The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-10-26
CHAPTER v.
Doddridqe knapp.

mysterious note | had received the
preceding night came on me. l took
the slip from my pocket, and read It's
contents once more. II was perpIe1-
ing enough, but il furnished me WIN
an idea. OF course | could not take
money intended for Henry Wilton.
But here was the first chance to get
at the heart of this dreadful business.
The writer of the note, | must sup
nose was the mysterious employer.
If could see her could find the way
of escape from the dangerous burden
of Henry Wntons personality and
mission.
But which bank could be meant?
The only names 1 knew were the
Bank of California, whose failure in
the previous year had sent echoes
even into my New England home, and
the Anglo-Californian Bank, on which
held a draft The former struck
me as the more likely place Of APP
Dointment, and after some skilful
navigating l found myself at the cor
ner of California and SansOme streets,
before the building through which the
wealth of an empire had flowed.
| watched closely the crowd that
passed in and out of the treasure
house, and assumed what | hoped was
an air Of prosperous Indifference to
my surroundings.
No one appeared to notice me.
There were eager men and cautious
men. and men who looked secure and
man nor woman was looking for me.
Plainly had made bad guess A
hasty walk through several other
banks that l could see in the neigh
borhood gave no better result, and
had to acknowledge that this chance
of penetrating the mystery was gone.
| speculated for the moment on what
the effects might be. To neglect an or
der OF this kind might result in the
Withdrawal of the protection that had
saved my life, and in turning me over
to the mercies of the banditti who
thought l knew something Of the
whereabouts of a boy.
AS reflected thus, I came upon
crowd massed about the steps of
great granite building in Pine Street;
a whirlpool of men, it seemed, with
cross-currents and eddies, and from
the whole rose the murmur of excited
voices.
1t was the Stock Exchange, the
gamblers paradise, in which millions
were staked, won and lost, and ruin
and afTluence walked side by side.
AS l watched the swaying, shout
ing mass with wonder and amuse-
ment thrill shot through me.
Upon the steps of the building,
amid the crowd of brokers and specu-
lators, l saw a tall, broad-shOuldered
man of fifty or fifty his face
keen, shrewd and hard, broad at the
temples and tapering to strong jaw,
a yellow-gray mustache and imperial
half-hiding and half-revealing the
firm lines of the mouth, with the
mark Of the wolf strong upon the
whole. 1t was a face never to be for
gotten as long as l should hold mem
DRY at ALL 1t was the face / had seen
twelve hours before in the lantern
flash in the dreadful alley, with the
cry of murder ringing in my ears.
Then it was lighted by the fierce fires
of rage and hatred. and marked with
the chagrin OF bafied plans. Now it
was cool, good-humored, alert for the
battle Of the Exchange that had al
ready begun. But I knew it for the
same, and was near crying aloud that
here was a murderer.
l clutched my nearest neighbore by
the arm, and demanded to know who
it was
'Doddridge Knapp" replied the
man civilly. Hes running the Chol-
lar deal now, and if I could only guess
which side he's on, I'd make a for
tune in the next few days. He's the
King of Pine Street"
While l was looking at the King
of the Street and listening to my
neighbours tales of his operations.
Doddridse Knapp's eyes met mine.
To my amazement there was a look
of recognition in them Yet he made
no sign, and in moment was gone.
This, then, was the enemy l was
to meet! This was the explanation of
Detective Coogans hint that I should
be safer in jail than free on the
streets to face this mans hatred or
revenge.
I must have stood In a daze on the
busy street, for l was reused by some
one shaking my arm with vigor.
Come! are you asleep?" said the
man. speaking in my ear. Cant you
hear?"
Yes, yes said l, rousing my at
tention
The chief wants YOU" His voice
was low. almost a whisper.
The chief? Who? Where? | asked
AT the City HALF" l jumped to the
conclusion that it was, of course, the
chief Of police. on the scent of the
murder.