The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-07-10

Quoted a house that was the resort
Of all the ragtag and bobtail and
human sewerage Of the city. But he
was useful. and his suppression would
lave made 1t only more difficult to
find a man when he was wanted. So
it was that the Frenchman was al
lowed to continue running his shady
tavern as a friend of the law and a.
secret foe to the lawless elements.
AS the time passed, and yet the
signal was not heard, Inspector
Barnes began to get impatient, and
in the sbsdows moved up and down
the street, meeting here and there
some Of his men, with whom he ex-
changed a word or two, and them
passed on his beat.
During his walk he errived pres
emily before the real front of the
building. where the barroom was SIT
uated, and here he saw a man put
ting out the lights and making other
preparations to close up. AS it q
his intention to wink at the dotngs'
Of Monsieur Poujac, who had had q
hand in the apprehension of a mum"
Der of criminals, he made no at
tempt to approach the man who a
clearing up.
AS soon as the front Of the estab-
lishment was dark he returned to-
his post, which commanded the alley
and where Inspector Thorne was
now tand1ng
Anything new" he asked, as he
Struggled into the hallway beside his
subordinate.
mot a sound from our corner" re-
sponded the other.
TN getting suspicious?" said
Barnes.
"Of what?"
THAT 7 have been fooled"
"How's that?"
This chap Ellison might, for all i
know, be one Of the gang who Is In
terested in the man We are seeking"
Cant believe that"
well. I don't like to believe it.
either" grumbled the chief, land ii
he has played US a trick I fail to see
what he will gain by 1T; besides 4
took care to 20 the man up. He
is the brother of a banker of wealth
and repute. but perhaps it none the
better for that" He Was silent :. for :
getting desperate and ready to take
any chances. The failure to capture
this man made US the laughing stock
of the town, and I for n was get
ting tired Of 1t, so I was ready to seize
any straw"
who since Barnes had engineered the
thing would not have been sorry IL
b. whole affair turned out a gorgeous
humbug. But he did not venture to-
express any Of these thoughts aloud'
what he did remark was:
TITS too o to give up all hope
yet. Strange things happen In mat
tiers ike this-and we must be patient
"But somehow I have a p~remonition
that all is not right" straining his
eyes as If he would pierce the secrets
Of the f%orbidding black building that
lowered beyond them.
II wish I hadn't made a deal with
the fellow" shaking his head.
I'VE have to bargain when it comes
to getting on the track of a slippery
individual such as we are looking fol"
replied Inspector Thorne, in a voice
that meant to be consoling.
He had hardly delivered this short
speech, when suddenly the crack OF a.
pistol sho rang through the silence
The two men started-then, without a
word, they set off on a IN toward the
alley thai ran along the side Of the
strange hotel.
Barnes had received minute direc-
TONS" and knew how to proceed. His
men, running forward from all direc-
lions (and there were enough of them
came up with their chief at the en-
trance Of the alley. He CAV them
hurried directions about guarding ap-
proaches to the place, and they depart
ed g~rumbingly into the shadows, ins
dignant that they were not allowed tx.
take a prominent part in the capture. ~
NOW, then, Thorne," exclaimed the
chief, see to our gun, and follow me-"
and with these words he dashed On up,
the alley ct 8 Wonderful speed for a
man Of his Weight.
When the inspector came up with his
superior he was standing before an
open window. which led into the basea>
ment Of the place. A Pickering light
was seen for a moment in the gloom
but as they looked it suddenly disap-
peared.
The two police officers for a moment
; regarded each other in silence.
l mot going to plunge into that black,
hole, are you?" asked Thorne, with a.
shiver.
TT don't look exactly right. There
should be a light there" replied the
other. But since there is none, why,
we must supply it." So saying, he
took q folding dark lantern out of his,
pocket, shook 1t into shape, lit the can.
> die within, and said, grimly, 1--WE have.
gone too far to retreat now, so come on.
l and the devil take the hindmost." With
this, holding the lantern in one hand,
l he scrambled over the sill of the VIM
l dow and let himself drop to the floor.
3 He was followed a little later by In
: spector Thorn
"It's suspiciously SILENT" muttered,
Barnes, as he waved the lantern back
7 and forth. and peered into the cornerse
, Of the room
> Continued Next Weekly
: -
1900 IT. >Al