Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-05-11
'sHold on" interrupted the clerk,
there was Tribune man here lit

| 1e1lO" was QellrlOuS, and
Il know, Know" put in the report
er, suavely, "but I'm a special writer
This matter I'm getting is different
It's ior the Sunday supplement to-mor
row." He spoke in such an assuring
manner that he half believed it him
self. ''Now, look at that register anc
kindly tell me how old he isl
The clerk eyed him angrily. "Wh,
don't you newspaper men get around
here earlier:" he asked. "This is NJ
time of night to be bothering us this
way"
| Willard felt he was losing time
He looked savagely at the man be-
| fore him. Then he thought best tt
treat him civilly, for there was toe
much at stake.
We'll, how old Is he?" he repeated.
He wouldn't say much,' answered
the clerk, "but he was about So
WAS he smooth shaven?'
No. not exactly" replied the other
| 'he had a 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 CHM"
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
CURED
yes" replied the clerk, cit was
light, but had traces of black in it. -
Willard tried to avoid the clerks gaze
He felt that the man had in some way
discovered his story.
'There seemed to be sometime
mighty queer about that fellow" said
the clerk. when he came in he was
dressed in his circus suit and looked
kind of funny. l don't know what it
was, but somehow didn't take to him
much. But perhaps it was only a
fancy"
The scribe Sazed at the clerk in awe.
Was there really something repugnant
about McDuffo Had the clerk noticed
it. too? VERY queer" he said.
Eyes, indeed replied the other. 81
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
De 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
a tremendous sensation in the morn
ing" Suddenly he felt 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
amazemert.
Good Cod" she cried, "help me-
Who is that-that-oh, who is he, who
is he?"
The clerk rushed forward and caught
her whats the matter?" he gasped
'Oh. God, help me! Go look at him
NO. 73''
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 cleri;
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 endeav-
ored to force it open but the heavy
door resisted him. Certainly, he
thought, the clerk had not shut him
out so brusquely.
Mlllard 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
0f
to grasp ideas, he seized upon a sud
den thought.
sis 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
1y opened. The nurse looked in; then
stepped inside. Without hesitatine
Millard 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 hysterica]
laughter
Completely overwhelmed, the re-
porter leaned against the wall for sup
port. In spite of his unusual nerve he