The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-23

ing him alEthe time. More tnan this,
Hargreave and the meddling reporter
we're in collusion.. In the fare OF
lights at the end Of the gun-play he
had caught the profile Of the reporter.
Here was dangerous man, who must
be watched with the utmost care.
He, Braine, had been 1ured to COM
NIT an overt act, and by the rarest
good luck had escaped with nothing
more serious than a cold chill and a
CALLING disappointment.
He crawled along the top OF the
pier, listening, sending his darkaccus-
toned glance hither and thither. The
sky In the east was growing paler ana
paler. In and out among the bales
Of wool, bags of coffee and lemon
crates he slowly and cautiously
wormed his way. Z watchman pa
trolled the Office side Of the ware
house. and Braine found it possible
to creep around the other way, thence
into the street. After that he straight
ened up. sought secondhand shop
and purchased a soft hat, which ne
pulled down over his eyes.
He had half a dozen rooms which
he always kept In readiness for such
adventures as this. He rented them
furnished in small hotels which never
asked questions Of their patrons. TO
one Of these he went as fast as his
weary legs could carry him. He al
ways carried the key. Once in his
room he donned fresh wearing ap-
parel, linen. shoes. and shaved Then
he proceeded downstairs, the second.
hand hat shading his eyes and the
upper, part Of his face.
At half past twelve Norton entered
| the Knickerbocker ca7e-restaurant,
and the first person he noticed was
Braine, reading the mornings paper,
propped up against the water carafe:
Evidently he had Just ordered, for
there was nothing on his plate. Nor
ton walked over and laid bis hand
upon Braine's shoulder. The man
looked up with mild curiosity.
"Why, Norton, sit down, sit down!
Have you had lunch? No? Join me-"
Thanks. Came In for ny break
fast" said Norton, drawing out the
chair. Braine was sitting with his
back to the we'll on the lounge-seat.
Il wonder II you newspaper men
ever eat a real, true enough break
fast. I should think the hours you
lead would kill you of. Anything
new on the Hargreave story?"
"I'm not handling that" )" the rsssnter
he'd cheerfully. faaas we ye I
knew him rather intimately. rve a
horror. Of dead people, and don't want
to be called upon to identify the body
when they find t."
Then you think they will find it?"
II don't know. It's strange mixup.
I'm not on the story, mind you; but
was in the locality Of Du6y's ware
house late last night and fell into a
gunman rumpus."
"Yes, I read about that. What
were they after?"
you've got me there. No one
seems to know Some cock and bull
story about there being something
valuable. There was"
What was It? The report in this
paper does not say"
"Ten thousand bags Of coffee"
Braine lay back in his chair and
laughed
III you want my opinion" said
Norton, Il believe the gunner were
out to shoot up another gang, and
the police got wind Of it."
Don't you think it about time the
police called a halt In this gunman
matter?"
"Oh, so long as they pot each other
the police look the other way. It
saves a long trial and passage up the
river. Besides, whenever they are
nabbed some big politician manages
to open the door for them. Great is
the American voter"
"Take Mr.. Norton's order, Luigi"
said Braine.
"A German pancake, buttered toast
and coffee" ordered the reporter.
Man, eat something!"
Its enough for me-"
And you'll go all the rest Of the
day on tobacco. know something Of
you chaps. don't see how you man-
age to. do it."
FOOD Is the least of our troubles.
BY the way, may ask you few Ques-
tons? Nothing for print, unless
you've got new book coming"
Fire away
what do you know about the
Princess Perigof?"
Let me see. HIM Met her first
about a year ago at a. reception given
to Nasimova- 4 very attractive wom-
an. see quite a lot Of her. Why"
well, she claims to be sort Of
aunt to Hargreavss daughter"
"She said something to me about
that the other night You never
know where you're at int this world, DO
you"
The German pancake, the toast the
coffee disappeared, and the reporter
passed his cigars.
"The president visits town today
and I'm of to watch, the show. I sup
pose III have to interview him about
the tariff and all that rot. When you
start on new book let me- know and
I'll be your press agent
"That's bargain"
Thanks for the breakfast"
Braine picked up hs newspaper,
smoked and read. He smoked. yes,
but he only pretssded "a rsak The
youns fool was oFeveo, but no man
Is tnfallible. He had not the least
suspicion; he saw only the newspaper
story. Still, In some manner he
might stumble upon the truth, and