La Junta tribune., 1907-01-05

sleuths. and SO they worked in a dou-
BILE darkness, with the most amusing
results.
Meanwhile Harwood lived in a third
rate hotel in one of the capital cities.
his identity veiled under an alias and
his luxurious tastes re,ressei TO fit the
character of clerk out of a job. He
had a partI..r in this enterprise. and
the partner was supposed 10 be an OBJ
ject OF Creamer's suspicious. There
fore Harwood kept aloof from him and
they communicated with each other by
telephone only.
One evening while affairs We're in
this condition Harwood was sitting in
the Office of his hotel after dinner
when be was aecosted by a man whom
he had noticed on several previous oc-
casions aud had begun vaguely 20 sus-
pect OF some secret design The man
had eyed Harwood from across the
room two or three times with a studi-
ously veiled attention and once had
seemed 10 be discussing him with an
acquaintance.
Good evening said the stranger.
and Harwood responded courteously
with the tone of difference appropriate
10 the difference of their years. for the
other was beyond middle life.
My name is Graham" continued the
stranger
And mine is WILSON," responded
Harwood.
The clerk" said Graham. nodding
over his shoulder toward the desk
tells me that you're looking around
for something TO do"
That's true" answered Harwood.
with engaging frankness, "and ! don't
seem to have much luck finding any
thing"
Graham looked at him steadily and
approvingly for some seconds.
Il think I've get something that
would suit you" he said. "Of course
I don't know you. and I wouldn't give
cents for all the references In the
world. but it's my theory that . man
carries his character written on his
face"
"Yes. sir: ! think so myself" said
Harwood. raising his mild and limo
cent eyes TO the countenance Of Ora
ham.
immediately Graham began to give
seemed 10 be concerned with house
property and the management Of es-
tates. His main ONCE was In Chlca-
20. but he had recently opened 4
branch In this city.
"if you'll come to see me tomorrow
about IL O'Clock" said he. writing an
address upon 4 blank card. ''well see
II we can make some kind Of q deal"
"Yes. sir" responded Harwood CRATE
fully. II will be here without fail"
During the remainder of the evening
he pondered deeply upon this occur
renee. and at q the next morning be
called up his associate In the Capital
Cities speculation. To him by tele-
phone he gave n description OF GFa-
ham and Of the man who had been
with him when they had seemed to be
discussing IIarwood.
Il don't know Graham.'' replied the
partner. but I know the other man
He has been here twice and has tried
to get information nbout the Capital
Cities. I had him followed. and he
proved to he bookkeeper for n con.
cern downtown-Lingard 4 Co.. Job
bers In glassware. can't learn that
anybody In that firm is connected with
Creamer In any way. The bookkeep.
er's name Is Slade. What do you make
Of itY'
1T looks to me as II this fellow Siade
may have got some sort OF n private
tip. and. falling TO work you. he went
to Creamer. who bought him up and
put him on 10 some job with Graham.
who Is probably one Of Creamer's reg
uiar men. In my opinion. this Is the
deepest game we've struck yet"
But what Is the gamcr'
| Il give II up answered Uarwood: /:
but. by lingo. I'm going to find outr'
At the hour appointed he called at
the address given by Graham. and II
proved TO be small office in a big
building. The name "John Graham"
was freshly lettered upon the glass
panel Of the door. Within was some
simple furniture. including typewrit-
er table and n good sized safe Of an
old pattern. seemingly secondhand.
There was also telephone.
These inanimate objects declared
themselves In an instant to 50 rapid
an observer ms Harwood. and then they
vanished from his view, and he saw
only a giri-only a girl. but such a girl.
The sight of her struck Harwood
dumb. Was II possible. was It thinka-
BILE. that this daughter Of the gods
could be associated In any way with
the underhand schemes of such a crea-
ture as Graham?
"You are Mr.. Wilson, said the girl
in a voice that matched her numerous
other perfections. VIII you sit DOWN
Mr.. Graham will I've back directly"
Harwood seated himself. aud out
wardly he was the picture of well
bred but naturally difident young man