The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-06
Detective Connors Heart Adventures

| Ting softly, began putting away his trays
ana ms boxes in the iron safe
AT this very moment Bill Connor came
IN. shaking the raindrops from his broad
bath.
Old man Michehson looked UP in sur
so late visit, Mr.. Connor?' he
queried.
Rather late" answered Bill, land it's
a L ,,a Dad night at that Do you happen TO
nave a diamond sunburst In your safe,
my dear uncle: nice big affair with
plenty OF sinners in It? Been put up
within q week?"
"A sunburst. Mr.. Connorw exclaimed
inc old man You make me stop my
breath. haven't seen good stone
OF any kind in month. Mr. Connor,
business has been very bad. very bad.
IN too generous, Mr.. Connor. I help
so many people. I'm the friend OF every
PGdyii PfHSi ;Nh:,. Mr.; Gonnor Come. But diamonds,
old man Nicholson any more
Connor stepped behind the high coun-
ter as he chatted with the shopkeeper.
and was quite out OF view OF tho front
door, when that very same door SWING
open, letting In gust OF wind and rain.
small sicltly young man, made prema-
inreiy old by work and pain, stepped
Upon the counter lie laid small par
Gel wrapped In n newspaper
Nicholson opened 1t brusquely with
an afr OF business.
Nasty night. Peter. What you got
this time?" he chuckled.
Only a tritle. Mr.. Nicholson. There's
nothin' else, and will YOU make IL Is
cents. les bread 1 must have. Mr. Mich
elson"
The little man spoke in whispers. and
old man Nicholson held IN in the
aim light the other mans offering-a
naby's little sacque trimmed with dainty
lace.
Umph. You're right. Peter" grunted
inc shopkeeper. with a smile of disgust
upon his fat face. TITS nothing-noth-
Ing at al: Ten cents is a risk. my friend
Make 1t IS. Mr Nicholson" pleaded
the whispering customer.
Old man Nicholson shook his head
and. reaching into the till. his thick fin
gers picked out new and bright coin,
He laid II tenderly on the counter.
ONLY ten" murmured the young man
Michelson's face relaxed and his fat
hand sought the tn again. Two pen
MES followed the silver dime. and the
small man seized them eagerly.
They can't call me n hard man. Peter,
I'm m tho friend Of al the poor" the
shopkeeper cried. See! l give you 10
cents Instead of 10. But it's bad bust
But the door had already closed on
the little man, hurrying away into the
."Bad busincss-very bad business" re-
to Conuor. ' 10
Yes. id bad"' erunted Bill. who's
the little man.
who? Peter?' exclaimed the other,
Last name Hardesty. Lives at sc Stan
ton street second floor rear Nothin'
crooked about him. Mr.. Connor He's
simply out of work and making hard
connor took out his notebook and
scrlbblcd down tho address. Then he
bade, Nicholson good night and went
A N-a,Ny
he turned and glanced back The rain
beat a tattoo on the windows of the
blinking; stood with his fat hands folded
across the fullness OF his waistcoat.
Friend of all the poor" sneercd Con-
nor Tho old scoundrel! He'd take the
pennies from dead mans eyes"
Three more pawnshops and Bill Con-
nors work was done. He stopped at the
station. made his report and then took
crossiown car and was soon dry and
comfortable I'm his hall bedroom in old
Greenwich village.
But there was little sleep for Bill that
night. Perhaps it was the bowling of
the wind and the patter of the rain that
haps: too. ii was the sIckly face OF a very
small man and the memory Of n baby's
little garment that disturbed his rest
And all the next day Bill was haunted
by that night scene in tho Dnwnshop.
He went about his work as usual, but
the face of Peter Hardcsty seemed to ap-
pear constantly before him. Twice he
opened his notebook and glanced MT the
address in Stanton street and late in
the day. just at dusk. he clenched his
big nst. IN go and see,' he said. with
a smothercd oath.
Climbing two long flights of stairs at
Sc Stanton street, Detective Connor found
himself In large. square hallway The
only light came from small sky window
overhead. and the corners OF the hall
We're like so many dark closets. He moved
slowly toward the door Of the back apart
ment. where. according to old man Michel
son. he would find the home OF Peter
Uardesty.
lie had hardly taken half dozen steps
before the sound of voices caused him
10 stop suddenly, stand very still and
listen. lie was close TO a door at his
right hand on the opposite side OF which
two men were evidently quarrelIng.
81 tell we. no." came 10 Bits ears
pinched in an hour, tell ye. we've got
to take IT to Montreal or Toronto. It's
the only safe way"
A string OF curses followed from the
other man. and then the declaration:
well. I'm going out for n drink
thing when get back"
There was a. moving OF feet inside, and
Connor tDtoed back 10 one OF the dark
corners OF the hall A short. stoclly man
came out of the door and shambled down
the stairs. Bill leaned over the stair
rail- and saw. by the dim light OF a fick
erng gas Jet, the face and figure on
the floor below. lie felt pretty certain
that he recognized in the short man a
character we'll known TO the police OF Il
dozen cities. Then It occurred to him
that the conversation he had Just over
heard had something 10 do with theft. or
ut least with the pawping OF jewels or an
article OF value.