Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-22

HAD TAKEN ALL THE DEGREES
 OF CRIME.
 he would stop while Warde went in. Before they separated Fenton handed him police whistle, and it was agreed between them that if Warde should blow it, the detective would know that he was in danger and would hasten to his assistance. Fen ton was not at all satisfied with this adventure of Warde's, but he did not communicate any of his uneasiness. He merely cautioned him to be on his guard, as the crowd he was going among was not very particular about taking either property or life.
 The atmosphere in the saloon was so heavy and malodorous that the lights burned dimly and reluctantly. Behind the bar was stolid ruff1an who looked as If he might have taken all the degrees of crime. A low brow, heavy black mustache, small animal eyes and profusion of cheap jewel ry admirably fitted Billy McGee to be the hero of bloody melodrama or prominent character in Lon don chap-book. A couple of dissipated young men were throwing dice be- fore Billy, who watched the result with the interest of dispassionate referee. A number of persons em- bodying various degrees of disreputa- bility were congregated about the tables, some handling greasy decks of cards, some shooting craps," some :. .s-1 SoT liquors and some talking apart in whispers on subjects not to be re- vealed even in that favorable atmos- phere. There were also on hand few faded parodies of womankind, whose efforts to be gay and mirthful were of piece with their ghastly surroundings.
 It was not often that welI-dreSsed, good-looking young man was seen in Peter's Rest, and his advent ought to have occasioned some surprise, but it did not The Rest pursued its dark and devious occupations as repose- fully as though Warde had been regular feature of the establishment. Billy McGee did not even look up from the important business that was transacting before him.
 Warde at once strode up to the bar and asked if there was present man by the name of William Jackson.
 -Four deuces," said MT. McGee. "It will be hard to beat that. William !? Oh, yes. Bill was here about half an hour ago. Are you the gent he was expectin'?"
 "Yes.'
 ''He said if you come to tell you to wait for him. He'll be back d'recly. You'll have to throw again, DOCK. Take seat in the parlor," continued MT. Melee to Warde, waving his hand toward the door of an adjoining room.
 As Warde stood before the bar he was somewhat startled to find that his coming had not been without some interest to at least one or two of those present.
 In one corner of the room two men sat at a table drinking. They were sturdy-looking fellows, who were slightly better dressed than their ass sociates, but their faces were almost startling in the prominence of evil displayed therein. One of them was very muscular man, whose strength had certain cat-like element in it, which had been very cleverly cele- brated by his associates in the nick name of Old Tom, which they had given him. His companion was an almost perfect specimen of physical manhood.
 The mirror revealed the fact that these men were watching Warde with an intensity-it seemed to him ma lightly of interest-for which he could not account; but he betrayed no surprise, nor did he give any evi- dence that he had observed them. Taking from his pocket a cigar he lighted it coolly, and then nonchalant- ly entered the parlor.
 This was a simple room with a table and several chairs in it. A swinging lamp was suspended from above. The walls were covered with choice pie torial selections from the illustrated criminal weeklies. A few sensational papers suitable to the clientele at Peters Rest were on the table, and
 
 . the same interest that seraph might take in reading the London Times. A He had been there barely five min utes when the door opened and Old Tom entered the room. At first he seemed a bit embarrassed before Warde's cool and searching gaze and then he said: "You come here to see Bill Jackson, did you?"
 'Yes; has he come back?'
 ''No, but maybe my pardner can tell you something about him."
 "I'm not particular about that. If he does not come soon I shall go. Have you any idea what he wants with me? I'm newspaper man."
 Wait till call my pardner. I think he knows something about it."
 Never mind your partner. I do not care to know what he has to say"
 Warde's suspicious were now aroused, and he did not propose to have a tete-a-tete with these brawny rufians. There could be no doubt