The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-10-10
A.
DoubleCanne
By HARRY VAN AMBURC

Mighty dull this lounging about a
hotel waiting for something" said a
man to another who occupied a chair
beside him.
well. yes. rather. Cards Is about
the only way to pass the time And
the difficulty about cards Is you must
get up party to play 'em."
81 couldn't do that" said the other,
"for don't know a soul socially In the
town 1 expected to finish my busi-
ness here today and get out this even
ing, but didn't succeed"
Il know several men who board
here" said the other. II was thinking
Of getting up little game Of poker
this evening in my room. five cent ante
or something like that"
II wish you would and let me in"
The party met. and the man who
didn't know anybody was. introduced
by his friend to the others as Mr..
Wheelock, the introducer's name be-
ing Jones. They sat down to- play
with five cent ante. but kept raising it
till it reached a dollar. Mr.. Wheelock
didn't object and bet as high as any of
the party, sometimes winning and
sometimes losing.
It was not long before Wheelock dis
covered that, though he neither lost
nor won much. the money he staked
was gradually passing out of bis hands
and was supplied by new Eve dollar
bills, all on the same bank. The fact
didn't seem to surprise him. nor did
he object to it He did not even COM
ment upon it. But Mr.. Jones, from
whom the bills came, remarked that
he had had $1,000 paid him that after
noon at bank and 1t had been given
him all In these new five dollar bills
on the bank from which he had receiy-
ed the money. This explained his hav-
ing SO much Of 1t all Of the same de-
nomination.
While the game was in progress a
bell boy raped at the door and, asked
If Mr.. Wheelock was in the room. On
being told that he was he handed in a
bouquet Of flowers. Wheelock receiE-;
ed the flowers with evident astonish-
ment When the others rallied him at
having a sweetheart near at hand he
looked embarrassed and declared that
he didn't know woman In the, place.
and II he had made, a mash" he was
entirely unconscious of II.
However" he said. gentlemen, ]
trust that you will drink to theal lady
whoever she may be, with me-" And.
rising, he pressed the electric button
and on the arrival of a waiter ordered
a bottle of wine. The quamng Of wine
and the game went on, together. after
this. but none Of the men present SEEM
ed to care to drink to, excess. Mr..
Jones. in whose room the party were
was especially abstemtOus, barely sin
ping his wine.
But Mr.. Wheelock and one or two
Of the others having finished the bottle.
the first named ordered another. and
when 1t had been left in the room
Wheelock followed the waiter out for
some purpose and when he returned
shut the door and turned the key I'M
known to the others. He then deity
slipped It up his sleeve and after re-
Stunning his seat, being hidden BY the
table. transferred It to his pocket.
ut seems to me-" remarked one of
the party. that those flowers have a
very decided perfume"
Every decided" chimed In another.
at makes me feel like turning fn.r
said third.
Perhaps we'd better open a win
dow" observed the host. land get
some air. Would you object, Mr.. Vince
lock 2?
Certainly not
Jones went to q window and tried
to open it. It seemed to be stuck. He
went to another. which also resisted
his efforts Mr.. Wheelock seemed to
be intent on the cards, but his mind
was on the windows. He had gained
access to that very room. during the
day and had driven q nail into the sash
Of each window.
Jones turned away with frightened
look on his face There were two
games being played in his room-one
by himself. the other by Mr.. Vince
lock. Jones staggered to the door and
tried to open it Finding 1t locked, he
looked more frightened still
Some one has locked rs in here"
he said. I'VE must get out"
ne caught on TO the back Of chair.
The perfume from the flowers was
overcoming him. He returned to the
window and made another effort to
lift the SASH He failed and was on
his way to the other window when he
sank down unconscious.
Meanwhile the others Of the party
were also giving way to the effects OF
the flowers and one by one either roll
ed down to the door or bent over nm
conscious on the table. Wheelock
counteracted the fumes BY holding
vial. under his nose When all except
himself had succumbed he summoned
a waiter and directed him to bring the
police as quick as possible. They ar
rived In few minutes and were much
surprised at the scene before them
several men asleep and money In heaps
on the table.
THAT man." said Wheelock. point
ing to Jones. lis counterfeiter. / am
Parkinson, detective. tracked him
Aere, and the others, l fancy, are bis
coljAUes- He has been trying to
Gho4G IN sfu6 on me- for my gpod
Ia