Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-07-04

we cnly Keep paI erS TOR n week oacE.
Earncs stepped ny to the counter. HIS
voice was polite. bur I, was positive.
cot course. you keen the Banner IN
bound files. I would like to see the file
for June of last year"
'Ccrtainly." with a'acrity; we keep the
bound copies up stars. III see if | can
find June. You see some of our lies were
destroyed by fire"
Barnes heart sank. If he failed to find
that paper ne might rs we'll give up the
chase. Eut he said nothing. He waited
with infinite patience. Five. ten. fifteen
minutes passed. When the tension was
becoming unbearable TIC clerk returned
With the bound volume FOR juno. The
chiefs face frightened. He turned to the
BOOK. Opened it hastily and began turning
the leaves fcverishly. The 18th of June
vas reached at last. He turned to the
fourth column of the fourth page and
compared 1t line by lire w.;h the clipped
copy in his possession HIS search was
rewarded. This IS what he read:
PRESENTATIONS advanced and
highest prices paid for silver and gold.
and for diamonds, SCI or unset: transac-
ions conducted n The strictest conf
dence. Apply to w. Wicker. l.ss7 Hilbert
street. ci.,.
Copy t." he shouted to Clancy in cx-
ulant tones. A hurried word of thanks to
the ~aston.shcd clerk. ana they were in the
cab. scurrying post haste toward 1881 Hin
Bert street.
The driver !asaed his horses, but even
hat did rot satisfy the two men. burning
with incpat:cnce. Not IA word passed he
iweea them until they came il sight of
their goal. and then Barnes said simply:
II hope were NOT 100 late
Hilbert street was Il curious little thor
oushfarc, where a great deal of unique
business was transacted with very little
ostentation. jewelers.. opticians. money
lenders ard lapiLarics were most conspic-
uous. Many of them occupied but one
apartment: indeed. some were content
with desk room. No. 1857 vas a store and
dwelling combined. ana 1t was evident
that the entire building was occupied by
w Wicker for business and domestic
purposes. Beyond the name the only
thing to distinguish it from it's %neighbors
was Il small. rusty tn sign, which notified
the passcrby that I'VE buy, sell and ex-
change iewe!ry of all descriptions Tho
windows We're dirty and the interior quite
dim. A dun gas jet threw n yellow 'sh
light over Il show case containing watches
and diamonds. a tall. thin man, with
parclied skin and a faded brown wig.
stood behind the counter. AS Barnes and
Clancy entered the SHOP they heard the
sciffiing OF feet, and someone d.sap-
ncared in the little living room behind
the showcase. The tall man learcd over
the showcase. and. rubbing his hands to-
se3taaFv-
What can l 10 for you, sentlemcn?"
wv. Wicker, Il i mistake not?' %interro-
gated Barnes.
Al your service was the smiling re-
ply.
What are you paying for diamonds to-
day?"
That depends entirely uoon the size
and quality of the stones" was the pro-
fcssional reply.
But you buy emp"
"Oh. yes"
Your transactions are perfectly conf
dental" quoting the advertisement.
"Oh. perfectly
Have you bought any this morning."
NO" with 81 curious stare.
"tiave any been offered to your"
the man drew himself up to his full
height and frowned-which did not add
20 his style of beauty.
Sir" he sad. angrily. 81 have no time
% trii!e with you"
lie was walking away when a movement
on the part of the chief caused him to
halt. Barnes opened his ulster and UNI
outtoning his inside coat threw back the
.are!s and disclosed to the astonished
dealer a glistening badge. The man
i'eered at 1t closely, noted the gold eagle
and the monogram of the government.
From the customs?" he whispered in q
husky voice.
Barnes nodded.
II beg your pardon said the other. alb
.ectly. and his lirs trcrnhled rs he spoke.
IN eve you any Information in M
power
woman peered from between the dark
curtains behind the counter. The dealer
saw her and ut the same moment noted
IN oh,ecs on the end of the counter.
Hannah" he cr,cd sharply. take t.at
cake into the dining room. The store Is
no place for it,"
No" echoed Barnes. n,ocl.insly. "such
cnrelcssIess Is inexcrsable."
The woman frowncd at the visitors. and.
picking w the cake. carried it into the
other room. Almost simultaneously
Barnes hurried around the end of the
counter and followed her into the apart
mert. The Gealcr olutched him by the
sleeve. his face as pallid as a sheet.
what do you mean by this-this in
trusion?'
"Pardcn the impe-t:nence." said the
chief. howing low. but my friend and L."
pointing 10 Clancy. want to impose on
| your hospitality for a moment"
Yes. yes" murmured the dealer. feebly.
Hannah. gcf-the-the gentlemen n glass
of vine. They loo~k-look-cold."
AS they seated themselves at a small
round table there was a clatter from the
! yard in the rear. 1t sounded as If someone
was scaling tho fence. Clancy rose i'm
pulsively and started for the back door.
Barnes detained him with a look.
stay here: this is more important"
The man and the woman. thoroughly
alarmed. sOod as If petr!iicd. The jeweler
YVES the first to recover.
Hannah" he said. irritably, II asked
you to get the gentlemen some wine"
The woman went to the sideboard and
| with trembling hands poured vine into
two tiny glasses. She was so nervous that
drops OF the red liquid fell and discolOred
| the white linen covering. Still shaking,
she carried the glasses over to the round
tcbl and placed one m front of Barnes
and the other before Clancy. The man