The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-10-13
A
|DoubleGanle
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 dif1cuity about cards is you must
get up 9 party to play 'em."
Fl couldn't do that" said the other,
for don't knew soul socially in the
town. / expected to finish my busi-
ness here today and get out this even
ting, but didn't succeed"
Il know several men who board
here" said the other. 81 was thinking
OF getting up little game of poker
this evening in my room, five cent ante
or something like that"
Il 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 i've cent ante, but kept raising it
I'LL 1t reached 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 his 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 receiv-
ed the money. This explained his hav-
ing so much Of it all Of the same de-
nominat ton.
While the game was In progress
bell boy raped at the door and asked
II Mr.. Wheelock was in the room. On
being told that he was he handed in
bouquet of flowers Wheelock receiv-
ed the flowers with evident astonish-
ment- When the others rallied him at
having sweetheart near at hand he
looked embarrassed and declared that
be didn't know woman in the place
and II he had made a mash" he was
entirely unconscious Of 1t.
However" he said. gentlemen,
trust that you will drink to the lady.
whoever she may be. with me-" And.
rising, be pressed the electric button
and on the arrival of waiter ordered
bottle of wine The quaffing 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 abstemious. barely sip-
ping lis wine.
But Mr.. Wheelock and one or two
of tho others having finished the bottle.
the first named ordered another, and
when it had been left in the room
Wheelock followed the waiter out for
some purpose and when he returned
smut the door and turned the key IN.
known to the others. He then deftly
slipped 1t up his sleeve and after re-
Stunning his seat. being hidden by the
table. transferred it to his pocket
1T seems to me-" remarked one of
the party. that those flowers have a
very decided perfume"
Every decided" chimed in another.
1t makes me feel like turning In"
said third
Perhaps we'd better open a win
dow" observed the host. land get
some air. Would you object, Mr. Vince
lock r.
Certainly not
Jones went to q window and tried
] to open It 1t 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 a 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.. Whee-
lock. Jones staggered to the door and
tried to open It Finding it locked. he
looked more frightened still.
Some one has locked US In here
he said I'VE must get ont"
ne caught on 70 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 floor or bent over IN
conscious on the table. Wheelock
counteracted the fumes by holding q
vial under his nose. When all except
himself had succumbed he summoned
waiter and directed him to bring the
police as quick as possf They ar
rived in few minutes az 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. SIS counterfeiter. I am
Parkinson, a detective. tracked him
here. and the others, I fancy, are his
colleagues. He has been trying to
shove his STUFF on me for my good
money. Better put the bracelets Oh
him before he comes to himself"
When the party woke up they found
themselves I'm the hands Of the police.
But the only one wanted was Mr..
Zones.