Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-23
EIq4As455 80: - = - -

asked them TO find him What proof have
you that he was one Of that gang7"
Well sir" said the detective, shaking
his head. that's too long a story to go
over again now. But IL you'd have told
the police to find Maynard sir, you'd have
some fun. To have the whole force looking
for a dead man, and they having parts of
him in chemicals at the morgue. Why,
that's positively funny, sir; that is
Mcbride turned over several things in his
mind and started on a new tack. ''You will
excuse me, MIR. Johnson: but I cannot
quite reconcile your statement that it was
in following Mr.. Fletcher. or Maxwell.
nearly three weeks ago. that you came
across Miss Stewart; and Mr.. Hartley $
statement that the first time you ever
saw Miss Stewart was when you followed
her from this office only last week.
Mr.. johnson shrugged his shoulders.
That's his business, sir. It's my private
opinion. sir. that Mr. Hartley knows a good
deal more about Mr. Fletcher than he cares
to tell I'm thinking he knows considerable
about Miss Stewart too, sir 1t was let
ter OF introduction to her 1 was to get
here this morning, sir. She's the only
chance we have to find out anything more
about Fletcher who he was and where
he come from. In the meantime, I'm doing
all | can on my own account to locate
Mr.. Paul Maynard
IL can introduce you to Miss Stewart any
time
'"rhe deuce you can, sir''
Yes. What MIR. Hartley wants more
than anything else at present, he tells me,
is to establish beyond question the fact
that this Mrs Stewart, as she calls her
self is really Mrs. Maxwell, or Mrs.
Fletcher, whichever you please" Mr.. Nc
Bride gasped at his own temerity in max
ing this statement But why should he not
seize this opportunity to obtain the proofs
which would set all doubts on Miss OIL
stroms part at rest? No matter whether
Maxwell were dead or alive; IL he were a
married man, that would be more than
enough.
well, II wouldn't do for me to tackle
her myself, sir. We have a man that'e
been trying to get acquainted with her fol-
two weeks. II you would introduce him, II
would be what Mr.. Hartley's been after
for some time. SIR
Mcbride made some remark about the
mans not having been very wide awake
If II took him two weeks to make that
acquaintance when he knew of some one
that had done 1t in a few hours. Had he
known that the handsome Mr. Frank Dore.
mus, who was supposed to have that matter
in hand, had no existence outside Mr.
Johnson's Imagination, and that Mr.. John
son himself was not wasting any time or
Miss Stewart, he might have spared John.
son the necessity of blushing slightly, and
laughing in his sleeve at the same time.
Mcbride wrote the name of the Second
avenue cafe on a slip OF paper. and handed
it to the detective. Bring your man there
tomorrow night at six, and l will introduce
him."
IAN right, sir. In the meantime sir,
hope you won't say anything about my
theory OF the cab business to any one, sir
especially to the police. They WOULDN'T
give me no credit for nothing, sir. II there
is anything in that Job when Mr.. Hartley's
through with me, sir; I'd like to make a
bit out of it for myself through the pa.
pers."
you can trust me. In fact, Mr.. Hartley
told me that anything you might tell me
was to go no further. And" he added
slowly glancing at his desk; III you want
any money. you are to have whatever you
call for for yourself and Doremus. 1t might
be worth q little extra IL you could gel
the profits OF that marriage in my hands
quickly"
Thank you, sir. OF course, sir, a little
cash always comes in handy. Expenses has
to be met in this line, you know, STRIP
How about couple of hundred?"
Thank you very much, sir"
Mcbride excused himself for q minute
and then returned with the bills. johnson
stuffed them into his pocket, and promised
there should be no mistake about the meet
ing next night at the cafe. He would soOr
get the proofs of that marriage for him.
Johnson himself appeared at the ap
pointed time. Mr.. Doremus was sick, hi
said, but johnson would pass the intro
duction along. He was dressed for the oc
easion. and Mcbride could not help smiling
at the change in. his appearance although
he was evidently very Ill at ease in {
dinner coat, and looked for all the work
like waiter.
The >head-waiter approached them ant
bowed very low to Mcbride, who whispered
a question to him. The waiter was yer,
sorry; but madam would not be Their,
again. She had dined there last night
and had said goodby to him. She was sail
ing for Europe today. and was already OF
the high seas.