The stayer. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1896-1903, 1902-01-02
CHAPTER XVII.
THE QUARRY.

usual mir OF absent minded cOncentrI
! ton. Presently he turned into sid
street and Mt once slackencd his pac,
He now sauntered along like lounge
Mt loss how to kill a long, idle day
The show window of bric-a.brac sho
arrested his attention. He stopped {,
examine its contents.
a little farther up the street was
liquor saloon, outside Of which stoot
4 group of boisterous young rowdies
An older man, evidently in his cups
was seated on an adjoining stoop
where. with maudlin gravity. he seemed
| to be communing with himself.
On the opposite side of the way stood
n low, dilnpidated brick house. A
painted sign over the windows of the
ground floor bore the name: MAN
HAITIAN CHEMICAL CO."
! The drunken man rose unsteadily to
his feet and approached Sturgis with
outstretched hand.
Say. Jimmy, get on ter his nibs
strikin' de bloke fur nickel ter git
medicine fur his sick mudder!" ex-
claimed one of the young ruifians.
The wretched-looking individual thus
designated seemed hardly able to stand
as he steadied himself against an iron
railing; but the eyes he turned upon
Sturgis were bright with intelligence
and the words he spoke were uttered in
q low, firm voice:
Hes been here-been here twice."
Twice" echoed sturgis, surprised.
where is he now?"
II don't know"
you don't know?"
NO, sir; but l guess Conklin does.
This is how it was: 1t was my watch
yesterday afternoon, when Chatham
came the first time. He went into the
Manhattan company's place through
the basement at quarter after five.
So l just settled myself out here and
waited. Well, ! waited and waited. but
there wasn't any sign of Chatham, and
when Flagler came along to relieve me
at ten o'clock Chatham hadn't come
out yet. Flagler he spotted the place
until six this morning, and then Conk-
lin took his turn again until two
o'clock, when l came on for my watch.
Just as Conklin was telling me how
things stood, who should come down
the street but Chatham himself, large
as life"
Down the street," exclaimed Stur.
gis.
Yes, sir. And up he goes, as il moth
ing had happened, and into the Man
haitian Chemical company's place
again"
He had put up the back-door game
on you," said the reporter.
Yes, sir; just what said to Conk-
lin. So, quick as wink, | sent him
around the block to keep his eye
peeled on the next street, and waited
here. And here I've been ever since.
II Conklin isn't on the block above, it
must be because Chatham has made
tracks again, and he after him."
IN 20 and find out" said Sturgis.
HAS anyone else called at the Man.
haitian Chemical companys Office since
you nave Dttu Oh WutCn.
NO, sir; but couple Of hours ago
m express wagon came along and de-
livered long wooden box; might have
been chemicals for the wholesale de-
partment, for it was lowered to the cell
lar by the hoist in the areaway. The
blond young man receipted for the
box"
very well, Shrady. Hang on a little
while longer, and l shall have you re-
ieved just as soon as possibly can"
So saying, the reporter, who had
been pretending to look through his
pockets for coin, ostentatiously
slipped.a nickel into the outstretched
palm before him. The light seemed to
die out Of the sharp eyes of the detect
i've, and it was the miserable drunkard
who staggered back to his place on the
stoop next to the station, unmindful Of
the gibes of the young rowdies congre-
gated there.
Sturgis walked up to the next street,
where he found second detective on
]uty.
anything new, Conklin 2" he asked.
NO, sir; he's been lying low; looks
Ike he knew he was spotted this
time"
Good. Stay here until ] can notify
he police that We have run down the
quarry. 1t will necessary to obtain
search warrant for the Manhattan
'hemieal company's place. In the
meantime, if Chatham should attempt
o make tracks, hang on to him like
lis shadow and send back word here ~
DON as you can"
"All right, SIR"
Sturgis, after leaving Conf'in.
'alked along the street which the de.
ective was watching and carefully in
pected every house on the block. AL.
1ost all were huge Office buildings; but
ere and there an old-fsshioned brown ,
tone front stood OUT conspicuously !
gainst the broad ex anse of brick .
Ialls and iron columns. Halfway i,
own the street one oithese old houses J
TODD well back froa the street line |
ehind a small gnrd&. The reporter 9
'ood near this aud tad the numbers :
a the adjoining buildings.
"This il directlv HEX NJ the Nan. /,