, 1904-01-27
MANY COOKS


tender of cash in a deal i'll which he
prefers not to offer a 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 cal keep
them so well under touch. Ii looks Il
little bulky over YOU left chest, but
most men carry a handkerchief there.
Here is Il photograph he has sent me-
taken in the suit he will wear.
| took the photograph, which was
that of a tall, spare man, with mutton
chop whiskers, dressed in a pepper ana
salt suit.
Its all right" continued Mr.. Steele.
~ know him, and it's | who advised
him to make the tender in legal cur
ency. We have been in correspond
ence about it for some time. lie Is II
real estate operator, having II oil the
largest real estate offices in Chicago
"Where am | to meet him.
"At the Grand Central depot, in New
IOIh. VII lhC 1 Va
limited tomorrow morning.
When | reached the station | had
eaten a hearty meal, and, being an in
veterate smoker, | took a seat in the
smoking car. Three men sitting in the
seat in 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 | caught II of the
men looking at the protuberanee on my
chest. When we tired of playing and |
went into another ear he followed me,
e~ndeayoring to draw me into CONVERSE
ton. He asked me where | was going,
what hotel | intended stopping at and
a number of other questions. | admit
ted that | vas going to New York; but,
not relishing his interest in me, | threw
him off as to the hotel. | supposed |
had thrown him off in this respect, but
| did not, for when | went to the office
of a hotel neal the Grand Central de-
pot and put my name on the register
the next nan TO sign was my inter
ested friend.
"Hello! You here?" he exclaimed,
with apparent surprise. 81 supposed
you We're going to the b."
Changed my mind" | said.
The fellow invited me to have a
drink before going TO bed, but ! de
clined on the ground that | never
drank and was too tired to sit up a
minute longer than IA necessary.
With this / went upstairs, but instead
of undressing | sat in my room for an
hour, then took my package down to
the office and had it placed in the safe.
Then, procuring an envelope, | took it
to my room and filled it with Il part of
a newspaper. | was interested to know
if my dummy package would be in my
room the next morning. l felt a strong
suspicion that it would not. In this
was mistaken.
| b~reakfasted the next morning with
the dummy package in my coat pocket.
My interested friend came in. sat down
at a %neighboring table and saluted me
with Il flourish of his hand. | had by
this time made up my mind hat he
knew | had Il sun of money in charge,
but how he could have got the informa-
ton was a 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,
it would be ut his risk.
Ten minutes before the time for the
arrival of the Chicago limited | step
ped across to the station and waited
for an official to call the incoming
train. When he did so, and the pas
sengers poured forth, Il man answer
ing to Mr.. Halls photograph came
along, and | accosted him.
From Steele & Co. 2" he asked.
yes"
We'll this is no place to transfer
money. Follow me-"
l followed him to the street, where
he entered a carriage and babe me fol-
low him. As we drove away l saw my
interested friend standing on the side
walk looking at us. | looked up at Mr..
Hall and saw that he was looking at
my interested friend. Then Mr.. Hall
called to the driver to stop, and our
mutual FRIEND got into the carriage.
whats wrong?' snapped the latter.
They're on to me. What luck?"
None. He dropped it into the hotel
safe"
HAS he got it now?"
Don't know. l think he has"
Mr.. Hall turned to me, and, whipping
out a revolver at the same time, he
said, "Shell out.'
Feigning fright, l unbuttoned my
coat, took out the dummy envelope and
handed it to him.
Cit" he said, opening the carriage
door.
| obeyed with alacrity, the door
closed with a bang, and the driver
dashed his horses down the street as
though the devil or the cops were aft
er him. Meanwhile the rogues were