Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-07

me I'd like to be bellboy."
Thus spoke Nat Davis, patronizing-
ly, and with 4 smile, INTENDED to pave the
way to the good graces of consequential,
well-dressed juvenile attacbe OF the Centrai
Hotel.
I'm one of the bell-boys-yes," replied the
uniformed lad, with weary dignity. AS 10
being soft job-hum! you ought to try IT.:
My! but I'm tired running up stairs and
down. We amt good enough for the eieva-
tor. That's for the nsbs. Coming! here
goes the bell again.
Nat had located the Central Hotel an hour
before, but that hours sixty flying minutes
had been very rapidly consumed
lie had reflected seriously all the way to
the great caravansary, and knew that it would
be like hunting for a needle in haystack TO
about way. he could only hope to lind the
man by getting on the track OF Cyrus Me-
serve.
This hotel, the Central, Meserye had posi-
lively told Dobbs would be his headquarters
for that day. Nat while resolved to use due
caution, decided that if he found Meserve a
guest at the hotel he would keep the man in
sight, by hook or by crook, until the arrival
OF the old sailor the two schemers had al
luded to.
Nat had little knowledge Of metropolitan
ways, for he had never been in the great city
before, but he had average common sense,
and, after watching the vestibule ana the
clerks desk for some time from the doorway,
and seeing no signs of Meserve, be glided
through the broad portals, and, undaunted by
the suspicious stare of the hotel clerk. looked
over the open register.
&C. Meserve, City, Room 49," was the en-
try, two days back, that satisfied Nat, and
sent him hurrying outside again, as If he
feared that the object of his search might
suddenly appear like some grim ogre, and nab
him then and there.
He pulled his hat down over his eyes, and
felt himself every inch detective as he went
the hotel and regarded the great pile of ma
sonry thoughtfully.
He sat down on the coping stone Of double
doorway. The doors were open, but two
wooden bars prevented entrance or exit, and
there were no steps leading down into the
court
Glancing within, he saw that there was a
narrow hall beyond, leading directly to the
rotunda of the hotel-a sort of well-ventilated
lounging place for guests.
AS he sat there, one of the several boys
with gold braid on their coats, and seated on
a bench, but constantly rushing from it as
bells sounded in the hotel office, came to-
ward the doors and leaned ON the bars as il
to get air and rest himself.
1t was to Mats interest to make friend
OF any one who had the entree to the Mecca
of all his hopes, and he spoke pleasantly to
the boy, and received the reply noted at the
De41nuiuB OI JHlb cndpteT, tQteTfupteQ, as mas
been seen, by sudden bellcall from the
Office.
Nat waited impatiently for the boys return
Perhaps he might win the boy to aid him in
his designs on Meserve.
The boy did return after a delay anxious
and uncertain to Nat. Evidently converse
tion with some one besides his regular COM
panions pleased him, and he had a grievapce
that Nat aad encouraged him to discuss.
"Its a shame!" he muttered, leaning over
Lar xuoa IooL md fI,x.
ever. cts a regular slave life, this is. Two
dollars and half and keep week, and we're
on duty from six in the morning till mid
night, off and on"
sympathizingly; "but then I always heard
Won hotel BOYS make lots of outside money" ("
"Outside money! Humph!" calculated the
bell-boy. Sometimes we do in the rushing
season, and once in while s. ei dime OF two
Nat started visibiy. The conversation was
drifting most favorably to his plans.
lived starve to DEATH" concluded t., oov
bitterly. "He came hsgs, fey, few .a;. days ago ago
;nS4 He's hard one Ting! the bell. Morn
inc papers. Yes, sir. Ting! Writing ma
teriais. Yes, sir Ting! again. Send off a
messenger boy, down to one OF the docks S: or or
come at once II he's like. this one, III put
a chunk Of ice in their beds tonight, just to
nav them off for such meanness for never a
pp;ckeI did I get for twenty runs to room
forty-eight during the morning.
Nat was auivering with ! excitement Oh
ssorvs--of watching him and learning his plans!
The grumbling Of The bell-boy. had already
revealed the fact that Meserve had sent for
some one. undoubtedly the sailor he had
p"SsW;ll the sailor come here" thought Nat.
"xvhen? How? What is the best way to
keen track Of their movements?
SSay. boy I'm in trouble, and want you
Nat smoke ON sudden impulse. directed in
measure. by the bell-boy's antagonism to
fbe stingy occupant Of Room 4S.
He crept under the lower bar and confront
q, s;rs and mysterious that the boy regarded
oo.k II