Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-07-08

slipped along the platform 10 meet
his man. receiving from him ! shabby
suit q clothing, and ! thin little hook
lettered III
Dismissing the man, no crossed
quickly TO hotel, secured ! room IN
moments time. and changed 70 the
disguise.
Very soon no had finished trans
forming himself into an sjrdinAry-look-
ing tough down on his luck, and had
dropped into : chair. skimming
through the book. Suddenly 40 stop
ped at one entry and read Il through
carefully.
Electrician works alone for
merly actor In Cambridge plays--ath-
leticFopa.wfeeticr student - work.
ed In liverpool safe company two
years" He pAuaed. and fxed his
eyes more soberly on tho note which
had caught his aye 1T first. On sntry
made some years after the full 20
count had been written. Then 10 ex-
claimed. aYesl Opiuml Opium! I'm
agination! Murder! l feared Il"
Rising quickly. he slipped the book
into his ragged coat-pocket. and passed
out Of the hotel without being mo-.
ticed. AT the door he took i taxi @
far - Grand street. and walked down
Allen Tor several blocks. slipping
along 10 ono accustomed to the haunta
OF narrowed souls, lodging IN and out.
shying st the street lights.
Al length Poe shuillsd down the
moldering steps 70 m apparently Do
serted cellar on Rivington street. rave
double rap on tho door, and waited
I'LL q panel xiided noisalonsly back,
and ! rat.eysd oriental pssped out.
jancling. not unmustcally:
Yen ahs guar"
Il was ! threadbare password u
Pos. merely moaning. no ron smoke
opiums"
He answered mechanically, "gui
gow!" the name for thu littlo aponee
with which tho bowl Of tho opium pips
ID cleaned.
I'll MI" cried tho Chinese Waterman,
and Poo. responding to the command
TO hurry n, slipped through the door
- 4 slid open on welloilsd Images
On hin way 10 the general room 10
had paused tho open door to several
smaller compartments. accommodate
ing only two or three smokers. III
passing zach he had given furtive. I'M
easy glances Ut the occupant. his
manner that OF the narrowed habitue,
seeking some pal" No flicker of
feature betrayed him. when no sudden
" saw In one Of the small rooms his
friend Burns. curled up with ! pipe,
while on the bunk opposite stretched 3
long. English looking man, with close.
cropped hair, watery. hollow eyes. and
dead-white face.
Though his mind was quickened BY
the discovery, Poe lounged on, and
with dull eyes asked "Simmy,. the
squintfeatured Chinaman Ia charge.
for layout"
n short time Burns entered from
his smaller compartment, pushed Pos
aside with the rudeness characteristics
OF the place. and. dropping down be-
side him. managed to whisper unno-
ticed:
did you zee him7 He comes
close 70 your description. stoop and
all. ! spotted him at ave this eve
ming; his mouth and eyes watered
for pipe. Nobody knows him. He's
got . steamship ticket to Liver.
pool"
Good! I'll try him. He looks the
part Do you think we could get
him out OF here?"
Not till he sails. Says he hasn't
had . pipe for d week usually smokes
In Boston. Seems suspicious. Hasn't
been here In year"
you stay here. directed Poe, draw.
ing his cheeks az though puning deep
ly, Simmy having looked toward the
pair sharply. When he got another
chance to whisper, Poe finished: ri
you hear two knocks on my pipe. start
for the door, get your gun ready, and
block the passage II necessary
With that he rose. stretched. and
loafed into the one where the suspect
lay alone. The latter hardly looked
at him, and Poe began toying aimless-
ly with long cord which he tore loose
from the mating cover to his couch.
His companion watched him with
heavy, idly.moving eyes.
Suddenly the pale man reached out
moist. trembling hand, and took hold
OF the cord.
Let me tie you q knot he said
In pleased, sleepy tone, for he had
just reached the blissful stage. Toy
Ing with the string for . moment. he
managed to twist II into an intricate
stopper-knot, and then jerked an end
OF 1t into Matthew walker"
It'll bet you a layout I can tie .
better Walker answered Poe.
That's too easy" grinned the 9TH
er. his face becoming ghoulish In the
effort. Get something more like .
rope. and I'll show you few things.
used to be. why, was champion rope
tier and wrestler Of" He curbed
his wandering tongue. looked sharply
at Poe. and then dropped back into
the same listless. languid dow OF
onoarh ar rev ~nf urt~athtusw ltLo n /