Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-07-15

dish before customer II ! front
/ table.
Quick as fash Poe turned into an
alley which ran behind the restaurant,
and made his way stealthily to the
rear. There small stoop indicated
the back door to the restaurant, which
Poo knew. from the plan Of the In
terror hxed In his mind. led outward
from the kitchen.
He sneaked up 10 within 1 foot Of
the small vestibule. and stood Nat
against the outside kitchen wall, lii
such position that ne would not be
seen by chance from any on the win
dows looking onto the alley.
He stood for ave minutes listening
hopefully. Finally he heard Giovanni
enter the kitchen and stride to the
stove, which he knew from the loca-
ton OF the pipe was near the yestibule
door.
The steps stopped. and Poe held his
breath 40 the same sound or tinkering
with the stove came 10 his taut ears.
A moment later Giovanni walked Into
the vestibuia md began aifting ashes.
Poe stood motionless and silent. lis.
tening intently.
i In minute or NO Giovanni was call
ed away to serve customer, Poe slip
ped up the steps to the small entry
way and quickly lifted the lid on a
rickety ash-barrel standing there.
plunging his hand Ii. he pulled out 4
fstful OF ordinary stove ashes. and
thrust Il into his outside pocket.
| He darted down the steps and
through the alley to the street, 40
he heard Giovanni returning.
He joined Burns on the wagon Z
block away. All their purchases hAv-
Ing been gathered pp. they drove
downtown directly. Poe was reticent
beneath Burns curious questioning.
II don't know that have anything
worked out" he said finally, having
showed Burns the aweated coins 10
ceived from the last dealer. "but here
10 something tangible ct least. He
held his coat-pocket open and showed
! the handful Of stove ashes.
But what on earth has that 70 du
with these shrunk coinsf"
/ Il don't know for certain that /.
has anything to do with them. but I'm
going to find out. I'LL call you up
about noon II things work out the
way think they will. 10 you can be
In ut the fniah."
| Poe hoped down from the wagon,
and walked cross-town to an ofiice
building on Broadway. There he
dumped out tho handful OF ashes on a
piece OF paper In the Office OF chem.
ist friend. held short conversation
with the man. and at twelve o'clock
went to his rooms. called up the chem.
list, held short conversation with
him which seemed entirely satisfac-
tory, and then 'phoned Burns. saying
simply:
| Everything IL In hand now. Meet
me here at once"
i Burns came. still dressed ~ q mer-
chant. Poe called up q taxicab ONCE.
left an order, and then took q Third
avenue street car uptown. alighting
at 104th street. having blocked all OF
Burns attempts to find out what had
| passed In the hours they had been
apart.
| You enjoyed Giovanni's cooking 30
much this morning / thought you'd
like to lunch here today" said Poe,
i pushing open the door to the IRIS.
torante del Etna" AZ they reached 1t.
/ The place was deserted but for
three or four Italian customers. and
4 when Giovanni came out to take their
orders he seemed quite pleased that
the merchants had seen 1T to con.
tinue their patronage.
/ Poe ordered quite q splendid meal
for such modest restaurant. and Clio.
vanni busted himself in the kitchen:
for whatever else he was, he was .
good cook.
i Once Poe reached over, and touch.
ed Burns arm significantly. II was
the doors Of his carefully tended
stove.
The meal came on. and was eaten
with relish. Twice Giovanni left his
work in the kitchen, and peered be.
nignly through the little serving.win-
dow TO make sure that his customers
were well provided for.
When Poe called him finally and
put the question, "Quanto costa?" Clio
vanni looked at him sharply AZ he
produced fve-dollar gold piece with
which to pay.
The cook seemed Ill at ease, and
had some difficulty figuring up the
price of the meal with his stubby
pencil.
. Meanwhile Poe held out the gold
piece toward Burns and remarked:
Pretty badly used for 1913 coin,
isn't IT."
Burns agreed, glanced wonderingly
from PEGS tense features to Gioyan.
mis- glowering face.
Somebody has stolen a dollars
worth OF gold from that COIN" con-
tiaued Poe. paying no attention to Clio
yanni. He reached into his pocket,