The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-13
CHAPTER XII.
Jerry the Teller.


ing over the street. A cigarette described
brief parabola as it WAS tossed from the
brougham, and a short young man Jumped
out and entered the gates, then paused and
| spoke to the driver OF the cab.
Did you bring Mr.. Barrett here?'
Yes, sir, answered the driver; him and
two other gentlemen
Lighting another cigarette, from which he
drew but two inspirations before he threw it
away, the young man proceeded quickly up
the walk. AS he ascended the short flight
of steps which led to the main doors, he
painted a little, In a way which suggested
that (although his white waistcoat outlined
an ellipse still respectable) crescendo Of
portlness was playing diminuendo with his
youth. And, though his walk was brisk, it
was not lively. The expression OF his very
red face indicated that his brisk
ness was spurred by anxiety. and a
fattish groan he emitted on the
top step added the impress
sion that his comfirtable body protested
against the mental spur In the hall he re-
moved his narrow -brimmed straw hat and
presented a rotund and amiable head. from
the top of which his auburn hair seemed to
retire with a sense OF defeat; 1t fell back,
| however not in confusion, but in perfect Or
| der, and the sparse pink mist left upon his
crown gave by a supreme effort an effect of
arrangement, so that an imaginative observer
would have declared that there was part
down the middle. The gentleman's plump
face bore grave and troubled expression, and
gravity and trouble we're patent in all the
| lines Of his figure and in every gesture; In
| the way he turned his head: In the uneasy
shifting of his hat from one hand to the OF her
and In his tanning himself with it in ner-
vous fashion: and in his small blue eyes,
| which did not twinkle behind his. rmless
glasses, and looked unused to not twinkling.
| His gravity clothed him like an ill-htting
coat; or, possibly, he might have reminded
the imaginative observer, just now conjured
up. of a music box set to turning Its cylinder
| backwards.
He spoke to an attendant, and was directed
to an Office which he entered without delay.
| There were Ave men in the room three OF
them engaged In conversation near the door;
another, young surgeon, was writing at a
desk; the fifth drowsily nodding on a SOFA.
Tho newcomer bowed as he entered.
"Mr Barrett?" he said, inQuiringly.
One of the men near the door turned about.
Yes, sir" no answered, with a stern dis
favor of the applicant; disfavor possibly q
perquisite OF his Office. whats wanted?'
II think i have met you, returned the
other my name is Meredith
Mr. Barrett probably did not locate the
meeting, but the name proved an open sesame
to his geniality, for he melted at once, and
saying: "Of course. Of course, MT. Meredith
did you want talk with me-? clasped the
young mans hand confidentially IN his, and,
with an appearance OF assuring him that
whatever the atrocity which had occurred IN
the Meredith household, 1t should be discreet
ly handled and hushed up, indicated dispo-
| sition to conduct him toward a more appro-
pirate apartment for the rehearsal OF scandal.
The young man accepted the handclasp with
some resignation, but rejected the suggestion
of privacy. =.
"A telegram from Plattville reached me half
ha Soid
it sooner but l have been in the country all
| day.
The two men who had been talking with the
su perntendent turned quickly. and stared at
| the speaker. He went on: "Mr. Harkless was
an old-and-"~ He broke off, with sudden.
| sharp CHOKING and for moment was unable
to control emotion that seemed, for some
reason, as surprising and untehtting in a
person OF his rubicund presence, as was hls
gravity. An astonished tear glttered in the
corner of his eye. The grief OF the gaye'
sorts of stout people appears, sometimes, te
dumfound even themselves. The young mar
took off his glasses and wiped them slowly
An old and very dear friend OF mine .
He replaced the glasses tnsecureiy upon hif
nose Il telephoned to your headquarters
and they said you had come here
"Yes, sir yes. SIR" the superintendent o.
police responded cheerfully. These two
gentlemen are from Plattville: Mr.. Smith JUS
down there to-day, but / guess we'll settlt
things for 'em up here. Let me make yot
acquainted with my friend, Mr.. Smith, ane
my friend, Mr. Horner. Gentlemen, my
friend Mr. Meredith, one Of our well-knoWr
citizens.
"You hear 1t from the police. gentlemen.
| added Mr.. Meredith, perking up little. -
know Dr. Gay" He nodded to the surgeon.
Il suppose you heard some Of the circum
| stances-those that we've given OUT sale
| Barrett.
II read the account in the evening paper
/ had heard Of Earkless of Carlow before
but it never occurred to me that 1t was m!
friend-I had heard he was abroad-until
| got this telegram from relative OF min
who happened to be down there
"Well' said the superintendent, you
friend made a mighty good fight before h
gave UP. The Teller, that's the man we'v
got, out here, he's hacked up and sho
and battered his mother wouldn't know mr.
II she wanted to; at least, that's what Gay
here. says. We haven't seen him, becaus
the doctors have been at him ever since h
was found, and they expect to do some NOR
tonight when we've had our Interview wit
him, If he lives long enough. One OF N
sergeants found him In the freight yard
about 4 o'clock and sent him here IN tn
ambulance; knew 1t was the Teller, becaus
he was slowed away in one OF the empt
cars that came from Plattville last nigh
and Slattery-that's his running mate, tn
one we caught with the coat and hat-gav
In that they beat their way on that fregh
guess Slattery let this one do most OF th
| fighting; he amt scratched; but Mr.. Harh
less certainly made 1t hot for the Teller
MY relative believes that Mr.. Harkless
still alive" said Meredith.
Mr. Barrett permitted himself an indulgeI
smile He had the air OF having long ag
discovered everything which anybody migl
wish to know, and Of knowing great de'
| which he held in reserve because 1t We
necessary to suppress many facts for a pu1
pose far beyond his auditors comprehension
though a very simple matter to himself,
"Well, hardly, expect" he replied, easil!
mo; he's hardly alive"
80, don't say that said Meredith.
'I' m afraid Mr.. Barrett has to say it,
broke in Warren Smith. Were up here
see this fellow before he dies. to try and g
him to tell what disposal they made
the
"Ah!" Meredith shivered II believe I
rather he said the other than to hear you ga
that"
MI. Horner felt the need Of defending fe
low -townsman, and came to the rescue ausf
ing painfully. Its mighty bad, I know,
said the sheriff OF Carlow, the shadows
his honest rough face falling In a solem
pattern; II reckon we hate to say 1t as muc
as you hate to hear it.; and Warren real
didn't get the word out. It's stuck In o,
throat all day; and don't recollect as
heard a single man say 1t before I left OF