Warren sheaf., 1903-05-21

me closing of the door reused the
chief from his reverie. fo,. Ne sat -,
ana looked around as if wondering
70 ma himself alone. Just then a
tlmlo tap sounded on the door and
the attendant entered.
wei, what do you want?" asked
| the chief.
There's heavy swell outside who
says ne thinks he has news of impor-
tance, bout this last robbery on de
aveny.'' ..." -. -.
Some other fool-crank, L suppose.
to take up my time. growled
barnes; then, settling back in his
chair, with an air of resignation.
well, tell him to come in.''
Inc visitor tripped in gayly, as if
Dent on a pleasure mission. He was
rather .overdressed and wore a gar
denla In his lapel. His face was
smllllng. b4t Barnes in an ill-humor
frowned that down. @:
ou nave some information-be
brief. Sit down. motioning toward a
chair The visitor dropped into the
seat. : !s,a =: -e-s-1-.. s,s~. = s. .se
~, inspector Barnes, i believe YOU
are aware that "a man known under.
the sobriquet Of VIII O. the Wisp re-
Gently escaped, with others, from the
Auburn prison, 49, r.: IN Fl. H. T. l.:
Barnes nodded stif1y. -''~' 49, -
Il have reason to know that he is
81! ~! D. y th!s city. That he arrived
Eere a few days ago. = .
care you sure of that?'"' eying his
visitor keenly. "Our men have been
looking for him, but I had no news
of his whereabouts" -
We'll, you see an amateur some
times can beat PROFESSIONAL
= But how do you. know you have
seen the man-do you know him per-
sonally?" = z...>...".. x.. =.
"Well, hardly, not being in the
habit of associating with such peo-
ple,' with a laugh.
~"Explain yourself.'
Il need not go into details-in fact,
l prefer not to- This man, it hap
pens,@ called on us some time ago.
He holds d paper-a document,
which, if made public, would do a
great injury to our family Now, he
could only have got hold of this pa
per through a fellow-prisoner-
Martin Frale-to whom it was con-
fided many years ago" "a.
Il see. Frale was the man who
was killed when a crowd of them es-
capped from Auburn" and the chief
examined a paper which he drew
from one of the pigeon-holes above
his desk. 'This Frale and Will, it
seems, had struck up great friend
ship in prison. Frale, learn, saved
his life from the assault of another
man when they were working in the
shoe shop. Since that time they
were like brothers. It's rather a
pity that this Frale was shot; be-
cause, you see, he had but short
time more to serve, if he had not
attempted TO- escape" He replaced
the paper in his desk, and looked
to his visitor as if waiting for him
to speak.
"By the way, you have not told me
your name,'' as the other maintained
silence.
,'"To be sure, I forgot that. OF
course, don't want to appear con-
spicuously in the NATTER
''You need not"
my name is Frank Ellison.''
"And you think that perhaps this
escaped prisoner may be the head of
these recent robberies. The SUPPOSE
ton is not bad one, for when he
was at large he conducted some pref
ty clever jobs.''
He took a memorandum pad from
his desk, and dipped his pen into the
ink, at the same time assuming an
attitude of attention.
'Now, then, where is this place
where our man can be found?''
There are reasons why I cannot
tell you as yet,' said Ellison.
The chief dropped his pen on the
desk angrily.
did you come here to have fur
with the DEPARTMENT.
Nothing of the kind.' And the
visitor looked anxiously toward the
| door.
''Then explain yourself, anc
briefly" .-... .
II must arrange a meeting with
this man-if 1 cam
what for?" snapped Barnes.
"It must be part of our bargain.
first of all wish to secure possession
of this document. It would in jure us
if this fellow should be arrested ant
that paper in his hands. He would
make it public, and that would be {
poor reward for what I intend tt
do"
Barnes examined his visitor from
head to foot carefully. For all thu
fippant, foppish air of the man, ht
felt when he looked into his eye:
that he was far from being the veal
character he appeared to be. Tha.
he was man of strong passions ant
impulses, and not inclined to be over
/ ~. ~