The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-04


the button. l had won the battle
l stalked over to the door ant
threw it wide. Get out of this!'
1 grated. "Get out of this ant
go-hang yourself if you want to
cheat the hangman. You've hat
your fun, and now by heaven! II
have my pound of fesh!"
He raised to me the face of @
panic-stricken craven. "F Oh
Christ's sake!" he cried, and even
pleaded with his hands. He was
beaten, indeed.
"Well, then!" I said, "the
money!"
With feverish hands he tore
from his coat small bundle OF
notes and forced them upon me
Count them, count them!" he
mumbled.
COLI l ordered sternly.
"But, but-your oath!"
"I'll keep it-go!"
He uttered hollow groan, and
rushed out of the room.
1 looked at the notes. They
were brand new, and 10 in num-
Der. Each represented $1,000.
Hearing footballs, concealed
them, and second later there
came to me the waiter who had
conducted Sir Charles to my apart
ment.
l gave him a form, and said: 81
want q man, big-my own size
Just like me-to carry a box. You
are too small. Send me a man
like l want at once, but he must
belong to your hotel. l can trust
no strangers!
I put on my hat, and as soon as
he had disappeared, followed
him. A gentleman stood by the
elevator door, as though waiting
for it to ascend. I passed him
and began to descend the stairs.
He Immediately rang the bell three
times. Was that signal,
wondered. I returned very quick
ly, but he still stood there, and
he did not seem to be aware of my
existence. But he rang the bell
once. I again began to descend
the stairs. Again the bell rang
three times. l came to the lower
floor, and there another gentle
man was standing before the ele-
vator door. l passed him and he
rang the bell twice. "How curl
ous!" thought I, my room is on
the third floor of the hotel. There
the bell was thrice rang but on
the second floor only twice, and
most remarkable coincidence of
all, the elevator does not trouble
to appear!"
had left the second fioor-I
returned to it! The waiting gen.
tleman rang once! l was salts
fed. "Sir Chas. Venner," said 1,
has put at least three detectives
on my trail!"
I marched straight up to the ele-
vator door and rang the bell my
self-one long continued ring. 1t
appeared at once. "Ze third
floor!" l muttered to the attend
ant. Itch hat forgotten zomding!"
A moment later / was back in my
room with the door shut. / began
to ,undress, and when the knock
that expected sounded, I stood in
hn1 socks and underclothes alone.
l TCome int" l cried.
l A burly waiter entered. He wore
"a short black beard at the sight OF
which 1 rejoiced. shut the
door!" said 1. He obeyed.
! @Mein friendt!" said l, looking
at him very keenly, "do you wish
to earn a sovereign"
"Rather!" he cried.
t'tThen viii you go a message for
si"Yes, sir"
feYou see dose boots" I pointed
TO- the pair I had removed.
/ Eyes, SIR"
{ ttTake on your own and put on
dish. You are going to walk
Through some mud. and as It rains
IL do not wish you to catch cold
He looked extremely astonished
but he did my bidding. l smiled
upon him very genially. eff YOU
do well shall double your re
ward. Now / want you to leaf iii
hotel without any Won knowing da
| you do! I tell you Wy ven yot
come back. Here, take zis soy
ereign."
| He took II. but he frowued. aIst