The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-07

been three minutes atcr that heard the scratch
Smith cautiously lit 1t. He beckoned me In and closed
the door. on tho bed saw small man lying in his
shirt sleeves.
Throwing off his coat the detective began searching
the room with the utmost energy and thoroughreas.
There scant furniture to impede him. Ito ripped the
carpet edges and felt along the Dashboard for dummy
pockets he went through the bureau and into
upholstered chair Then grabbing tho coverlet the
sleeping bel-boy he motloned to mo- took the other
end and lifted the fellow to the floor The detective.
superb confidence the anaestlctic removed tho
pillow, shook pistol FREQ under It, opened the cylinder.
emptied the cartridges into his pocket and placed the
revolver the bureau Flo ripped up the pillow,
his knife along the edge OF tho excelsior mattress
peered nqusyely at Mr.. Oliver Ames for few seconds
and tackled him.
Just he rolled Oliver his back there a rap
at the door. Before could move saw in Whispering
Smiths hand the glitter of knife as he to the
and blew out before anyone at the door could
Whispering Smith made no response. Standing at the
foot of the iron bed grasped the rail in cold sweat
"Its Coleran--you there. Ames?"
heard the OF match Smith lit the gas.
Why uidnt YOU rap twice Dave7' he asked. as the
Wasn't you were here; didn't get your message
exactly straight What's the racket" Smith locked the
door behind coleran and without answering dropped on
his knees again beside Ames Rfing his clothes with
deftness that would be dangerous in crowd, Gordon
Smith turned out end of stuff among effects
roll OF bills from an inside vest pouch. These he
hurredly over They werc all small-fives and
He replaced and buttoned sleeping vest
He turned things absolutely inside out, and without so
That's an he said briefly. Help lift him, Col
leran No; take hold Of the spread and drop him
AS we had lowered him. they raised him and dropped
him with Jolt on the bed Then Smith took hold of his
arms and jerked him awhile with violence. After that
he lowered the down to glimmer. smelt ammonla
1t from close under divers nostrils.
Now. let's break in on him. His gun is empty. Dave"
whispered Gordon Smith, motioning the door. He
stepped to the gas-burner turned 1t on full. looked
instant the beboy and. reversing the cock left us
in darkness Colleran meanwhile, pounded the door.
"IIi there! Amesi Oliver. HI! Wake up. Open up
here. Hello. why the doors OPEN" exclaimed Coleran
throwing 1T ajar with bang.
Hello. onie' he roared. advancing toward the gas
jet he struck match Smith pushed me be-
hind the door. and the two advanced the bed I saw
Whispering Smith put his hand the sleepers
The first rational move the bel-boy ms4e was 10
reach under his pillow.
Tut! Tut! Hold on Oliver: hold on, urged colleran
putting his fingers patronizingiy the muzze
revolver as the trigger snapped vicously We're all
friends here"
".Al friends" echoed whispering Smith, "oliver sit
up; wake up That's right; open up. Put down your
gum those automatic firing pins fraud anyway"
What you fellows spoke oliver Anes with a
bite of savagery.
why. oliver. I'm sorry to say after you Now
sit STILL" persisted Gordon Smith, the started
revolver Don't try to shoot that
mean you WELL my boy. the difficulty OF
passing big that has brought us here: that's ALL
The big bills gave away. Now sit STILL,
What You talking about?' sputtered Oliver with a
forcible intersection and awful pull his disodered
faculties.
"ralkIng about the way big bills trip man, Ollie
want to first of all there's disposition be hard
"l've heard that kind o stuff"
I'VE don't have We've got you dead. Even your
pistol is hoodooed Now tell where you got idea
ing Smith looked from Ames to Colean and back again
with amiable amazement he held UP cap for their
inspection And who heard of carrying
your inside vest pocket? Still. would guess
from looking at that that had just ripped six 800
bills of the lining Oliver" The bell-boy started
frenzedIy. oliver, it's all up tell YOU" persisted
Whispering Smith. i've got the money and want
lot more of it. Here OF the bills my
amazement Whispering Smith certainly did produce that
much Of the missing money
where's the rest of 1t. Olver?" asked Whispering
Smith. Oliver hesitated: then to pieces
u spent it, he growled.
why, Oliver-not ALL You haven't been buying
any hotels anything, son: not hotes?"
II bought Paris Mutuals."
How many?"
Three hundred. I only got ten"
only ten--well, give it all to us. oliver; the whole
thing It's your best play"
II been waitin' on him for year."
II see."
Taking up cocktails and flats and splits and running
errands"
II thought you said he didn't drink coleran." OBJ
served Whispering Smith reproachfully.
one night was bringing up some vichy." continued
Oliver Anes IAN opened de door-it wasn't locked
and he at de mantelpece and he on me
like cyclone, and began cursin for comm in Wild
out knocking. An to myself. All right. my buck
you've got stuff hid dere' day got pass-key
rubbered till raised de dough. crack mex
the chimney. Maybe he wasn't d-headed month";
an squeaed for good while, I'm a-guessin'
neither"
Not good while; that's dead right. Ollie Go on"
What's to go on?"
About the rest OF It,"
You got it dere In your hand I got all he had.
who had?"
doctor, I say isn't disposed to bs hard you
Coleran WILL may keep an eye on you till we get
things Strengthened Dave. e'l leave you right here
with the boy Come, Mr. Lyman"
Whispering Smith, walking like PAGER. led the way
to the Rcheeu. We climbed the stairs to ROOM AS
lit the Whispering Smith locked the door behind
him and broke the long silence
''Its to Mercer
''Smith ] can't believe the thing
I'm going right after him."
iii wait here
mo- you'll have Gomez said whispering Smith
positively You must rap him up; when he opens
will talk
What does 1t mean' asked myself every step of
the way to the Doctors door. How forced myself
rap there In the dead of the morning marvels me yet
Its Morse, Doctor said unsteadly, as Mercer
spoke from within open minute, will you?'
Inst MIN ltn , MIN hef