywhere.
| T think so much of it I have even talked
of having my name changed to ut tine let
ters of this monogram.
LET me see it. will your
| The fellow drew it out.
| minute passed, then Underhill draWleo
| out:
| cts not so easy to make out as eN-
nected.. Will you let me compare 1T WIZ
collection / have in a book here? may
. have its mate"
"Sure, sir
| JJnderhill came my way. The sudoe1
| heat into which 1 was thrown by TINS
| unexpected move acted as a double warn.
ing I must beware of self-betrayal, ane
| 7 must take care not to give away my
presence to the sharpe sharp-eare.
man whose persDicacity l had reason tt
dread So rose as quietly as posslDle
| and met Underhilrs entering tgure VIII
. silent inquiry, nicely adjusted to the
interest was supposed to feel III the Hhat.
ter. He was no less careful, put tnere
| was a sparkle in his eye as ne handee
! over to my inspection the matchbox NJ
| had lust taken from 4ox, when contra
| dicted his air of Inconsistencies, ana iet
me to inspect with great interest," t1'
monogram he displayed to my notice. |
/ was by no means simple one, as you VII
see by the subjoined copy:
| ~