Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-09-04


years ago, after a series Of quarrels
with my mother. Relations had not
been good for some time. He never
came back Whether he died there
or whether he has merely remained
away. do not know
Il listened to that explanation in
tensely And with the explanation.
there came clue. The young WON.
an as she talked, waved her gloves
nervously. They bore to my mind ia
miliar memories that ! should recog-
nize My brain struggled with mem
ory long time. Then suddenly the
flash came, and smiled as l looked
at Miss Charles, and asked:
"'How long have you been carrying
your mothers gloves?
There was little start of surprise,
at the question. The young woman
held up the gloves and her eyes grew
wide.
'Why-so I ami she exclaimed.
How did you know that?' A nervous
little laugh followed the question.
Have you ever seen my mother
how did you know / was carrying her
gloves?'
"'Well let that remain my little Sc
cret for the present. l answered.
Now, we'll revert to the original ques-
tion of how long have you been carry
ing them?'
"'Only since last night. I went to
her fiat to see If l couldn't persuade
her to come home. and l guess as
by mistake
Then l became serious Miss
Charles l said. You probably will
not hear from me for three or four
days In the meantime l wish that
you would 60 back to your mothers
fiat and make just one more attempt
to stay there-only for the few days
80 that we may keep her from getting
rid of any more Of that money until
the time comes when l can stop 1t
forever. have to take little out of
town trip
with that dismissed her and be-
gan to make the plans which would
result In the saving Of a fortune. And
late that night I was still at my H.
brary table, figuring out means Of
finding the person whom l sought.
One thing | knew would be fruitless.
the attempt to shadow Mrs. Charles
and learn with whom she associated.
If the person whom / believed to be
the one who was getting the money
had anything to do with her actions,
then certainly efforts at shadowing
would be beyond the question. He
would arrange for that. l consulted
my case book and found the name |
wanted, recorded there five years be
fore. Then, late as 1t was, ! stepped
to the telephone and put in long dis
tance call for the warden OF the state
penitentiary at Joliet.
"'When did Alem Hail get released"
| asked when the connection was
made and had explained my person
ality. There was wait OF few min
utes while the warden looked up the
records.
"You mean the Indian fakir?' he
asked at last.
eyes. Sent up by me in the Clark
street raids five years ago.
1.-The same one, said the warden.
He's been out about six months. We
gave him transportation to st. Louis
for his earned time in the peniten.
tiary.'
However, I had a different belief
about things as l hung up the tele-
phone. The memory Of those gloves
was what had made me come to the
decision and the next day squad OF
detectives, obtained by me from head
quarters was searching every avail.
able part of Chicagos underworld.
That night Alem Hail. dealer in the
occult, was resting as comfortably
as possible in a steel room In the
Harrison street Jail, while his house
girl remained in the matrons room.
His place Of business still was open,
however, with another man In Halls
place-a detective who possessed the
art of makeup and the brains to play
hard game.
And it was a hard game that was
before him. What clients Hail had
we did not know. nor what they came
for. Questioning had proved fruit
less; the man only stared at US with
his beady, swapping, black eyes and
smiled grimly at the cross-fre Of inter
rogation which was shot at him. Nor
could anything more be gained from
the girl. We were playing a game in
the dark-but we had laid our trap to
save more than one victim and we
were going to use our resources"
Miss Clement ceased a moment and
smilingly raised hand.
did you ever try to read fortunes,
distribute love potions, give seances
and play magic when you didn't know
a thing about the people you were
dealing WITH" she asked.
NO" I answered. "Why?"
Simply because that was the game
we had to play. Alem Hajis place was
one of Indian magic. Everywhere
about us was equipment, pots, funny
little blow pipes. queer smelling per-
fumes, jars Of colored liquids. dunn
mics, velvet curtains and idols. To
us, 1t was all a puzzle; we knew moth
ing more than that here was collec-
ton of junk which must be worked
and worked correctly to allay suspi-