The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-05-13
'''he had mustache and a heavy
beard: bit the beard Was false" g.

'.he had q mustache and a heavy
beard; but the beard was FALSE @:#
The reporter almost forgot-himself.
He leaned forward intently. "False?"
he repeated, nervously; was there &
scar on his chin?"
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. 90"
Eyes," replied the clerk, ut. was
light, but had traces of black in it,
Millard 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. l don't know what it
was, but somehow I didn't take to him
much. But perhaps it was only
fancy"
The scribe gazed at the clerk in awe.
Was there really something repugnant
about McDuff|: Had the clerk noticed
it, too? Every queer" he said.
eyes, 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 Millard 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 a pang of re-
gret for what he had said. Then he
turned to the clerk again.
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 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. 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 endeav-
ored to force it open, but the heavy
door resisted him. Certainly, he
thought, the clerk had not shut him
out so brusquely.
Millard 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 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, II
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 no
answer. "Therese," she called softly.
The knob turned and the door slow
ly opened. The nurse looked in; then
stepped inside. Without hesitating
Millard tried to follow; but some force
more powerful than he compelled him
to move back. At the same time he
heard a 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 ho causod onv die