The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-01
Stories of Strange Cases Solved in Secret b
Banker-Detective- BY ROBERT CARLTON BROWN

1
| wcrc finalIy aroused, they had TO dash
| through The smoke and fire for their
lives. 10 the front door. giving The
| alarm
can them over here. snywoy, viii viii
! nolsed about you'll probably never get
i,ncwn. for the animal is apt TO do much
harm. But want YOU 10 promise YOU
wonl give out the news before midnight
tonight. II - now only lour-tairty. VIII
YOU do 1T. I can only say that ] have
some inside facts that may help
"EoS. will risk it, was the reply.
Seven hours isn't long Babo viii prob
ably he 50 frightened he VIII not appear
made good hts escape, aud there rs no use
sending out many men 10 look Tor him
now; II win only raise suspicion,
The helpers had gathered around mean
time and Poe questioned them quickly
regarding tie moving OF the og glass
fish tank. The head keeper and his see
ond man were much embarrassed by his
questions. They knew nothing. and
lInally admitted that the experimenting
of the tank, which had been moved lust
before noon, when the warehouse closed
left wholly TO the younger man. taeir as
sistant The young fellow finally recalled
two or three Of the longshorcmen who
had assisted with the work.
WAS there one who looked as though
he might be a native of BorneoP" ques-
toned Poe. sharply.
Yes. a black man has hung around
here for the past three or four days
They cali him Jack, he's a wharf rat
from Borneo. He was The one who
insisted on dropping his end of the
tank right in front oil the window and
il was lef; there because 1t was late
and l was in a hurry for my lunch and
never thought "
Good" cried Poe. Turning to the
gentleman TO walt Tor him there until
midnight. and left at once having
stopped 10 examine some rather ipdis
tinct marks on tho floor, leading from
in the rear, from which the bars had
been torn.
Then he hurried around to the mar
row Lodging at the back OF the ware
that the shed next door cut Off a vicw
Of the little window from any small
passing water craft. and there were no
big vessels in motion that afternoon.
Having assured himself OF this, and
made note of a bloody print the
side Of the wall below the window. Poe
hurried to the end OF a nearby wharf
and rented boat with man to row
him. He ordered the oarsman TO take
him back to the rear OF the animal
warehouse. and then row out slowly
past the end of the docks. There he
had the boat held still while he ex-
left. Finding that one side offered
comparative safety from observation
on account of being subject to less
traffic. and having smaller deserted
piers along It's 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
the interior OF boat drawn up, an
chored or tied. But nothing seemed to
answer to the object OF his search.
to little dock where boats were rented
to the public. Here he landed. and
tipped the proprietor for permission to
examine the Interior OF the skiffs. He
with puzzled look. having found moth
ing.
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 care
fully. missing nothing. Again his short,
thick eyebrows came together sharply,
and he shrugged his shoulders in dis
appointment.
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 cigar impatient
lyi and urging the man 10 row faster
HIS manner had been ,quickening notice
ably. and as he saw the impossibilty OF
finding any small boat moored at this
distance. he gave the order TO turn back.
suddenly lie started up from his seat
walt! he cried: glancing back
through the growing darkness a second
later Row to that pier!"
The skin that had attracted his at
tention was one which had been showed
up almost behind low shed. in such a
II had been. impossible to SEQ 1t when
rection.
Hurrying into the little hut at The boat
la
animation on his way. the detective
shook a sleepy old German by the arm,
and asked abruptly about the skin. II il
were for rent
No II is too dark. l have no light
Tor IT,. The German eyed him closely
through narrowed lids.
that he lied. and urged anxiously.
But you rented it to my friends this
afternoon. My friend with the sick
The old German looked at him I,eenIv
caught the alertness in Poe's manner,
ana his eyes suddenly became sullen.
shifty. '"'
what foolIshness you talk"
1t was enough. Poe knew that suI
len look from long acaHaintance nee With With
searehpg kiha tba as eyes had been
ne suddenly turned TO one corner. and
picked UP a handful OF neglected rags
a thToaty cry came from the old
Leave those alone!' he beloved.
charging Poe. ''
But Poe had unwrapped one, and
was holding IL before the Mortified old
eyes of the waterman II was a BIT OF
Durlap and il was heavy and stained
black with blood.
Tell me, Where did he go?" cried
Poe. realizing the condition OF affairs
from the old mans bearing "I mean
you no harm. You got a good round
Zee when the boat came back and Won
saw the blood. or / mtstudge you II is
nothing serious. You will not apnesr
In court. only want 10 1nd the
Poe. dropped the ood-ytalned rag
and flashed an English sovereign, unI-
yersal currency among seafaring men,
The old eyes lighted
Where did the man with the sicl,
boy go2 he demanded. slipping tho
coin Into the trembling palm which
closed over II with SNAP
II don't know" answered the other
But If YOU were to follow this alIey
TO the place Of Frau Ellttenleiu. who
Keeps boarding house for foreign sail
ors. you might find something TO YOUR
interest ! believe ! heard at dinner to-
night that sne bad staying with her
black man with a little daughter. but
you wouldn't expect me to be riding about
In ooats: ! hear he Is injured"
Good cried Poe, leaving the craf,r
old fellow and dartlng through the al
ley, hlled with strange and losthsone
doors Issuing from huts and long. low