The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-04-13

/
Impossible" said the manager.
Here Mr.. Thomas Colvin Mcintyre
arrived with flushed face.
| You are right, Average" he said.
The same man had reserved rooms
at the Nederstrom for Telfk Bey.'
What's the location"
Tenth floor: north side. He had
insisted on both details. Nos. 1915,
1917"
"Um-m-m. What across the street,"
How should l know? You didn't
t. me to ~sk"
IT'S the Glenargan office building,
just opened. Mr.. Jones'" volunteered
the manager
Average Jones turned again to the
window, closed IL and fastened his
handkerchief in the catch. Leave
that there" he directed the manager.
Don't let anyone into this room. I'm
off"
Stopping to telephone. Average
Jones ascertained that there were no
vacant Offices on the tenth floor, south
side of the Glenargan apartment build
ing, facing the Nederstrom hotel. The
last one had been let two weeks be-
fore to-this he ascertained by judi
cious questioning-a dark, foreign
gentleman who was an expert on rugs.
Well satisfied, the investigator
crossed over to the skyscraper across
from the Palatia.
He entered the office. In it were
only desk, two chairs and a scrap
basket. The basket was crammed
with newspapers. One of them was
the Hotel Register. Average Jones
found Telfik Bey's name, as he had
expected, in its roster. The newspa-
pers, mainly copies of the Evening
Register, seemed to contain, upon
cursory examination, nothing germane
to the issue. But, scattered among
them, the searcher found a number of
fibrous chips. They were short and
thick; such chips as might be made
by cutting a bamboo pole into cross
lengths, convenient for carrying.
THE spirit wand" observed Aver
age Jones with gusto
Next, he turned his attention to the
desk 1t was bare, except for a few
scraps of paper and some writing inn
plements. But in a crevice there
shone a glimmer of glass. With a
careful finger nail Average Jones
pushed out small phial. 1t had evil
IDENTIFY been sealed with lead. Moth
ing was in it. It's discoverer leaned
back and contemplated it with stiff
fened eyelids. For, upon it's tiny, inn
provised label was scrawled the "Mer-
cy sign; mysterious before, now all
but incredible.
For several minutes Average Jones
sat bemused. When. only a moment
before five the Advisor entered his
office Bertram, who was waiting
with Mcintyre, helC out a newspaper
to him.
Cast your eye on that" said he.
The Register fairly reeks with freaks
lately"
Average Jones read aloud.
SMITH PERKINS. FORMERLY IA BEL
laire-Send me present location Turk
ish Triumph about smoked out. Mercy
Box a. Office.
It's my work." observed Average
Jones blandly.
The visitors stared at him in ST.
lence.
Rather a forlorn hope. but some
times bluff will CO." he continued.
Are you so infantile as to suppose
that this murderer will give informa-
ton about HIMSELF" demanded Nc.
Intyre.
Average Jones smiled, drew a letter
from his pocket. The advertisement
worked to charm. Mr.. Smith gives
his address in this, and intimates that
may call upon him"
Young Mr.. Mcintyre rose.
You're going to see him, them"
AT once"
Think thereT be excitement2 o.
asked Bertram languidly. I'D like to
go along
Across town and far up the East
side whizzed the car, over the bridge
that leads away from Manhattan is
land TO the north, and through quiet
streets as little known to the average
New Yorker as are Hongkong and
Caracas. In front o. frame house it
stopped. On a side porch. over which
bright roses swarmed like children
clambering into hospital lap, sat a
man with a gray face. He was tall
and slender, and his hair, a dingy
black, was already showing worn
streaks where the color had faded.
At Average Jones he gazed with un-
concealed surprise
"Ah; it is you" he exclaimed.
You he smiled are the Mercy of
the advertisement? You will come
in?"
Average Jones examined a holding
rose with an indulgent. almost a pa
ternal. expression
IF you--er-think it-er-safe," he
murmured
"Assuredly."
As if exacting a pledge The young
man held out his hand. The older one
unhesitatingly grasred t.
And you Mr. Jones, are you a de-
tective?"
NO. merely a follower Of strange
trails-by taste"
"Ah. You have set Yourself to a
dark one You wish to know how
| Telik Bey"-his eyes narrowed and
glintcd came to his reward. VIII
you enter. gentlemen
u know this much. " replied Average
I Zones ae fOfIoyvod bv hfo frtcrTg tc