The Monticellonian., 1915-12-30

clear, definite impression that l have. Somehow it seems as though I'd know my way about town alone; yet l have a feeling that Chicago is not where belong. If l were in my home town I'm confident that places and street names would be familiar-not merely like printed page that has been once read, but like one that l see every day"
 They left their unfortunate charge in a comfortable waiting room. while Hazard and the girl repaired to his private office.
 Sit down, Helen," Hazard invited, and let's go over this thing together.
 Doesn't it strike you as being odd that this poor chap should have had four empty envelopes in his pocket, not one of them containing scrap of the original letters?"
 "I hadn't thought of it before" the girl replied, but they were placed there purposely."
 Left there purposely," Hazard cor reeted. Those are Rawlings clothes i; he has this mans, or I'm sadly mis- taken.
 But the four enyelopes-they and the postcard are all addressed in the same hand; the envelopes were all postmarked at New York; but the eard bearing the latest date was mailed in Chicago"
 And your conclusion is," appended Miss Bertel, that a rendezvous was arranged; that the card definitely fixed the time and place"
 Exactly. Now, then, here's some thing you don't know.
 The first of this month a contract is going to be awarded to the success full bidder for the construction of the Wrye Neck ship canal in Massachu- setts-a ten-million-dollar enterprise. Just between ourselves, the Hercules Construction company of Chicago is the only one among some seven or eight bidders that is at all likely to be successful, because it is the only one of the lot that is able to put up the heavy cash bond required The others might in time, of course; but the Her cules people have the cash, and that s what counts.
 Last Thursday-July 2. bear in company received word that one John Prince of Prince 6 Penthouse, big firm of New York engineers, would arrive in Chicago with certain draw ings and specifications that are of vital importance in connection with the projected canal work. He should have come Friday morning, and Riddle and one or two others of the company were at the station to meet Prince. We'll, he didn't show up"
 .sI see" Miss Bertel interposed. Prince Is missing and you hoped l had found him for you"
 Correct. But your protege is not John Prince; Prince is much older man.
 Friday went by, and no news from the messenger. Then Riddle became alarmed. The Hercules people had reason to move cautiously, you under stand: the matter had been kept as secret as possible; but it began to look as though they had been circum- vented by their enemies. If these par ticular plans and specifications fall into the hands of certain competing concern it will be all up with Riddle and his crowd.
 Well. by the time Riddle got busy on the wire Friday, Prince & Pent- house had closed-not to open again till today, because Saturday. the fourth, was a holiday, and then he called us in We have been securing the city for Prince without picking up a trace of him.
 Stealing those papers is just the sort of stunt that Rawlings and his gang would pull off"
 Hazard called police headGuarters on the telephone and inquired whether Denver Ed" Rawlings was krown to be in the city. The reply came back that Rawlings and two confederates well known to the police had been in Chi cago at least since the third {Friday) and that they were being watched.
 Pinch the whole mob, Hazard ear nestly requested. just as soon as you can get the order out. I'll tell you why you want them by the time they're brought in"