The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-05-06
, che had mustache and heavy


beard; but the beard was false"
The reporter almost forgot himself.
He leaned forward intently. "False?"
he repeated, nervously; was there a
scar on his chimp
mo record of that smiled the clerk.
Willard waited a moment. He looked
at the clerk, puzzled. The latter per-
ceived that there was something be-
hind his questions that worried him.
did you notice his hair?" he in
quired.
Yes" replied the clerk, 'it was
light, but had traces of black in it. F"
Willard tried to avoid the clerks gaze.
He felt that the man had in some way
discovered his story.
There seemed to be something
mighty queer about that fellow said
the clerk. When he came in he was
dressed in his circus suit, and looked
kind of funny | don't know what it
was, but somehow | didn't take to him
much. But perhaps it was only a
fancy"
The scribe gazed at the clerk in awe.
Was there really something repugnant
about McDuff? Had the clerk noticed
it, too? Very queer" he said.
Yes, indeed" replied the other. Il
had an idea something was wrong"
Willard looked straight into the
clerks eyes. There was something in
his look that told him the clerk could
be trusted. He had probably expert
enced the same sensation that first
crept over Willard when he saw Nc
Duff Then he spoke frankly:
THAT man." he said, has been
hunted by the police all over the
world. You've got to let me see him.
For six years they have been after
him, and now he has the temerity to
come back here to San Francisco,
where he killed his wife and child six
years ago. But I've got him now, and
tremendous SENSATION in the morn
ing" Suddenly he felt a pang of re-
greet for what he had said. Then he
turned to the clerk again.
Take me to his room," he said.
The clerk closed the register, glanc-
ing at the white, eager face of the
reporter. Suddenly the two men heard
footsteps outside and the door opened
disclosing the white, pale face of a
nurse. The men stared at her in
amazement.
Good God," she cried, "help me-
Who is that-that-oh, who is he, who
is he?"
The clerk rushed forward and caught
her What's the matter?" he gasped
''Oh, God, help me! Go look at him
No 49,
"Get me some water" the clerk de-
manded of the reporter, and soon they
laid her on the lounge in one end OF
the room and rubbed her forehead with
cold water. Then the clerk and re-
porter hurried up the long stairway
toward the juggler's room.
Reaching the apartment, the clerk
opened the door wider, and stepped in
side. No sooner had he done so when
the door slammed behind him. Quick
ly the scribe seized the knob and tried
to follow, but the door was locked
Again he seized the knob and endeay-
ored to force it open, but the heavy
door resisted him. Certainly, he
thought, the clerk had not shut him
out so brusquely.
Willard pressed his ear against the
door, but could hear nothing, nor could
he see anything. At this juncture the
nurse in the next ward looked out into
the hall, and Willard could smell the
pungent odor of iodoform. Being quick
to grasp ideas. he seized upon sud-
den thought.
rs there any one in here?" he asked
in kind tone
The nurse gazed at him suspiciously
She was pretty young woman and at
tracted Willard.
Il have an important message, and
wish to see the patient in here"
But this is too late,'' she pro-
tested
Madam replied the reporter, 81
have no time to tarry. Will you see
if there is any one within?"
The young woman in blue uniform
knocked at the door. There was nc
answer. "Therese," she called softly
The knob turned and the door slow
ly opened. The nurse looked in; then
stepped inside. Without hesitating
Willard tried to follow; but some force
more powerful than he compelled him
to move back. At the same time he
heard light scream from the nurse
inside, followed by burst of hysterical
laughter
Completely overwhelmed, the re-
porter leaned against the wall for sup
port In spite of his unusual nerve he
found himself weak and trembling
The clerk and the young nurse were
shut UP together with some strange
power, and Willard was unable to gain
admittance. The unexpected had COM
pletely upset him for a moment
The reporter turned and walked
down the hall for fear of attracting
attention. In case he caused any dis
turbance the other papers would gel
the story. The very thought made
/ him recoil. He had come expecting
everything to turn out as he had
planned it, but instead he had scented
far better story. He had the MUIR
derer and--a mystery. For a second
he hesitated. The time was flying and