Omaha daily bee., 1911-03-05
CHAPTER 1.


Late In the afternoon of a clear, cold
day In the fan the usual crowd OF loungers
was scattered through the brilliantly
lighted marble corridor that formed the
mems entrance to a hotel on upper Broad
way, New York. The long rows OF leather
covered easy chairs with which the cor
rdor was lined were filled with men in
various attitudes of Incidence. Some OF
the men were smoking dreamiy, some were
reading the afternoon papers, while others
were chatting to friends or telling stories.
None of them seemed to have anything
in particular to do. although it might
have appeared TO an impartial observer
that the business In which the occupants
of all these chairs were engaged was the
careful scrutiny of each person that
passed along the corridor.
AT the street end stood the colored por-
ter, ready to swing the revolving door
for any newcomer that might wish to
enter while the man at the cigar counter,
just inside gazed absent mindedly out OF
the window at the passing throng on ever
busy Broadway the Great White Way.
At the other end OF the corridor the clerk,
standing behind the counter, which is
called by courtesy a desk, seemed TO be
dividing his time between feeling for his
scarf pin, as u to be sure that ii was
in place, and keeping his eye on the ele-
vator boys. who were lolling lazly against
the open doors OF their cars,
rather shOwiy dressed man, appar-
emily about 50. clean shaver, with bushy
eyebrows and thick lips, strolled up 70 the
desk and helped himself to a match, with
which he M a cigar Then he stuck his
thumbs into the armhoes Of his fancy
waistcoat, leaned his back against the
edge OF the desk and crossed his legs.
Rotten cigar" he remarked TO the clerk
presently, taking II out OF his mouth and
looking at II critically
You're always kicking about some
thing" retorted the clerk, with a smile
that betokened old acquaintance. why
don't you buy 5O-cent cigars? You car
afford it,"
Before they could continue the CONVEX
sation their attention was attracted by 1
tall young man, in evening clothes, wh'
had just stepped out Of the elevator, wher'
he hesitated FOR moment taking In hi
surroundings with a rapid survey. Tit
clerk leaned over toward the man ia th'
fancy waistcoat and whispered: Jus
keep your eye on that for a moment an'
you'I see something
AS the subject OF this observation cam,
toward the desk he gave one the impress
sion that he was man about 30, anJ
there was something in his movement
that suggested the strength and agility o
athletic training lie looked down th
corridor toward Broadway and then turnc,
round and went out at the ladies' entrance
ON the SIDE street,
Looks English by his clothes, remarks
the man in the Waistcoat, but he ism
blonde He's got about the bacEes
hair I've seen i'm some time II IL ism
dyed / suppose it's sim the fashion q
wear the whole suit Of hair over there
mustache, Nandyke and side whisker'
Just because the king wears his that way
lie stroked his own face carefully as
TO assure himself that he had none q
the ornaments 10 which he referred
Never nina his Whiskers," said th
clerk I'M low voice. Just keep your ey
on the Broadway door Tor a minute"
In less than minute from the time IN
dark young man with the Nandyke bear
had disappeared through the ladies en-
trance he came into the hotel again b
the Broadway door, walked quickly alon
the corridor. scanning the faces right an
left out OF the corner OF his eye until h
had reached the ladies' entrance again