Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-07-11

ne mouse, and had he been so DISPOSED
could have stolen long ago. l5u, I'm salts
fled that he is perfectly honest"
AID the servant sir!-how about her?'
'1E absolutely convinced of her reli-
ability
Him." m%urrnured the old man: and the
clerk. George West-i suppose he was d
trusted person, too"
II would bank all l am worth on George
West" was the fervent reply.
The old man stared at his visitor in ST.
lcnce for some moments. and. rising. paced
up and down the room. Presently he made
for the coffee urn and gulped down a cup
OF tn" cheering beverage. After that he
lighted u fresh stogie and resumed HIS
seat.
will you take hold of the case?' asked
Potter anxiously.
ics," was the deliberate reply. las far
as L can see. it has nothing to do with GUS
toms, but 1t interests me and l want to
serve you"
Can l help your"
NO. l don't think So"
What shall l dor
Go home; go ahead witt your Inner
and cave the rest to me-"
But how can l give the dinner without
the opals? If I don't get them before we
sit down at s o'clock III have to provide
other souvenirs. and ii j do that Haz-
zard and Winchell will think I'm j bluff
fer"
II said go ahead with the dinner" re-
piled the chief. with a trace of asperity
In his voice. You've got to take a chance.
I'm not infallible. / may succeed or l
may fail. The thing for you to do is to
look and act as natural as possible. Don't
say anything to any one. Simply play
the part of an agreeable and seif-con-
tanned host"
Potter arose, shook hands all around and
left the room, looking far from satisfied.
Forward gaZcd at the chief inspector in a
curious manner.
This case seems to be without begin
ming or end he ventured.
The old man. who was pulling off his
smoking Jacket preparatory to leaving the
house, nodded.
CLANCY" he remarked. you heard all
that was said. Go to the appraisers
stores. find out all you can there and If
-tae-ex-
afntner who passed the opals and pump
him dry. Forward, I'm going to press
you into service also. Look up this man
West. Shadow him for the next two hours
and then you and Clancy report to me
here at S o'clock tonight"
They separated and went their several
ways. Promptly at the hour designated
all three returned to the Washington
square apartments.
swell. Clancy" said the chief to his
assistant. what have you to report?'
The dapper little follow seemed dis
turbcd. As he spoke his voice trembled:
THE opals were delivered all right:
they AVE the receipts to show that, but a
queer thing happened"
"What was that?'
why. you know Harmcr, the exam
iner?'
Certainly" said the old man, what
about him?'
Hes very sick" replied Clancy. "He
appraised the opals this afternoon and
started home In the best of spirits, but be-
fore he reached there we was taken with
a high fever and an hour ago he had to
be operated on for appendicitis. HI at.
tack came SO suddenly that it unnerved
the man and all of the members of his
family. / just left there. The doctor says
the operation was a success and that he
VIII recover. but he certainly had a close
call"
rs that an?" asked the chief. grimly.
That's ALL" Clancy, and l
think it's enough. too.
Without noticing the observation of his
assistant, Barnes turned to Forward:
VIVA did you find out about George
West?"
West got the opa!s all right replied
the chemist. and apparently delivered
servant ~ pot,ar.s Sc M,'n ~
..ranre f~at,,itv hn was ae,nr ~ W I.
down bv a ,oam Will c,assi, n 49,, n'o 800
IN front of ,,,.s,i,Y,o, - ~ :.
Wv IN e. ,r,nnant.s ,as s.aais, a"u ~ Is
en- leg. The surgeons set it and say tina;
1t will knit and heal up all right. But the
hack for the naxt fovr ,rae,s" !" MS
Again tho cb,ef sn,iI.a ~, ~
He smoke In , Inv, ,,oioa. 80" A'A
II suppose I MIGHT os u,o,I how'd =, 49,,
u.t,o apptn. a. : anu III my
Won hotb taIi me- rho on.,s 49, VIA VIA
cred hv Hsrmar and ,rpaar,v 1870,
for. George West carried them m Ioott.r..
house and b.nSed thar, ~ ~ o ~.
girl and she ins,ste ,h.t oh. ,in,as 80
on the desh IN the iihr.rv Do ~ 80 nnoa,
Int ,no,t 80 49, 80 ~ So