Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-23
DAILY SHORT STORY
TOO Many Cooks"
iOrIgInaIl

Hall-arrives in New York from the
west tomorrow and wishes TO make 4
tender OF cash in Il deal in which ne
prefers not 10 offer Il check. Here is
$4,000 in hundred dollar notes Count
them. Now place the notes. without
folding. in this envelope. That's right.
The safest place Is in the inner side
pocket of your coat. There's no other
place about YOU where you can keep
them so we'll under touch. 1t looks i
little bulky over your left chest, but
most men carry IA handkerchief there.
Here is Il photograph lie has sent me,
taken in the suit ne will wear"
| took the photograph. which was
that of Il tall. spare man, with mutton
chop whiskerS. dressed in Il pepper and
salt suit
Its all right" continued Mr. Steele.
Il know him. and it's | who advised
him 10 make the tender in legal cur
rency. We have been in correspond
ence about it for some time. He is Il
real estate operator, having one of the
largest real estate offices in Chicago
Where am | TO meet him.
AT the Grand Central depot. in New
Oli lIlt Nv al VI Ni4NslSO
limited tomorrow morning"
When | reached the station / had
eaten a hearty meal. and. being an in
veterate smoker. | took Il seat in the
smoking car. Three men sitting in the
seat i'll front of me needed a fourth
man to make up a game of whist. |
consented TO help them out provided
there was no stake. They agreed. and
| sat down and played with them.
During the game l caught one of the
men looking at the prOtuberance on my
chest When we tired of playing and |
went into another car he followed me,
endeavOriug to draw me into cOnVerSa
ton. He asked me where | was going.
what hotel | intended stopping at and
q number of other questions. | admit
ted that was going 10 New York: but,
not reliShing his interest i'll me. threw
him off as TO the hotel. | supposed |
mad thrown him off in this respect. but
| did not. for when l went to the office
of Il hotel near the Grand Central de-
pot and put my name on the register
the next man TO sign was my inter
ested friend.
Hello. You here?' he exclaimed,
WIFI apparent SuTpTlSe. SuppOStu
you were going to the f."
Changed my mind" l said.
The fellow invited me TO have
drink before going to bed. but | de
clined on the ground that | never
drank and was too tired to sit up i
minute longer than was necessary.
With this | went upstairs. but instead
of undressing | sat in my rosm for an
hour. then took my package down TO
the office and had it placed in the safe
Then. procuring an envelope, took il
to my room and filed ii with Il part of
a newspaper. / was interested to know
if my dummy package would be in my
room the next morning. | felt Il strong
suspicion that it would not. In this /
was mistaken.
| breakfaSted the next morning with
the dummy package in my coat pocket.
My interested friend came in. sat down
mt neighbOring table and saluted me
with Il flourish of his hand. had by
this time made up my mind that he
knew | had Il sum of money in charge,
hut how he could have got the infOrma-
ton was Il mystery. | determined to
meet Mr. Hall in the depot. which was
across the street. bring him to the hotel
and deliver the money from the safe.
After that. though | should warn him,
ii would be ut his risk.
Ten minutes before the time for the
arrival Of the Chicago limited | step
ped across 10 the station and waited
for an official TO call the incoming
train. When he did 50. and the pas
sengers poured forth, man answer
ing to Mr.. Halls photograph came
along. and | accosted him.
From Steele q Coz" he asked.
Yes
We'll. this is no place to transfer
money. Follow me-"
followed him TO the street. where
he entered Il carriage and babe me fol-
low him. As we drove away | saw my
interested friend standing on the side
walk looking ut us. looked up at Mr.
Hall and saw that he was looking at
my interested friend Then Mr. Hall
called To the driver IN stop. and our
mutual friend got into the carriage.
Whats wrong" snapped the latter.
They're on to me What luck
None. He dropped il into the hotel
safe"
HAS he got il now"
Don't know. | think he has"
Mr.. Hall turned to me- and. whipping !
out revolver mt the same time. he
said. shell out
FeigninS fright. l unbuttOned my |
coat. took out the dummy envelope and |
handed il To him.
Git" he said. opening the carriage !
door.
Obeyed with alacriiy. the door |
closed with bang. and the driver |
dashed his horses down the street as 4
though the devil or the cops were aft |
er him. Meanwhile the rogues were !
doubtless huCginG an envelope contain |
ing Il piece of newspaper
Mr. Hall was the real Mr.. Halls CON |
fdential clerk. who. knowing OF his 1
chiefs intention. had sent a letter stat
ing that he would come OF an earlier