Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-01-06

| uiSe HlSSSebSeI Doy leANlnS the ONCE.
The boy was just putting his hat upon
his head. and Thomas caught iieeting
glimpse OF a square. white envelope.
Ia an instant he comprehended what
must have taken place since he had left
the desk. Thornton Stackhouse had
sent a reQuisition to the clerk for his
mail. A word at the desk confirmed the
reporters suspicious. and in another
minute he was upon the heels of the
messenger His task at present seemed
simplicity itself To follow this messen-
ger boy till he was finally led into the
presence of the man whose COMM ssion
he executed was n task that certainly
called for none of the higher expedients
OF MT. Thomas genius.
The boy took a course southwark and
continued straight up Washington
street until her reached Union Park street
when he turned short to the right. and
a few minueS afterVard entered the door
OF drinking saloon in Shawmut avenue.
Thomas had no special associations with
the place. though be knew of i. in gem
eral way. Taking the precaution not
to enter it Immediately and thus give
anybody who might be on the watch an
idea that there vas anything other than
a coincidence in his arrival on the heels
OF the messenger boy, Thomas Ioitered
| into the place and passed directly into
I the bar, where he called for a drink.
There were two OF three men standing at
the bar, but at the moment OF his en-
trance nothing was to be seen either OF
the messenger OF of Thornton Stack
| house. A number Of booths ranged along
the side OF the room opposite the bar.
however. attracted his attention. and,
In accordance with his surmises. MIR.
/ Thomas was pleased very shortly TO see
the messenger emerge from one OF these
| places. The boy had scarcely passed
| out when The reporter, swallowing at q
gulp the beverage which he had ordered.
placed the payment therefor upon the
| counter. and lounged down past the
compartment from which the boy had is
sued.
His expectations were entirely cor
rect. There sat Thornton Stackhouse
reading-devouring would be a more &C
| curate word-the letter which had been
posted at Swampscott the night before.
Fearful OF attracting attention. Thomas
/ increased his pace. but precautions were
! aNNAANoas nc AAau MaS dDEOEOeu.
! pletely oblivious TO all his SURROUNDINGS
Even in the momentary glimpse he had
OF him the reporter was startled into the
belief that the contents Of the letter had
utterly overwhelmed and dazed the
man who had received il. The paper
I was crumpled hercely between his
hands. and he was glaring at 1t with
scarcely the look of sanity in his eyes.
Thomas slipped hastily into the next
booth. The brief vision which had lust
been granted him was certainly not cal
culated TO lessen his idea OF the i'm
portance OF the document OF which he
was in quest. or TO shake his determine
ton 70 become possessed Of it,
But howT
This was a problem which might well
puzzle Mr.. Thomas. The greater the
Importance OF the letter the more care
fully would its possessor guard il. II
DE destroyed u. there was little hope
that so shrewd a man as Stackhouse
would be satisfied with leaving il in a
condition which would not preclude its
restoration. II he carried Il away with
him, under what possible pretense could
the reporter get IL? He certainly could
not ask him for it; he was scarcely pre-
pared even in his present fever Of eager
ness TO resort TO violence. Were he so
inclined. how could he even hope for the
opportunity of stealing it? Neverthe-
less Thomas compressed his lips and
waited patiently the unpredictabIe
course OF events.
He had not long 20 wait for a change
IN the situation. He heard Stackhouse
crushing the paper and murmuring I'M
distinguishable words below his breath
Then again. he fancied. from the sounds,
that the man had risen TO his feet and
was leaving the booth. a cautious recon
noitering assured the reporter that he
was correct In this surmise. Stackhouse
had passed 20 the bar. and he heard him
In no very steady voice asking tor bran
dy. Where was the letter? Actuated by
an absurd hope. tne reporter slipped into
the booth which S,ackhoUse had Just va
rated. A minutes search assured him
that Stackhouse had not committed the
objectionable indiscre ton of leaving
even the remnants OF the document upon
the floor. Undoubtedly ne had not torn
IL up but had replaced it bodily in his
pocket
/ After drinking the brandy, Stackhouse
went out. and the reporter followed him
from the saloon. Thomas was not, how
4 ever, so absorbed in the actions of his
I intended victim that he was oblivious
| TO other things. II was quite obvious TO
| him that two Of the men who had been
loungirg at the bar suddenly became
alert and lost all interest in the place
as soon as Stackhouse had LETT IL. So
/ eager were they TO get into the street
that they jostled Mr.. Thomas on their
way. They We're ordinary-looking men.
Nothing about them was calculated to
linger in the memory or to attract sec
ond glance. one OF them sauntered
over TO the other side of the street. The
other kent along inst In frnnf ~