The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06

But what do you want out Of 1t? Are
you looking for a reward?"
"Oh. no." answered Poe with a re-
served smile. 1T Is my pleasure. Give
me seven hours. 1t may save your COM
pany the danger OF gettinSa bad name"
Yes. I will risk it," was the reply.
Seven hours isn't long, Babo will proba-
bly, be SO frightened ne will not appear
anywhere before morning-but he has
made good his escape and there is no
use sending out many men to look for
him now: II will only raise suspicion
The helpers had gathered around mean
time and Poe questioned them quickly
REGARDING the moving of that big glass
hsh tank. The head keeper and his sec
| questions. They knew nothing and finally
admitted that the experimenting of the
tank which had been moved just before
| noon, when the warehouse closed, to
make room for a new cage. had been left
wholly to the younger man. their assist
ant This young fellow finally recalled
two or three of The longshoremen who
had assisted with the work.
| Was there one who looked as though
| he might be a native Of Borneog" ques-
toned Poe sharply.
Yes, negro has hung around here
| for the past three or four days They
call him Jock; he's a wharf rat from
Borneo. He was the one who insisted
on dropping his end OF the tank right
| In front of the window. and 1t was left
there because IL was late and I was in
hurry for my lunch and never thought"
| Good cried Poe Turning to the
member OF the firm. he requested that
gentleman to wait for him there until
| midnight and left at once, having
| stopped to examine some rather indis-
tinct marks on the floor leading from
the crocodile pond to the small window
in the rear, from which the bars had
been torn.
Then he hurried around to the narrow
Lodging at the back OF the warehouse
ana found, as he had expected, that the
shed next door cut of a view of the
little window from any small passing
water craft. and there were no big yes
sells in motion that afternoon Having
assured himself OF this and made note
Of bloody print on the side OF the
wall below the window. Poe hurried to
the end Of nearby wharf and rented
boat, with man to row him He
ordered the oarsman to take him back
10 the rear OF the animal warehouse
and then row out slowly past the END
of the docks. There he had the boat held
sill while he examined the bank on
both the right and left. Finding that
oHe sue oIered comparative safety from
observation on account OF being subject
TO less traffic. and having smaller de-
serted piers along its edge. Poe ordered
to be rowed In that direction.
He kept a sharp lookout along the
bank for rowboats or small craft Of any
sort Several times he drew into shore
and carefully examined the interior OF
boat drawn up, anchored. or tied. But
nothing seemed to answer to the objec;
of his search.
At length, past 6 o'clock. he came to a
little dock where boats were rented to
the public. Here he landed and tipped
the proprietor for permission to examine
the interior OF his skirs He went over
them carefully and finished with a puz-
zled look. having found nothing.
Suddenly he turned to the proprietor
and asked in faultless German for an
old rag TO clean his boat with.
The man brought out some dirty cloths
and Poe looked them over carefully.
missing nothing. Again his short, thick
eyebrows came together sharply, and he
shrugged his shoulders in disappointment.
Finally, he was forced to embark and
push his way farther along the shore |
II was growing dark: he watched each
small craft with eager eyes and seemed |
very anxious. chewing a cigar impa-
tiently and urging the man to row
faster.
At length he came to the end Of the