Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-17
CHAPTER TX.

d
EYrepe in his yacht the SHARK" - y
CHAPTER TX.
SOME DETECTIVE WORK.
Mr.. Chalmers found a telegram
awaiting him from Chicago. 1t read
as follows:
Chicago. May g.
William Chalmers, Managing Editor New
York Record:
L. Sylvester Vincent undoubtedly head
of conspiracy. He has been planning it
for months. Left Chicago three weeks
ago with letters of introduction to Car
mody, Rockwell, Morton, Haven and
Pence. Has frequently been heard to
boast that he would do them. Have
just obtained information of Vincents
whereabouts. Will wire all developments.
Wire me $500 to Planters Hotel, st.
Louis.
BERNARD SEYMOUR"
Chalmers expressed the opinion
that Seymour was barking at a
knot" but he answered the telegram
and sent the money as requested.
The managing editor was far from
sharing Jack Stevens high opinion
OF Mr.. Seymour's detective abilities,
but was too much of disciplinarian
to interfere with the latter's plans.
He knew that Mr.. Seymour would
prove an expensive luxury, but
Chalmers had been trained to ignore
money as factor in newspaper ven.
lures. He dismissed the entcrprisins
Seymour from his thoughts.
The following morning Jack Ste.
vens returned from Provincetown
He had learned nothing. but had as.
signed his men in such way that
he predicted results would follow.
Chalmers explained to Stevens what
he had learned from following up the
clew offered by the letters found in
Hestor's Office.
will give this my personal at
tention," said Stevens. "Within two
hours 1 will find where that furniture
and stuff went to-"
BE very careful what you say or
do, Jack" cautioned Chalmers. "The
fact that Hestor bought lot of fur.
niture proves nothing in itself Say
nothing to make these furniture peo-
pie suspicious. They are likely to
wonder at our sudden interest in
Hestor's affairs"
Don't you worry about that" said
Stevens. 81 will not see the mem
bers of the firm at ALL L will trace
the stuff from the teanster who
hauled it, or get the facts from the
shipping clerk. 1 will make no bad
breaks"
Stevens had not been away two
hours before he returned. He was
excited but happy.
'Well?' said Chalmers.
THAT furniture went on board the
Shark" said Jack Stevens. st not
only went aboard the Shark but
it went into the hold of the boat. I
found the two teamsters who hauled
it. i made them believe / was one
of the clerks of the furniture house,
and explained that complaint had
been made that two chairs were
missing. They told me all about it.
The Shark was anchored off Twen-
ty-fourth street. They took the fur
niture there and help put it in the
yacht. / told them the matter was
OF no consequence, and convinced
them that suspicion was not directed
against them. / also found out
about the billiard table. That also
went on board the yacht. So did the
piano."
There is no use bothering about
the rest of the stuff" said Chalmers.
ut went to the same place. Well,
what do you think of ito"
II do not know your man Hestor,"
said Stevens. Were he not worth
more millions that ! have dollars,
j should say he was under suspicion"
''We will so regard him, notwith-
standing his money!" said Chalmers
deliberately. .Pick out two or three
good men and trace his actions as
best you can up to the time he went
away. He keeps bachelor apartments
up town. | will get you the address.
He has several servants, including
councilman. He is quite modest in his
tastes. The servants should not be
suspicious if you so al them dis
creetly."
Stevens had no trouble in inter-
viewing the servants of the Hestor
establishment. He learned nothing
of any consequence until he located
the coachman. That dusl>y gentle
man. proved mine of informa ton.