Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-04-17

He eIOmtned the break III the chair.
tie matter, not connected with this case
at all, that you can help me about if
| you feel like it-at leasy think you
can"
with all the pleasure In life,'' re-
sponded Alden. II feel like helping ev-
erybody, with one exception"
And as he spoke the last words his
| hand, that had been resting upon the
| back of chair, closed with sudden,
convulsive movement and ripped one
of the wooden rungs out of its fasten-
ings.
EImendorf slowly crossed the room
and examined the break in the chair.
eff you got hold Of the gentleman in
question: said he, 81 think he would
never come to trial. By the way,
am pleased to learn that Miss Miller
is doing well this morning"
Alden tapped his broken chair as If
1t had represented the individual to
whom Elmendorf had vaguely referred.
'That doesn't let him out. however"
| he said But tell me what | can do
for you"
"Did you have some dealings at one
| time with firm of the name of How
ard & Bain?"
81 believe did" replied Alden.
"They failed and skipped"
"Have yod any documents bearing
| the firms signature by either partnerT
| asked Elmendorf.
"Yes; I have one" said Alden, "but
l don't know Just where it is. I'll look
| through my desk n"-addressing
| Robinson. who sat in his usual place
| "do you know where that contract isf'
Robinson replied In the negative, and
! Alden pulled out the contents of some
| drawers and pigeonholes In vain
search. Finally be came to one little
| drawer which Mr.. Elmendorf had once
opened
Here's the contract" he said, "and-
Hello. here's something of yours,
John"
And he tossed an envelope across to
| Robinson's desk. Robinson glanced at
1t hastily and put il into his pocket.
| Elmendorf appeared to be busy with
] the old contract which Alden bad
handed to him. and, having received
permission to keep it for few days,
he put the useless document into his
| pocket.
Jack" said Alden, will you ask
| Mr.. Willett to come in herep
Willett was the firms accountant.
Robinson walked toward the door, and
| as he did so Elmendorf half rose from
his chair and then sat down again.
! The accountant presently appeared.
| He received some memoranda from Al
| den and went out again. There was
an interval of silence. while Elmendorf
devoted himself TO the enjoyment Of a
large cigar and Alden jotted down fig
ures on n slip of paper.
"Wonderl what's become of Robin
SON." said Alden at last.
The detective offered no opinion
upon this point, and Alden stepped to
the door and glanced into the large
room. Elmendorf heard some one say
In response to question that Robin
son had gone out. Alden seemed an.
noyed as he returned to his desk
where he hastily wrote a note to Rob
| inson.
"Now," be said, I'm going ur
town.
"St. Winifred'sY" queried Elmen.
dorf.
81 shall call there about l o'clock"
"If you'll go over to the Astor House
with me-" said Elmendorf, "and wait
about three minutes while | transact
| n
and we can talk on the way. There
are a few questions that I'd like tC
ask after I've Strengthened them out
| In my own mind q bit"
| Alden saw nc objection TO this ar
rangement, and so they walked over
| to the old hotel together. Elmendori
glanced at his watch as they entered
and then approached the attendant In
charge of the telephone booths In The
hall
"There will be a call for Mr.. Elmen
dorf from Philadelphia I'm about O
minute" he said. 81 am the man."
The call came within the interval
stated, and Elmendorf entered the
booth, where he gave the customary
greeting, which was returned in n ia
miliar voice.
1--WE got track Of your man oyei
here" said the voice 'R. appears tC
re his real name; didn't suppose II
Was. lie was in trouble over here Q
little more than n year ago and had tC
get out Of town; borrowed some
money on bogus security" And the
voice furnished few details of the
transaction. HE has been trying tC
straighten It out lately and is not ir
danger Of arrest here; has been over
several tines There are rumors that
he got into similar trouble In Wash
ington, but I'm not down to that yet
One man who knows kim here tirialEs