The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-03-05
CHAPTER III-(continued.)

Oii-C0 anu went Ill ONtS-ii NtiS III Il NSAT
calling the name Michael Hart. He
carried the telegram.
Sanford left the desk and followed the
boy at a short distance. No one claimed
the, dispatch, and the boy returned to
theh desk with it.
Sanford saw the clerk give further in
structions TO the messenger. who went
out to the sidewalk where q number of
men were sitting in chairs in front OF
the building. Sanford watched him go
from one to the other. apparently ask
ing eacn If he was Michael Hart.
At the end Of the row sat two men
talking earnestly. When the boy reached
them he stopped. and Sanford saw him
hand the telegram to one of the two.
The man who took it was apparently
about fifty years Of age. He was large
and heavy. with protruding abdomen
and an enormous pair of shoulders.
He had a large head. sparsely covered
with red hair. and on his chin he wore
a short red beard curiously trimmed
into two points. The beard, like the
hair. was fiery red.
His face was fiorid and his small eyes
were sharp and observing.
1t was a face that could assume an
expression of extreme joviality and
kindness, or grow cruel and brutal
Could this be Michael Hart, thought
Sanford-the man against whom he was
pitted in the struggle for a fortune in
the franchise?
The companion of the man with the
telegram was apparently about thirty
years of age. He was handsome in a
way, but had a dissipated look
Sanford, as he watched the pair close
~, found something familiar in the APP
pearance of the younger man. He felt
and under unpleasant circumstances.
The man who had taken the telegram
tore the Envelope open with Impotence
and quickly read the message. Then he
sprang to his feet.
Sanford mad walked toward him and
was opposite him when he finished read
ing IT. The man looked at his watch,
and Sandford heard him say to his COM
panion;
Come. Bill, get the things together;
we've got to go South tonight III pay
the bill and you get a cab
AT that moment the men Io oked up. As
Sanford passed him the younger man
grasped his companions a4.E2, ana they
both gazed sharply after hin
That's the fellow from Chicago" ex-
claimed the man who had been address
ed as Billy. ST know him. He's Birch 5
private secretary. He's the fellow that
Doak wired us about. We've got to keeI
our eyes peeled for him, though he's not
really dangerous l wonder if he has
spotted US
Wei, lets be moving said the other
as they walked toward the hotel en-
trance. 1t doesn't make much differ
ence one way or the other: we've got
the road cinehed now. anyhow. Wen
get off on the O'Clock train TO Topeka
and catch the Rock Island down tC
Rush Sprir gs. Well be out at Bluff
Creek by noon tomorrow, and then the
Chicago fellows can do as they please
I'll have them where 1 want them b!
that time
SO that is Hart, eh2" said SANFORD
to himself. Now. l wonder who tina
other chap is. I have seen him some
where. BY Jove, I have it, It's Bill!
Rawiins. who was in the dispatcher
office in Chicago. He was discharged
for putting a freight train in the ditcl
when he was drunk. So that's the kin,
OF people Hart has around him? Well
/ don't suppose he remembers me. Thos
fellows are TO start for the Territor.
tonight. but I'll be on the train
Hart and Rawlins came out of tn
hotel. followed by a porter carrying
their bags. They stepped into a cab
which drove away rapidly.
Sanford, who stood in the doorway
saw them depart, but he was not wor
ried at their going. The train 70
Guthrie did not leave until O'Clock
and it vas now only $40.
When the porter came into the hote
Sanford stopped him.
Where are those gentlemen going?
asked Sanford.
ITO catch the O'Clock train for To
peka, replied the porter
Sanford started. He had not takel
into consideration any route to the Ter
ritory save the Santa Fe. directly to tn
South through the eastern part of Kan
s.es. If Hart was going to Topeka.
WIS 10 take the Western road.
Sanford ran this over rapidly in hi
mind Was Hart going to escape hin
after all2 Should Hart take the West
ern road as Sanford thought, he woul
have at least a days start of the privat
secretary.
Sanford looked at his watch I
lacked ten minutes of s o'clock.
Then men who were sitting in from
of the hotel were astonished 10 see
man jam a hat hard on his head, an
set off at run for the street corner
A cable car was passing, and Sanfor
swung himself aboard. II nothing har
pened TO delay him he might yet hav
The cable car crawied slowly dow
the long trestled incline that runs froI
abe top of the bluff to the union sta
ton, In Kansas City.
Sanford sat in the front seat ready I
Jump off when the car reached tn
bottom. and make d rush for the car;
From his place he could see the traf
below in the station, the engine pantin
and the trainmen busy with the las
preparation for its departure.
Before the car came TO stop Sar
ford was off. He dashed through til
crowd down the stairs. and across til
station platform.
The train was moving away, momer
tarily increasing her Roadway sanfor
was in hot pursuit Men jeered hil
as ne few past
At the end of the platform he can
abreast OF the rear steps of the lai
car, and managed to scramble iboar
The platform Of the car was crowde