Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-02-08
TOO MANY COOKS"
LOriginall

JtHhIES. sdiu MT. Sleele OF Steel'
< Co, bankers, of Philadelphia, "a Gus
toner Of tie name of Hall-John V
Hali-arrtves In New York from tn,
west tomorrow and wishes TO make {
tender Of cash in a deal in which ht
prefers not to offer a check. Here i.
$1,000 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 50 well under touch. 1t looks a
little bulky over your left chest, but
most men carry handkerchief tlAre
Here is photograph he has sent me,
taken in the suit he will wear"
| took the photograph, which was
Chat Of tall, spare man. with mutton
chop whiskers. dressed in pepper and
salt suit
IT'S all right" continued Mr.. Steele.
Il know him, and it's | who advised
him to make the tender in legal cur
rcnty. We have been in correspond
ence about it for some time. lie is a
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
York. on the arrival of the Chicago
limited tomorrow morning"
When | reached the station | had
eaten hearty meal. and, being an in
veterate smoker, l took a seat in the
smoking car Three men sitting in the
seat in front of me needed a fourth
man TO make up game of whist l
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 l
went into another car he followed me.
endeavoring to draw me into converse
ton, He asked me where | was going,
what hotel l intended stopping at and
number of other questions. l admit
ted that l was going to New York; but.
not relishing his interest in me. threw
him off as TO the hotel. l supposed
had thrown him off in this respect, but
did not, for when | went to the office
of a 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 herer he exclaimed,
with apparent surprise. Il supposed
you were going to the B."
Changed my mind" l said.
The fellow invited me to have q
drink before going to bed, but l de-
clined on the ground that l never
drank and was too tired to sit up a
minute longer than was necessary.
With this l 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 a part of
newspaper. | was interested to know
If my dummy package would be in my
room the next morning. | felt 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
at neighboring table and saluted me
with flourish of his hand. had by
this time made up my mind that he
knew | had sum 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 l should warn him,
il would be at 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, man answer
ing to Mr.. Halls photograph came
along, and l accosted him.
From Steele & Co? ?" he asked.
Yes"
We'll, this is no place to transfer
money. Follow me-"
| followed him 10 the street. where
he entered carriage and babe me fol-
low him. AS we drove away | 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 mek?"
None. He dropped it into the hotel
safe"
Has he got it now?'
Don't know. think he has"
Mr.. Hall turned to me, and. whipping
out revolver at the same time he
said. shell out"
Feigning fright, unbuttoned my
coat took out the dummy envelope and
handed il to him.
GIT" he said, opening the carriage
door.
| obeyed with alacrity, the door
closed with bang. and the driver
dashed his horses down the street as