Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-05-13

RUFFIAN WHO LOOKED AS IF HE
HAD TAKEN ALI. 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 il Warde
should blow it, the detective would
know that he was in danger and
would hasten to his assistance. Fem
ton was not Mt 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 ruffian
who looked as if he might have taken
all the degrees of crime. A low brow,
heavy black musiache, small animal
eyes and profusion of cheap jewell
ry admirably fitted Billy MCGEE to
be the hero of n bloody melodrama
or prominent character in Lon
don chap-book. A couple of dissipated
young men We're throwing dice be-
fore Billy, who watched the result
with the interest of dispassionate
referee. A number of persons en-
bodying various degrees of disreputa-
bility We're congregated about the
tables, some handling greasy decks of
cards, some shooting craps" some
drinking whisky and other congenial
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 a
few faded parodies of womankind,
whose. efforts to be gay and mirthful
were Of piece with their CHASTITY
surroundings.
1t was not often that well-dressed,
good-looking young man was seen in
Peters Rest, and his advent ought to
have accustomed some surprise, but it
did not. The Rest pursued its dark
and devious occupations as repose-
fully as though Warde had been a
regular feature of the establishment.
Billy MCGEE did not even look up
from the important business that was
transacting before him.
Warde at once strobe up to the bar
and asked ii there was present man
by the name of William Jackson.
"Four deuces," snid Mr.. MCGEE. 1T
will be hard to beat that. William?
Oh, yes. Bill was here about half an
hour ago. Are you the gent he was
cXpectin'2"
"Yes."
HE said If you come to tell you to
wait for him. He'll be back directly.
You'll have to throw again, Dock.
Take a seat in the parlor," continued
Mr.. McGee 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 table drinking. They were
sturdy-looking fellows, who were
slightly better dressed than their as
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 we're 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 cigar he