Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-01-29

won't have such a nonsensical thing as
this ruin the best hope that has come to
me in all my life"
AS often happens, there was great
difficulty in finding an annoyance
which unsought was always ready to
appear. Lancaster walked the length
of the street half a dozen times and
not living creature showed the small
est interest in him. At last he paused
YEARLY upon a corSer close by the
stairs which led up 70 station of the
elevated road, He stood there in his
customary attitude, his head bowed
and his hands clasped behind him.
Probably he remained IN this position
about ten minutes. when suddenly he
felt something thrust into one of his
hands. Instinctively his fingers closed
upon it; then he turned about, but
could not see who it was that had given
him this unexpected token. Several
men We're hurrying by. and one of
them, just disappearing up the stairs of
the station. looked little like the
queer fellow who had made signals on
the first day. The man assembled the
stairs with great agility and disap-
pearcd from view.
Lancaster turned his gaze to the OBJ
ject which had been thrust into his
hand. 1t was a plain envelope sealed
tightly, but bearing no address. Ian
caster tore it open and was amazed to
lind it contained five 500 bills. There
was no message whatever; the money
was merely wrapped in a blank sheet
of coarse paper.
Lancaster stared at it and slowly
shook his head.
This matter" thought he, has gone
entirely beyond me. 1t is clear that
| am mistaken for the head of some
extraordinary gang of thieves. This
is my share of some. recent plumber
shall have to report this to the po-
lice"
He walked to the nearest station,
and as he entered the building he saw
the rat eyed fellow standing before the
desk, between two uniformed officers
The sergeant behind the desk was
leaning far over and talking with the
trio.
obviously l am just in time"
thought Lancaster. They have got
one of my gang under arrest. and it
was the other, his pal. whom | saw run
up the stairs of the L road"
He approached the desk, and as he
did so the sergeant, the two uniformed
men and the evil eyed fellow between
them stared as if he had been a ghost.
"For a week or more" said Lancas-
ter, addressing the sergeant. Il have
been subjected to a peculiar annoy
ance in this precinct. 1t is obvious
that a gang of land pirates operating
hcreabout have mistaken me for some
person high up in their councils. Here
is one result of it,
And he displayed the envelope with
the money. The sergeant stroked his
chin
This is serious he said, rising. 81
guess you'd letter talk to the cap
tain"
He led the way to a private room.
When The door was opened. Lancaster
saw heavily built man of forty
standing by a window. his back to-
ward the door. He was dressed in a
plain brown sack suit. and in the first
instant it did not occur to Lancaster
that this could be the captain. The
man did not turn as they entered. He
still stood with his hands clasped be
hind his back and his head bent for
ward in the attitude of one who medi
tates upon secret and unpleasant top
les.
Slowly he turned and faced Lancas-
ter. The stub Of short cigar fell from