The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1914-10-29

Hargreave and the meddling reporter
were in collision. In the hare OF
lights at the end Of the gun-piay ne
had caught the profile of the reporter.
Here was dangerous man, VINO must
be watched with the utmost care.
He. Braine, had been lured to COM
NIT an overt act, and by the rarest
good luck had escaped with nothing
more serious than cold chill and
CALLING disappointment.
He crawled along the top OF the
pier, listening, sending his dark'accus-
toned glance hither and thither. Inc
sky in the east was growing paler and
paler. In and out among the bales
of WOOL bags of coffee and lemon
crates he slowly and cautiously
wormed his way. A Waterman 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 a secondhand shop
and purchased a soft hat, which ne
pulled down over his eyes.
He had half 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 cafe-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 his 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 my break
fast" said Norton, drawing out the
chair. Braine was sitting with his
back to the wall on the lounge.seat.
II wonder if you newspaper men
ever eat real, true enough break
fast. l should think the hours you
lead would kill you off. Anything
new on the Hargreave story?"
I'm not handling that" the reporter
lied cheerfully Didn't want to. l
knew him rather intimately. I've a
horror of dead people. and don't want
to be called upon to identify the body
when they find it."
"Then you think they will find IT."
Il don't know. It's strange mixup.
I'm not on the story, mind you; but
was in the locality of Duffy's ware
house late last night and fell into a
sunman rumpus."
Yes, l read about that. What
we're they after?"
You've got me there. No one
seems to know. Some cock and bull
tory about there being something
dludDle. Inere was.
What was it? The report in this
arer does not say"
ten thousand bags of coffee"
Braine lay back in his chair and
aughed.
IF you want my opinion" said
'orton, II believe the gunner were
ut to shoot up another gang, and
he police got wind of it,"
Don't you think it about time the
olice called a halt in this .gunman
latter?"
"Oh, so long as they pot each other
ne police look the other way. It
ayes long trial and passage up the
ver. Besides, whenever they are
abbed some big politician manages
open the door for them. Great is
le American voter"
Take Mr.. Norton's order. Luigi"
lid Braine.
"A German pancake. buttered toast
I'D Coffee" ordered the reporter.
Man, eat something!"
Its enough for me-"
And you'll go all the rest Of the
~ on tobacco. know something of
~ chaps. l don't see how you man
70 to do it"
Food is the least of our troubles.
the way. may ask you q few ques-
pms? Nothing for print, unless
'u've got a new book coming"
Fire away"
What do you know about the
'incess Perigoff?"
Let me see. HIM. Met her first
'out year ago at reception given
Nasimova. A very attractive wom-
J. I see quite lot of her. Why?"
well. she claims to be a sort of
mt to Hargreave's daughter"
She said something to me about
at the other night. You never
ow where you're at in this world. do
W"
The German pancake, the toast, the
nee disappeared, and the reporter
sSed his cieara