The Washington times., 1903-02-01

Ritter. aEas 4. l. Dayis-by
which last namehe was just now
registered in the Office below-this
gentleman of many appellattons sat in
his room on the third floor back. before
a coal fire. toasting his shins and cogI-
tatIng on his fortunes
Looked at in one Ifght, these we're az
the very ebb. If payment had been de-
manded he could not have put ID the
money for the fire before which he was
comforting himself, much less for the de-
lectable dinner he had eaten some hours
before. But payment was not demanded.
Being a specious gentleman Of good ad-
dress. with a fine. open countenance. AMI
a large and stylish portmanteau. he was
welcomed to the privileges Of the &C
commodating hosiery without question.
Besides this outward show, which was
always large part of his stock in trade,
his entire capital consisted Of two
twenty fve-cent pieces, Colombian
half dollar. and an unlimited amount OF
nerve Upon this latter Mr.. Danforth
relied. both to take him through GER
tan tight places and to replenish ais
funds when that became absolutely nee
essary- It had become necessary now
and he was only waiting until the proper
time to take prompt and effective ac-
ton.
The goddess of fortune. his only &C
knowledged mistress, had placed in his
hands the opportunity for the repIenish-
ment of his purse. That opportunity
took the shape Of a bridal couple, who
had arrived that morning with an atmos-
pbere of love and three trunks. The
groom was a slight. pale young fellow,
with a downy mustache: the bride. a
willcwy girl, so enveIoped in Surs that
one could not see her face. but with a de-
liciously small ankle, and charming
turn Of the wrist when holding up her
skirts These things Mr.. Danforth adj
mired as became man of taste, but
most Of all was his attention attracted by
the sparkling ear drops that twinkled
from under her veil. He was an amateur
in diamonds and knew a good thing
when he saw it. as well as Grub. the
pawnbroker-who. by the way. could be
counted on to discount those same dia-
monds if luck turned that way. An ex-
animation Of the register. and little
casual conversation with the clerk.
showed these young people to be- Francis
Drummond and wife. and that they were
established in a suite of rooms on the
third floor front.
And so Mr. Danforth sat and meditated
on these things. and waited for the clock
in the church tower around the corner to
strike 3. which was his hour for business.
This rule OF action was based on great
deal Of practical investigation as to the
precise time when people sleep souudest.
As every keen observer knows. > O'Clock
in the morning is the hour when the
world turns over in bed, yawns, and goes
to sleep again. and for good reasons. 8
o'clock is the time when it is again sleep
ing soundIy-
By way of preparation. Mr. Danforth
carefully removed his pointed patent
leather shoes Then he opened his bag.
and extracted therefrom a pair of heavy
felt slippers. which fastened about the
ankle with an elastic, He also took out
a silver mounted revolver. It was not
loaded, and was only intended to dis
play to persons who happened to be
wakeful. and who We've disposed to ex-
press surprise at the presence OF an
unknown and unbidden visitor. In all
his experience. which extended over
some five years OF fortune hunting in
two hemispheres, he had met but one
man who cared to look into the muzzIe
of the revolver and at the same time
make a disturbance. This man had com
PEELED Mr. Danforth to hit him between
the eyes with his left and upper cut.
him with his right, before the intruder's
exit was undisputed. He now adjusted
the slippers. placed the ornamental FIRE
arm in his right hand coat pocket. and
resumed his attitude OF shin toasting.
Half an hour later. when the clock