Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-03-06

upon the platform. He stood starring
after me for an instant; then, with a
sudden grasping at his breast, stag
gered and seemed to fall. A crowd
closed about him, the train whisked
around a corner, and I could see no
more.
But at any rate I was well free of
him. and 1 got off at Bleecker street,
walked on to the square and began
my search. My plan was very simple.
Beginning on the east side OF West
Broadway, it was my intention to stop
at every house and inquire whether
dodgers were kept. My experience at
the first place was pretty fair sample
of all the rest.
A frowsy headed woman answered
my knock.
"You have rooms to let?' asked.
"Oh, yes, monsieur" she answered,
with an expansive grin. "Step zis
way"
We mounted dirty stair, and she
threw open door with a flourish
meant to be impressive.
''Zese are ze rooms, monsieur; zey
are YER fine"
looked around them with simu-
lated interest, smothering my disgust
as well as I could.
"How long have they been vacant?'
I asked.
tSince only two days, monsieur. AS
you see, zey are ver' fine rooms"
That settled it. If they had been va
cant only two days, l had no further
interest in them, and with some excuse
1 made my way out, glad to escape
from that fetid atmosphere of garlic
and onions. So I went from house to
house, stumbling over dirty children,
climbing grimy stairs, catching glimpses
Of crowded sweatshops, peering into
all sorts of holes called rooms by cour-
tesy, inhaling hundred stenches in as
many minutes, gaining an insight that
sickened me into the squalid life of the
quarter. Sometimes l began to hope
that at last I was on the right track,
but further inquiry would prove my
mistake So the morning PASSED, and
the afternoon. I had covered two
blocks to no purpose, and I turned
eastward to Broadway and took car
downtown to the Office. My assistants
udu IepOIt0u dSdlu"lhCy duo IhCI WAG4
Ino better success than I. Mr.. Graham
noticed my detected appearance and
spoke word of comfort.
Il think you're on the right track.
Lester he said. "But you can't hope
to do much by yourself-it's too big a
job. Wouldn't it be better to smploy
half dozen private detectives and put
them under your supervision? You
could save yourself this nerve trying
work and at the same time get over the
ground much more rapidly. Besides,
experienced men may be able to sug-
Igest something that you've overlooked. y
had thought of that-I had won
dered If I were making the best pos
sible use of my opportunities-and the
suggestion tempted me. But some
thing rose within me-pride, ambition
stubbornness, what you willard
shook my head, determined to hang on
Besides, had still before me that bat
tie of wits with Martigny, and I was
resolved to make the most Of it.
'Let me keep on by myself day OF
two longer, sir" said. II believe I'll
succeed yet. If I don't there will still
be time to call in outside help. fancy
I've made, beginning, and I want te
see what comes of it,
| He shook me kindly by the hand.
Il like your grit" he said approx.
ingly, land I've every confidence In
you. It wasn't lack Of confidence that
prompted the suggestion. Only don't
overdo the thing and break down as
Royce has. He's better, by the way,
but the doctor says that he must take
long vacation-a thorough rest"
I'm glad he's better. I'll be care
ful.' assented, and left the Office.
! While I waited for car I bought
q copy of the last edition Of my paper,
from force Of habit more than any.
thing then, settling myself in a seat
/ still from force Of habit turned to
the financial column and looked it over.
There was nothing of special interest
there and I turned back to the general
news, glancing carelessly from item
to item. Suddenly one caught my eye
which brought me UD with shock.
| The item read:
Shortly after 10 o'clock this morning a
man ran up the steps Of the Cortlandt
| street station Of the Sixth avenue ele-
| waited in the effort to catch an uptown
! train Just pulling out and dropped over on
the platform with heart disease. An am
| bulance was called from the Hudson
Street hospital and the man taken there.
/ At noon it was said he would recover.
| He was still too weak to talk. but among
| other things a card Of the Cafe Jourdain,
"a West Houston street, was found in his
| pocketbook. An inquiry there developed
| the feet that his name Is Pierre Bethune,
( that he Is recently from France and has
| no relatives in this country.
In q moment was out Of the car
and running westward to the elevated.
| I felt that held in my hand the ad-
| dress I needed.
| ITO be Cnntinued.)