The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-06-05
Me MAN> in the.e
BROWN DERBY
M A,
Wells HASTINGS
e00 Author Of Geo
The Professors Mystery
lOYrshtBllby BobbsiieniI "a
CHAPTER XIII.
(Contlnued.)

What 10 YOU think OF that?" /
asked, as passed IL 10 the hotcl
clerk.
He glanced II over and laughed. Il
think" he said, that II is palpable
fake. It's from some crook VINO prob
ably makes his living by answering
just such advertisements as Yours.
lie is an the other end OF this thing
and, without the slightest information,
is going 10 take a flyer at trimming
you. Who is this Slater, anyhow
There isn't anything mysterious about
him. is there
Mysterious? No" | said. Slater
is a man who till six weeks ago kept
laundry on Park-aye., and, as
couldn't find him there. | advertised
for him: but there is nothing mysteri-
GUS about him or his disappearance, as
far as | know"
Well" said the clerk, that abou,
settles it, This Johnny who Mrote
the note evidently thinks that there
is something mysterious. and has an
swered in kind: which proves that ~
the first place he doesn't know any-
thing about IL, and in the second
place that he is crook. So that lets
him out
"oh. don't know" replied; Il
believe III go"
We'll, il you're oaly looking 20 get
your throat cut, the clerk laughed,
go right along; don't let me stop
you. But as for little Rufus, the brass
horses OF Xerxes couldn't drag me
down there. STILL III lend you gun
il you must 60"
NO" | said. Il don't want a gun
But you can lend me a book If you
want to-
Better take one" the clerk pro
tested. But as | shook my head
saw him glance down. half uncon
sciously, az my gloved hands.
That's it." | said: Il think | car
take care of myself.
The clerk flushed uncomfortably. y
suppose you can" he said, come or
out, and I'll give you the book
So IL was with a copy of the Amer
can Hotel Directory under my arm
mat | started out for Seventh-aNe
AS | half expected. my rendezvous
was a dirty one. Only three mer
were in the place as / came in, arC
| sank DOWN gingerly into a sprins
| chair, by a little, grimy, wettoppe'
J table At the creak OF my chair TIN
| bartender turned from rummaging ;
shelf behind the bar and brought hi
small. watery eyes TO bear upon nie
lie was an unpleasant bartender, wht
evidently drank much OF the iiIu"
ne dispensed and whose great ant
brlbous nose was like some poison
Gus fire, which had broken out in tn
! lurid smolder of the wrecked face.
What's yours he asked. ia
hoarse whisper that was evidently III
natural voice.
pondered, If ii were true, as tn
clerk thought, that | was brough
here on the chance that ! might b
worth the plucking, II behooyed IN
&c go warily. Even this dreary wee
with a drop or two of choral coul
make the strength that | relied upo
useless.
~! take a small bottle OF wine.
you have IT," replied AT length. Win
has the advantage of coming sealed
whisky or beer In the open glass ma
be drugged behind the bar.
Sure. we got it." whispered TN
bartender; and, indeed, TO my SUI
prise, | found the claret amazingl
good.
Tn ,s far. save for the bartender, n
one had taken the slightest notice {
either my entrance or my order. IN
three men ar the bar stood leanln
over their drinks with their backs U
ward me. Now, as | set down m
|, glass. one Of them turned and glance
al me- hastily. lie found my eye
Iupon hun, and his glance only hlcke
ed over me for a second. Then 1gal
. lhe turned his back upon me. with III
head pcIt low and his shoulder
launched about his ears Thought
heard a muttered word or so, thei
still without turning his face toWar
me he lett the other two, ana ma
, skunk. half glouched ont or the pa
, Whether or not he had recognized IN
II coald not tell. but ! had Know
MIN on the instant. lher
, could not be the least dout
about Il. The washcd-out, pimpl
, face. .h, wavering blue eyes, ana IN
, long neck with its disproportlonat'
, gulpng Adams apple had been 10
/. lyiyidly impressed upon my memor
: over in life to be forgotten. VIVA
Ihe did here, did not Enow; Whelhe