The Elbert County tribune., 1909-05-27

|@&Aaiaeich- Nucn iHtl saw tnt ut-
tective they showed further signs of
discomfort, but brazened 1t out. though
doubtfully, as II ready for flight on the
first token of hostility on his part.
Mike" said the clerk, land you, too,
Jakey, where was it you seen Mr..
Banning Monday night-the first time,
l mean?"
"On the broad of his back on the
floor" answered Mike. pointing: and.
Stretched right out there" corrobo-
rated Jakey. also pointing. both OF
them speaking at the same time
Was 1t you two that gave his name
at the Relief station?" asked Ruger-
som.
1T was not" said Mike. mo, sir"
declared Jakey.
They helped put him in the wagon,
that's ALL Ring volunteered.
But who went with him to the hos
pital, then? They say there that two
men came with him and gave his
name"
Both Mike and Jakey began to talk
very fast. explaining that all they
knew was that Mr.. Banning had fall
him into the ambulance and then re-
turned to the dining room. where they
were sitting when the noise of his fall
startled them into rushing to the kitch-
en- to see what the trouble was. They
knew Mr.. Banning very well by sight,
as everybody around the hotel did.
he was there so often, attracting
good deal of attention unknown to him
self by being there at all, and espe-
cially by spending SO much money
You two come along with me- Ru-
gersom interrupted, grimly you
have the spiel too pat. Well see If
the ambulance man and the clerk at
the Relief station can identify you"
Its all right, Mr.. Rugersom. It's
jest as / tell you" called Ring after
the detective as the three went out.
"Mebbe." muttered Rugersom, "but
there's sand in this sugar somewhere.
1t grits.'
The instant they reached the first
cross street both men, as if moved by
one impulse, grabbed the officer by
the arm and turned the corner. out of
sight of the hotel.
Cit outer here-I'll tell him-I have
the first. word" growled Mike to
Jakey, who was feverishly trying to
whisper in the detectives ear.
Rugersom shook them off and
stepped into a doorway
Go SLOW" he said. You'll both be
treated the same in this game. no
matter who speaks first. Out with It,
Mike
Jakey subsided and Mike hastily
took the word.
There was gazabo lifted couple
of plunks OF fellow up stairs there
that night" he whispered, "and hit 1t
for the main entrance. But the Rube
stood up to him. so he breaks away
for the back door he seen there. 1t
slides through, but the stairs is cut out
and he pitches on his nut against the
kitchen floor. We all hears the hula
baloo and five or six of us trails in to
see the game. Mr. Banning was one
We sends for the Black Maria, and Mr..
Banning says: I'll give every man
here he says, "a ten-spot,' he says,
to say that dead man on the floor he
says, is me- he says. And then he
says, who wants it?' and he flashed
a roll the size of stove funnel. So
we all took it. And he hands me and
Jakey here ten more to go to the
station for to give his name. And we
goes and gives it. We all thought
the man was dead. but twas nothing
real phony, was it. Mr.. Rugersom?
You got nothin' on u.s."
and" put in Jakey, quickly, you
can't get the 20 apiece back from us,
because why?-we blowed it, didn't
we Mixer"
"s'elp mel" swore Mike, throwing
out his palms.
"Oh, dead sure," grinned Ruger-
som. You two high rollers blow 20
frequent But that's all right All I
want is Banning. Put me near and
I'm clam on everything else. Where
is he?" AS they consulted each other
with troubled eyes he added impa-
tiently. Leak, now, or I'll take you
in"
Twill cost US Ring" whined Mike
Hell give us the run If we do it,
I'll give 1t to you if you don't.
Open up"
"'Tis wort ten." protested Mike.
''Ah, twenty" deprecated Jakey.
60 on along up to headquarters"
the detective burst forth, angrily,
seizing them by the elbows. This end
ed the controversy.
They gave in suddenly.
Hes in the house." said Mike hur-
riedly. Come, well show you But
Ring is with him by this. and we'll
have to slide along. for he'll have him
out of that at onct now"
They saw as they passed the Of