The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-03-24


Il rather thought you would" | re.
Joined. But I'm going to ask YOU to
40 something else, and that is don't
ncnor any cheque bearing any Of thoco
numbers unless you are perfectly sure
that it is presented in the course NJ
legitimate business.
Quite impossible, my dear sir ,
assure you," was the emphatic an.
sWer. The cheques of Mr. Dallas wa
Shall be glad to honor for anv amount
always provided. of course that thev
are genuine"
Well, be sure they are genuine" ,
retorted as turned to the door and
with this parting shot left Mr.. Ander.
ton. so far honors are even"
thought. One success, one failure
NOW for the jackal himself" Calling
a hanson to the curb, gave the ad.
dress in Lombard street which the
embassy had given as being the latest
lair OF Col. Biddle. found the Office
easily enough-a suite of three rooms
comfortably furnished. There was in
the air an aroma Of rich tobacco.
Col. Bidder" | inquired of the of.
flee boy, who responded by nonehalant.
~ motloning with thumb over shout.
der, and laconic:
les in there" So stenned
through the middle room to the last
OF the series, literally following nv
nose. The colonel himself, in the act
OF strapping bulky portmanteau, rose
to his full height and faced me. rath.
er suspiciously.
Col. Biddle, l presumed"
That's my name, sir" was the
prompt answer. What can | do for
you?" He made no motion to sit down
himself, nor did he offer me a chair.
instead: II must ask you to be brief.
as am leaving town right off, and my
time is limited" AS he spoke he
turned and took from the top of his
desk a lighted cigar from which the
smoke had been rising in blue spirals.
and restored it to one corner of his
mouth. could have sworn it was a
La Madria!"
Il wished to consult you about some
mines in the States concerning which
am told you are an expert authority,
Col. Biddle," l said, dropping into a
chair, thus compelling the adversary
to do likewise.
MY friends say l do know some.
thing about the subject" admitted the
colonel modestly. What's your prop
osition-gold, silver or "copper""
"The latter-Montana," | answered
laconically.
Are you buyer or seller?" inquired
Biddle.
Buyer" was the prompt reply
That is, if everything is straight and
the price Is not too high. AS to which
l had hoped to be guided by your ad.
vice."
I'D be delighted to go into the prop
osition with you," said the colonel, lat
some time,' his suspicious apparently
allayed. DO you smoke? Yes? Try
one of mine," handing out cigar the
exact mate Of the four then reposing
in my case!"
Cant you give me an early appoint.
ment?" l Queried.
Not an hour to spare before next
Week," responded the colonel. I've
just got back from little-er-
yachting trip; and I've got to make up
for lost time!" There seemed to be
more humor in this remark than the
words warranted, and the colonel
threw back his head laughing hearth.
ly, showing a set Of teeth with pc.
culiarly square edges, displaying a
gaping cavity in the left upper jaw
caused by the loss of two molars.
Into this cavity, his merriment over,
Col. Biddle carefully restored his
cigar. l had seen all wanted. Shall
we say this day week, them" in.
quired nonchalantly, as ] rose.
AT your SERVICE" bowed the colo.
mel. l reached the street in a fer
ment. The strange cigar.stub found
in Dallas room bore the imprint of
exactly such teeth as were possessed
by Col. Biddle. The dual proof of the
brand of cigars and the teeth-marks
were conclusive! Biddle and none
other had been in Dandy Dallas cham.
Der on the night of the millionaire's
disappearance! But what to do with
the information now that had it was
the burning query. l could not have
the man arrested on mere suspicion.
However, much l might suspect, l
could prove nothing-not even the
fact that Dallas was absent other than
by his own free will. But could and
would have him Swallowed. Clearly it
was time to take some one into con.
fidence, so l drove to the Yeomanry
club, where l hoped to find Sir George
Kensett. Meantime Col. Biddle pro
ceeded to catch the b0at-train for
Southampton and Paris to wait for
things to blow over" The great coup
had been carefully planned and clever.
ly carried out. With Dallas cheQue
deposited in the colonels bank, the
transfer of the 100000 followed.
Recalling Dragoo and Stoner, and pay
ing them of, left the colonel with free
hands, and he rightly reckoned that
Dallas would pocket the loss grace
fully.
When l reached the club l found
Sir George nowhere about. There
was, however, said the porter, man
waiting to see him in the strangers
room.
You may imagine that Dandy Dial.
las passed a dreary "a hours after Bid.
die left him on the occasion of the
cheque.signing episode. His wants
uyaro rooulorlv attended tO and hia