The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1909-06-05


where to find him.
Therefore he hastened at once to the
shady Hotel Northern on the fringes
Of the slums.
ring" said he to the night clerk,
. tough-looking individual Of 40, with
hard. flushed face. drink-sodden
gray eyes, fiashy cheap Clothes. and a
tall, bony form, how long ago was
Il that Mr.. Banning was here last?"
"A week ago tonight" Ring an
swered. quickly. why? I hope there
amt nothing"
only missing. that's all. We want
20 find him for his family. II he's
still here. and II you make It quiet
and easy for me. why. no questions
asked-that's It. All want Is him
sect And nobody else needn't know
nothing about It."
Here. come in here a minute" said
the clerk, hastily. He hurried through
the dining-room into the kitchen, and
standing in the middle of the floor
pointed upward to where door could
be seen, with three steps of former
stairway depending from It. The stair
way was sawed short on. the lowest
step hanging ten feet up from the
Kitchen floor.
"Ye see them stairs?" said the clerk.
pointing. I'VE cut them down be-
cause we needed the room here more
than we did them. So help me, amt
telling word OF lie. but Mr.. Banning
was lodging round up stairs Monday
night, and for some reason or other
he opened that door that we always
keep locked, and tumbled down here.
He thought there was stairs, suppose.
He wasn't hurted much, but he could
mt stand. and we would not send him
TO his own home. letting on that is
was here he was putting in his time.
20 we calls the wagon and
sends him to the Relief sta
ton. Why. isn't he out yet at all?
We thought he'd be all right in the
morning. only a trife shook up. and
mebbe the head on him from the lit
lie jamboree."
While he was speaking the limo.
cent eyes Of the detective were search.
ing his face. The clerk wore guilty
manner. but was It the flag OF guilt
IN this particular case, or was 1t the
general. all-round guilt which a man
OF his calling and stamp is likely to
show when in the presence OF the
law? The detective could not say
But the Relief station would answer
the question. or at least throw enough
light on the subject to start with. Mr.,
Banning would be found injured, but
had the injury come innocently, from
walking through that doorway? The
main point was that the missing man
would be restored to his home and
the restorer would get the reward
The manner Of the injury was a minor
matter, which, however, properly
looked into, might serve as a whip OF
power to hold over the shady Hotel
Northern.
Therefore, after long look into the
clerks shifty eyes. he said abruptly
It'll see you again about this, mebbe,
and hurried to the hospital To his
Inquiries an attendant answered tina,
on Monday evening q man had beer
brought III unconscious, suffering from
Q fractured skull and bruises on the
legs and arms. Two friends who were
with him said his name was C. o
Banning. They couldn't give his ad
dress. In the morning, when they hat
patched him up and he was able Il
leave the station, he denied that ht
was Banning. though he refused t.
give any other name. and went away
growing against somebody who hat
thrown him down stairs.
WAS he gentleman asked Ru
gersom.
IF he was he was thoroughly dis
giised." smiled the attendant. mo
he was rough fellow. faded ant
dirty. weak-minded. sniveling, typ,
We often see here"
The detective fastened back to tn,
hotel. The clerk Ring regarded hin
anxiously..
WAS he hurted bad after all?" h,
asked. "'Twould give the house bat
name"
Ring" said Rugersom. looking hin
In the eye, 1T wasn't Banning. How
could you make such bull?"
wasn't Banning!" he exclaimed
ThsS he laughed cynically. "Oh. no.
Of course n6tI Didn't I lift him Vi
from the floor myself Don't know
him batfer than I do yov7 n ba Their,
yskf Or how IL IT. What are you hand
Ing msf''
ring" said the detective. slowl.
and impressively, there's somethin,
phony In this. Out with It or IT Will
~ the worse for you"
tJakeyi Mikei" called the clerk
.y9king his head into the larger room
'con here. want you" t.s'.
q eeedy individuals shufled int
G1o6 lh1v*vegs-tAe types,of youn,
eoIloSa ~ e5oays may ~ sssI