Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-22

''No," said I, what about them?"
"Well. that's what little Mac wants
to know, the first thing he does.
They're after the same dago, or else
they're after us, you see? Every
joint we've been in, those two hoat
along after couple of minutes, all
cagey, not seem anybody. An they
look like guineas themselves. There
they come now"
He spoke without turning his head,
and looked past him at the two men
entering the room. They were small
sallow, and respectable, one OF them
decidedly fat; and they looked to me
like small italian tradesmen IN their
Sunday or travelling clothes. they
stood at the bar, talking between them
selves with rapid speech and gesture,
and paying not the smallest attention
to us. Theydid not even glance around
the room. so absorbed were they IN
their own conversation.
you're crazy" said I, "they don't
even know we're here"
"All right. Maybe you think I've
y
KNOWN when I'm being gum-shoed.
I've seen that fat bologna before, some
where, too. amt after martyrs
crown. Now, tell you what you 40.
You pike out an'go back to the nrst
place where we got the scent, an walt
around till I come. II they follow you
there, you duck for the busy street,
an 70 home. If they don't III be along
myself pretty quick. want to know
who they're after, you see?
what do you think they are :!
'T don't think yet; I'm goin' to know
Now YOU beat it-an'for Heavens sake,
Jolly the barkeep for all you know
how, an try not to look as If you were
wanted for arson"
| obeyed, wondering If Maclean's In
stinct for sensation had got the Detter
OF him. The two men took no notice
whatever as I passed them, but Went
on with their talk l heard enough TO
gather that they were discussing the
price OF butter. Yet, despite my skept-
icism. 7 walked up the street with
something the sensation Of having just
nassed a small boy with an ominous
SNOWFALL. The other saloon was fairly
crowded, and 1t was some minutes be-
fore I found Myself drinking a very
evil beer.
"say." said the bartender, sliding
INV change down to me, you're the guy
that asked about the guinea, amt
yer?"
"Why, my friend was" said care
lessly. HAS he been back? he owes
him for a."
"That'n do all right to tell" He
leaned across the bar. dropping MS
voice. "The reason I asked yer's be-
cause there's two other fellers AFTER
him. too. Guess they sold him a
grand piano, likely
He moved along to attend to other
custom rs. leaving me staring excitedly
about the room A moment later, ne
came back again, swabbing the pc
shattered bar with a towel AS ne
passed me without look, he turned
his thumb over and motioned, as II
the gesture were part OF his work,
toward the corner by the door There
sat the two little men at table, stlii
absorbed in discussion.
NV throat became suddenly dry.
had started out hunting with the
hounds to find myself running with the
hare. and the notion Of being shadow
cd by unknown Italians was more
than agreeable. With a
confused memory of all the detective
stories I had ever read seething In my
mind 7 lounged toward the door, gained
the street, and started of on a run. l
turned the first corner, ran half way
down the block, then walked quietly
hack. The two men were nowhere
to he seen. AS / stood on the corner.
one of them, the thinner one, came
slowly out. OF the saloon, pausing to
light q cigarette, and strolled casually
away from me up the street. 1t seem
ed impossible that he had any interest
in me, but I would be sure. followed
carefully after him for half dozen
blocks. He neither looked around nor
altered his pace in the least; and
where we crossed the car tracks. I
stood and watched him go steadily on
out of sight. Then jumped on a
nassing car, congratulated myself on
having carried out my instructions,
even though they had been rather I'M
necessary. And on the outskirts Of the
town, l stepped of to wait for my own
car. Just as 1t turned the corner, some
one touched me on the arm.
"Pardon; have you q match?"
I swallowed my heart down again
with a gulp., The fat Italian scratched
the match on his shoe, and breathed
"a soft 0ned OF smoke.