Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-08-08
BY GEORGE BARTON.

"S iiASL iiSDeCtUT OI CuStOInS IAy hack
m a great big easy chair in his bachelor
apartments overlooking Washington
square and learnediy d%iscoursed upon the
philosophy of crime. Alan Forward. his
fficn~. the chemist. who had dropped in TO
pay a pop call, forgot the movements OF
the hands on the clock and sat there alb
sOrbed IN the flow of wit and wisdom that
came untnterruptediy from the lips of the
veteran of the government service. Barnes
was about to clinch one of his favorite
propositions when he was interrupted by
q gentle tap on the door.
Come M he cried In freczingly official
tones
The door opened and Cornelius Clancy
entered. Clancy was popularity known as
the shadow Of the chef, but he was ply
Slcally substantial. and IL the %twinkling
eyes and the always present smile count
ed. a very merry shadow. Anyhow, Barnes
regarded him as vitality essential to his
business. and the aggressive little fellow
nah shared In the capture of many celc-
erated smugglers. He burst into the room
BOW with the air of a man full of informa-
ton. but when he perceived a stranger
Nc stopped short and stood on the door
rug. rubbing his smooth chin in a medi-
tative fashion.
Go on. Con- said the chief encour-
aglngiy: don't mind MIR. Forward"
IT'S not much.'' responded the young
man. taking his breath. THE Vulture
passed breakwatcr this afternoon and is
anchored I'm midstrenm. The night m
spectors are up In the air and say you'u
have to look her over"
Barnes sighed deeply and ran his hand
through his luxurious snow white hair.
He turned to Forward:
II hate to stop this argument'-he called
ma monologus an argument-'just when
I'm getting the best of you. But before
VIC quit l again insist that the human body
does not inherit disease, but 1t does in
hcrtt tendencies. Now I carry this to its
logical conclusion and say that we inherit
mental as well as physical tendencies.
itcrce the crime in some families; hence
Forward burst into IA laugh and threw ~
both hands.
II surrender. Barnes. You can quit
happy"
A smile of satisfaction spread over the
Gu mans face. and the smile dropped ten
years from his age. He tossed off his slip
pers and began pulling on his CATERS. He
looked AT his visitor.
Maybe you'd like to 60 down to the
wharf with us. Three wouldn't he a crowd
hot In this case"
Delighted. I'm sure" responded For
ward. with alacr.ty. 'But If I'm in the
way you must not hesitate to say so
oh. you're not in the way replied
A'"a'rS. bcsIucS, WIN Il tentative look,
" might take up this rguncnt where
We left Off"
Didn't I tell you | surrendercd?. in
Perfected the other.
Yes grunbled the chief. .you did.
THEN. boiling iuto another room. you
gave in too quickly. There's no sport in
shat sort of Il victory"
While Barnes prepared for his hurry call
Forward had an opportunity of studyinr
tho room Uu ,,Iutp1,. sn,,tel,.l A..
most conspicuous article in the room being
the bookcases. They nlled every available
l"ch OF the wall space. a closer inspection
revealed the fact that they were all works
OF reference. Fiction seemed to be rigidly
tabooed- One shelf filled with loag hin
Volumes, in plain bindings. contained the
annual reports read at the meetings OF the
Prison association. The ether
:olunes had such titles as Crimes and
Criminals "Criminolcg..' National
Crimes" Great Crimes of tbs Nineteenth
THE Philosophy of Klepto-
mania" THE Criminal Insane" Juvenile
and Remarkable Trials"
Presently Forward turncd to Clancy with
. half yawn:
1.-THE old mans a long while"
Clancy smiled so broadly that both rows
teeth glistcned beneath the rays of the
electric light. He answered with the air
OF 4 man who is revealing secrets OF
state:
Hes shaving
"~Shav.ng?'
Yes: he's a perfect crank on it. Has
TO have his shave twice Il day, or he's
You came in tonight and in
terfered with it. But he won't go out
without his shave"
We'll, I'll be d%arned." m For
ward.
That's not ALL exclaimed Clancy.
proudly.
Not all?'
NO. there's something else; just you
watt and see"
Barnes emerged ready for the street.
ne went into the corner of the room and
putied out q small table, containing
spirit lamp and a small urn. He struck Il
match. lighted the lamp and the water be-
Dan to. bubble. In 4 few moments the
room wa filled with the aroma of conea.
several large cups were on the table.
barnes filled one. He approached the
chemist.
.Hav a dish of corree?"
Not on your life" was the quick re-
spcnse. IF drank that I'd see snakes all
night"
Barnes looked at him with an indulgent
smile. He swallowed the coffee at a gulp:
then he took a second cup. :.
Il couldn't live without IT.. he said.
Five mute later they left the room.
ana taking a short cut through the
square. ak hurriedly in. the direction
OF the river Cont. The streets were de-
serted. The hands on a big clock pointed
% . few minutes OF midnight. A DEATH
IKE stiffness hung over the city. The
three men were silent. but the sound of
their footsteps echoed through the air
Nth military precision. As they neared
Ne wharf Barnes suggested that For
ward and Clancy fall in the rear. while
ne quietly slipped ahead to take a. survey
af the river.
the chief moved with catlike agility.
His step was swift and springy, and ali of
Ms senses were on the alert. Barnes was
'e.taIl. thin, angular man. with the look
e . farmer dressed in his Sunday clothes.