The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-08-09

The second stewlrd started for the desk.
but, apparently changing his mind, direct
ed his steps to the little booth where a
telegraph operator sat enshrined. he
picked up a pen, and taking one OF the
blanks quickly wrote d message. he
turned X upside down on q blotter that
was lying on the ledge of the booth and,
assuring himself that the fresh ink had
been dried, read it over carefully. 1t APP
peared to satisfy him, and he handed 1t
to the operator, who counted the words
and Informed Tallman what it would cost.
He paid the toll and a district messenger
boy grabbed the message and hurried out
of the room.
For a moment Barnes was in a
He bit the nail of his thumb vigorously.
But almost while he thought his decision
was made. He would let the boy go and
follow the second steward. That person
sauntered about idly and presently went
INTO the barroom. Instantly the chief
rushed up to the telegraph operator:
THE gentleman who just left handed
you a telegram"
YES was the reply in a tone of sur
prise.
Car l see 1t a moment?"
NO." was the blunt response.
II am afraid the gentleman made a mis-
take" ventured the inspector.
Then the gentleman will have to cor
rect it himself" was the busincsslike re-
ply.
This was so reasonable that Barnes was
nonplussed. The moments We're rushing
by. He must see the telegram and see 1t
quickly. He first thought TO reveal his
identity and trust to his official character
as a means of getting at the coveted doc
ument. But he remembered that tele-
grams were treated as confidential COM
munications. not to be lightly shown even
to inquisitive government officials. A
that moment he looked down and his eye
lighted on the little square blotter on
which the second steward had dried his
message. Fortunately it had been a fresh
one, and the imprint of each word had
been copied upon the porous surface.
Without any further parleying he slipped
the innocent looking blotter into his
pocket. 1t required but a few moment to
get into an adjoining Mushroom. BY what
seemed a miracle of chance no one else
was in the apartment.
He hurried In front of n large mirror
and employed a time honorcd device to
discover the writing on the blotter. AS
written it could only be read backward,
but by holding 1t in front of the mirror
the writing was reversed and appeared
as it was originally inscribed on the tele-
gram. Il was somewhat blurred. The
address was blotted out altogether. Some
of the words could not be deciphered, but
Barnes discovered enough to set his brair
in a whirl. What he read was as fol
lows:
"Am watched. Will be late. BE careful
"TALLMAN."
Barnes thrust the letter into his poke
and started for the door. He coult
scarcely repress a feeling of eXultation, {
desire to shout for joy. To him this i'm
perfect copy of the telegram furnished {
clew that might lead to big things. Tall
man realized that he was suspected ant
had made all preparations for fleeing thu
city.
The waiting room of the hotel was fairl.
crowded; but in spite of that fact the chic
inspector Immediately located the secont
steward He was near the side door lead
ing to the barFoo,n, engaged in converse
ton with a shabby dressed man VIII
looked like a sailor. Talllnan took a banl
note out of his pocket and thrust it int
the fellows hand The man smiled an
bowed his thanks.
Barnes pulled ont his watch and looke'
at ii. Ii was five minutes of 5. He pushe
his way over toward the telegraph boot
with the intention of sending a messag
to Clancy. The operators We're busy, AN
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