The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-27


and he started. He had only glance
at Cluett Peters handwriting before
starting, and he had no samples with
him; but if that interesting young per
son had not inscribed the fact that
Henry and John Reynolds had set
tied in room "a, Bovine was willing to
eat his hat on the spot,
''Ah"' he said. almost too brightly.
The Reynolds boys arc here, are
they?''
The clerk nodded vaguely.
Expected to strike them here. Is
the room next TO them vacantg'
The clerk glanced at the key rack.
Number %? Yes, sir
We'll, I'll take it! I'll give EN- a
SURPRISE He chuckled. Are they in
now. ?"
Their key isn't in
''Well-never mind. I'll probably see
them in the dining ROOM" said Mr..
Bovine, happily, as he passed his grip
TO the lonely bell boy.
He, too, paid in advance. and, going
to his apartment very quietly, INDUCED
in a thorough scrubbing of face and
hands and clean collar. Mr. Bovine
had it all planned out now. Everything
would be done in a genteeI and chaste
fashion, and without excitement He
would stroll down to the dining room,
spot Cluett Peters, ask a moments pri-
vate talk with him-and take him back
10 New York in triumph, bonds and all,
He smiled at his own reflection and
descended to the dining room. And
there he caught his breath A lonely
waitress presided over twelve beautiful
iy empty tables, set for breakfast.
One glance was enough. Mr. Bovine
had forgotten that dinner hour was
in the past. He turned and hurried
dowP to the office: and there he found
the lonely bell boy in charge and said.
VIII you see If the Messrs. Rev
nolds-room 24-wiH receive a visitor?''
They amt in"
"Eh?"
Nope The boy looked up almost
annoyedly. '"They went out two or
three hours ago and they amt back"
'Well-they haven't left the
house?"
81 dunno. They took their baggage
with them
Are You sure of that"
The boy nodded impatient anirma-
ton. Mr.. Bovine drew d long breath.
then he produced a quarter and his
key.
GO up 10 20 and get my grip-it's
all packed he directed.
Five minutes, and Mr. Bovine was
upon the street again. with a food Of
profanity striving for release and
two Ideas IN his head: either the
pairs had returned to the OccIdent or
they had moved farther on Palpa
bly,, having left the Occident bv
stealth, they would hardly have re
turned; therefore. they must have
started away from Portland. and
mercifully, il they had left by the
railway, there was but one station 10
cover.
Mr.. Bovine leaped aboard a trolley
car, and on the back platform Gained
himself somewhat. By the time thew
reached the top Of the hill and began
the coast 70 the depot Bovine was
himself again. He'd been getting a
surprise or two in the last dav or so.
and he realized that II was for his
own benefit. Now HE wits were
sharpening again, and he'd lay hands
on Mr.. Cluett Peters now II he burst
The depot wes nearbS empty Mr..
Browne put on his most engaging
smile and hurried across to the only
open ticket window with:
Pardon me. but how long have you
been on duty?"
'Eh? Since hver' The youth
looked up in establishment
well, can you tell me II BY any
chance. YOU remembe a short. full
faced, very blonde young man buying
ticket for anywhere
'Huh?" The ticket seller grinned
suddenly, - pretty kid, with his
hair cropped short, and pair o. doll
eves2"
Was ne with big, dark. rough
jooMuG cuss?" asked the blessed
ticket man.
"Yes'' Bovine craned forward eager
BY. fery suddenly the man froze.
ell, what In thunder business is IT,
IF yours, anyway" he inquired abrupt
Just this much Of my business For
an instant BOwne's badge was on view.
Where did they RoZ'
Well. they bought through 20 Phlla-
dciphia. by way Of New York, mister.
They went of on the 80"
TO New York"
Sure. The through sleeper"
And when's the next train Goins
through
There was line behind him IN his
momentaTy confusion Mr.. Bovine was
pushed along And having nothing bet
ter 10 do for tho moment, ne walked
cunt into tho train shed and Euawcl his
lips md wished for a few new auath-
eWas'
II was lonely out there. One or two
black rains were lined up without en-
rlneS. rar across the shed train of
two PUllman-likc affairs and q couple
81 empty day coaches were hitched to
a snortug engine. and beside the rear
Pullman stood "A trim negro in uniform
BOwr.- sauntered over, more from pure
instinct than from any other reason.
and addressed him
Where's the train going
philadelphia, sab"
What" The detectives ioy rose IN a
shrek, Have you got a sleeper sec
tiO.I left2'
NO sah," The darky grinned- This
2lnt no train. This we're is the vice
presidents private car-Mr Harrison,
- de y. 7. and :.
But that-thCrc--js q sleeper
"Yassah. we brought up de boss an
a party Of friends. Now we EotteT rush
de boss back alone"
The train bumped; the engineer was
looking back, and tho colored man