Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-16

y
was swinging round the corner next
the elevator.
Is he an innocent bystander or
what?" puzzled the soldier. He re-
sumed his march up and down the
corridor. The next room to the
Keatcham suite was evidently held by
an agent Of d,e Fireless Cooking
Stove, since one of his samples had
strayed into the hall and was mutely
proclaiming its own exceeding worth
in very black letters on q very white
placard
III the young man and the valet are
straight goods, the key will come up
reasonably soon from the once"
thought the watcher.
Sure enough, the keys, In the hands
of Winters own spy, appeared before
he had waited three minutes. He re-
ported that the old gentleman got into
cab with his secretary and the valet,
and the other gentlemen took another
cab. The secretary paid the bill. Had
he gone sooner than expected? No;
he had engaged the rooms until Thurs
day night; this was Thursday night.
The colonel asked about the next
room, which was directly on the cross
corridor leading to the elevator. The
detective had been instructed to watch
1T. How long had the Fireless Cooking
Stove man had It? There was no meat
for suspicion In the answer. The stove
man had come the day before the
Keatcham party. He was a perfectly
commonplace, good-looking young man,
representing the Peerless Fireless
Cooking Stove with much picturesque
eloquence; he had sold q lot Of stoves
to people In the hotel. and he tried
without much success to tackle "old
Keatcham;" he had attacked even the
sleuth himself. "He gave mo
mighty good cigar, too" chuckled the
red-headed one.
Hmm. you got Il now?"
"Only the memory" the boy grinned.
you ought to have kept 1t, Birdsall
would tell YOU; you are watching
every one In these rooms. Did It have
a necktie? And did You throw that
away" &.
mo. sir, kept that; after got to
smoking, Just thought I'd keep II"
When he took the tiny scrap Of pa
per from his pocket-book the colonel
eyed it grimly. "a de villar , villar,'"
he read, with slight ironic infection.
Decidedly our young Fireless Stove
promoter smokes good cigars!"
Maybe Mr.. Keatcham gave Il 10
him. He was in there
WAS he? Oh, yes. trying to sell
his stove-but not succeeding?"
"He said he was trying to get past
the valet and the secretary; he thought
II he could only get at the old man and
demonstrate his stove he could make
the sale. He could cook all right, that
feller."
The colonel made no comment. and
presently betook himself to his aunt
She was waiting for him in the parlor.
playing solitaire. Through the open
door the white bed that ought to have
heen Arches was cleaning family.
The coloneps brows met. Z
well, BERTHE? Did yon md any
thing" Mrs. Winter inquired,
smoothly.
Tin afraid not; but here 10 the 70
port He gave 1t to her. even down
to the cigar wrapper.
1T doesn't seem likely that Mr..
Keatcham has anything to do with IT,"
said she. "He. no doubt. has stolen
many little railway. but Httle<eoy-
Is too small game"
ooh, don't suspect Keatcham; but
/ wish I had caught the elevator to-
night. He looked at me in q mighty
queer way"
did you recognize his secretary -
any one whom you ever saw bators!s
asked Mrs. Winter.
Il can't say" was the answer. given
with little hesitation. I'm not sure"
Il don't think / quite understand
you, BERTHE; better make a clean
breast Of all you know. I'm getting q
little worried myeelf"
(To Be Continued.)