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

ward. Clancy sat In the bow of the boat,
his head down and his shoulders h%unched,
as barnes afterwa-d declared, like Napo-
leon on the retreat from Moscow. AS soon
as they tied up at the wharf the chief
grabbed his assistant by the arm.
Dismiss the night inspectors and Join
me. There's work to be done yet"
Clancy instantly came out of his stupor
Barnes words aroused all OF the hopeful
ness in his optimistic allure. He did as
ne was bid. and when he had finished
round the chief and his friend concealed
behind a pillar on the pier.
The second steward is just landing
whs pered Barnes. AS soon as he leaves
the wharf I'll follow him. You STAY here
with Forward until ] RETURN
In a few minutes Tallman climbed up
on the wharf. putting from the exertion
or rowing In from midstream. He hur-
rled out OF the wharf and started up the
main street. Barnes followed. Once or
twice the steward paused and looked be-
hind him. Then he resumed his journey
and did not stop until he reached the Snug
Harbor inn, a hotel much patronized by
searfaring men. Although 1t was 2 o'clock
In the morning the place was brilliantly
lighted. The Snug Harbor inn prided 1T
self on being open lat all hours OF the day
and night"
The second steward started for the desk.
but. apparently changing his mind. direct
ed his steps to the little booth where a
telegraph operator sat enshrtned. He
picked up Il pen. and taking one of the
blanks quickly wrote d message. He
turned IL upside down on a blotter tina
was lying on the ledge of the booth and.
assuring himself that the fresh ink had
been dried, read 1t over carefully. 1t APP
peared to satisfy him, and he handed it
to the operator, who counted the words
and informed Tallman VIA 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 dilemma.
He bit the nail OF his thumb vigorously.
But almost while he thought his decision
was made. He would let the boy so and
follow the second steward. That person
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.
Can I see it a momento"
No. WAS the blunt RESPONSE.
II am afraid the gentleman made a mis-
take ventured the inspector.
"Ihen the gentleman will have to cor
rect 1t himself was the businosslike re-
ply.
This was so reasonable that Barnes was
nonplussed. The moments We're rushing
He must see the telegram and see it
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-
We're treated as confidential COM
municat'ons. not to be lightly shown even
to inquisitive government officials. AT
that moment he looked down and his eye
lighted on the little square blotter on
which tine second steward had dried his
Fortunately 1t had been a fresh
one. and the imprint of each word had
copied upon the porous surface.
any further parleying he slipped
the innocent looking blotter into his
pocket. 1t required but a few moments to
get into an adjoining washroom. BY what
seemed a miracle of chance no one else
was in the apartment.
He hurried in front of a large mirror
and employed a time honored device to
discover the writing on the blotter. AS
it could only be read backward,
by holding it in front of the mirror
The writing was reversed and appeared
as 1t was originally inscribed on the tele-
1t was somewhat blurred. The
address was blotted out altogether. Some
of the words could not be deciphered, but
Barnes discovered enough to set his brain
in a whirl. What he read was as fol-
ship Company. -
Am watched. VIII be late. Be careful.
"TALLMAN."
Barnes thrust the letter into his pocket
ind started for the door. He could
scarcely repress a feeling of exultatiou, a
to shout for joy. To him this i'm
copy of the telegram furnished a
clew that might lead TO big things. TALL
man realized that he was suspected and
had made all preparations for fleeing the
city.
The waiting room of the hotel was fairly
but in spite of that fact the CHIEF
Inspector Immediately located the second
He was near the side door lead
.ng to the barroom. engaged in couversa-
ton with a shabb,ly dressed msn who
ooked like a sailor. Tallman took a bank
tote out of his pocket and hrust it into
The Fellows hand. The man smiled and
bowed his thanks.
Barnes pulled out his watch ana looked
at 1t. 1t was five minutes of 3. He pushed
his way over toward the telegraph booth
with the intention of sending a message
TO clancy. The operators were busy.
men were standing writing mes
While the chief stood there irreso-
lutte. wondering what he should do. a
stranger tapped him on the arm.
lis this Chief Barnes"'
That's my name.'
Well. a man on the sidewalk wishes to
speak to you"
WHO Is TT"
II can't say. but you will know him by
the fact that he is dressed in a long storm
and Is wearing a high silk hat"
What does he want?"
Il don't know. but he says that 1t Ia a
that vitality concerns you"
Barnes was about to make some further
remark when his informant suddenly left
him and slipped away in the crowd. The
Inspector was p~erplexed. His impulse was
to ignore the message. but on second
he felt that 1t might nave some
important bearing on the case he had on
So he made his way through the
main door of the hotel and oiif intn the