Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-06


ton for the Department of Justlce-an
investigation requiring not only consum-
mate skill and shrewdness, but demand
ing the exercise of SO much tact and
diplomacy as to tax the resources of this
exceedingly capable officer He had been
successful even to a greater degree than he
had dared to hope and there remained
only few scattered threads to be picked
up and woven into the fabric upon which
he had labored for weeks
His material had been gathered in half
a dozen States and Territories in the
West and Southwest, and he had finally
landed IN Oklahoma early one Sunday
morning, with four hours between trains
and nothing particular to do. Grateful
for a chance to break the monotony of
travel, Blair sought the new and up-to
date hotel-upon the completion of which
Oklahoma Immediately had assumed
metropolitan airs--breakfasted comfort
ably, and, refreshed and rehabiltated
bought the morning papers, lighted a
cigar and settled himself in a big easy
chair in the spacious lobby. He was not
too deeply absorbed in his paper to keep
a casual eye upon his fellow-loungers, but
his survey disclosed nothing to him, be-
yOnd a typical Sunday-morning hotel
crowd.
Presently there entered unobtrusively
swarthy-faced person of generous pro-
portions, who Strolled aimlessly about
among the guests, his half-closed, heavy
hdded eyes making a swift inspection of
each. He had not been thus engaged for
two minutes before Blair discovered him,
and in two seconds had him inventoried,
tagged and catalogued. He was far from
prepossesSing. Dutchy, oily, bearded,
his mustache, clipped and bristling, dis
closing thick, red, sneering lips, the face
was distinctly repellent in expression.
His clothing was of fashionable cut; but
his light waistcoat with it's black bell
buttons was just shade too gaudv and
in big purple tie cleaned a solitaire as
large as a hazel nut. His pudgy hands,
white as womans, were clasped behind
his back as he sauntered here and there,
and on one of his fat fingers another emo
jewel flashed and scintillated in the MI
light.
Short-card skin looking for sucker, " was
mental comment, and it's golden eagles to
tacks that he goes against me-" With a
gesture of annoyance he resumed the contt
ton of his morning paper; but he was inv
disturbed.
Poor Blair! In spite of his exalted offici
Sition won by brilliant successes in all branc
the service; though he knew every nook and
of his own and many foreign countries, an
equally at home in Paris, Philadelphia, and
tonica; despite the fact that he was fastidi
dress, that the flare of his coat-tails and the Ii
his trousers expressed the latest achievem'
sartorlal science, and that he regarded himse
thorough cosmopolite-yet, alasl it was his fat
ever and anon he should be singled out as a
lar "come-on" by some marauding CHI
d'i,tdnarie
Perhaps the gentlemen with get-rich- quicl
gestions were misled by Blair's appearance
certainly did not meet the popular conceptio
secret-service man. He was neither beetle-b
nor bull-necked; the contrary, his feature
cast in a rather intellectual mold, and fftee
collar was large enough. Slightly below the a
height, he was not especially noticeable at any
His face was SO peculiarly boyish that he
looked within ten years of his age and the I'M
expression of his wide-open eyes gave no
any of the cleverness of the brain they
SO well
AT all events, east or west, north or south, |
likely to be approached by some misguided
money man looking for a victim; but while i
his pride to be selected as mark and rous
anger, he rarely resorted to physical force in g
rid of the pestiferous CRATER Heawas an ar
his MaX. had his own idea of the fitness of I