Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-25

Linsmorc might have gotten away
"h1ie you and 1 were sleeping" said
to the secret service man. voicing
the sudden thought.
Hardly" said "Peyton." displaying
the door key and laying it on tho
dresser
why didn't he get up during the
night and ransack the suit casc?''
asked
Between the influence of Bacchus
and Morpheus. he couldn't very WELL"
Peyton" grinned. And since he's such
a smooth article. you COULD not expect
MIN to make such a coarse play.
Forget that there is such a thing
as that plant" he added. You're out
OF the play from now on. It's up to
the last of the reigning kings Of
lister In yonder bathroom to make the
next move You're too much Of q wide
awake to sleep any longer, 80 I've de-
eioed against my original plan OF lot
ting him work while you sleep late.
Get dressed" he concluded Break
last with US. Then I'll give him tho
make 1t known that you wont be back
till noon"
PRo-HUN FALLS FOR
GAME PURPOSELY LAID
I oolted from my breakfast. "Pey-
ton" and Linsmore had not finished
theirs when l left. saying that my bust
ness would not be finished until noon.
lhe secret service man had the con-
founded nerve to wink at me as l stood
there. long walk through the bust
ing clean streets OF Hartford proved
inVtgorating. but nevertheless my hands
trembled just tritie as j handed my
hat and coat to the girl in the cloak
room on my return to the hotel
There was no sign Of "Peyton." He
was not In the room. Paging failed to
loyate him. 1 paced the floor OF the
LOBBY nervously. Then 1 asked the
clerk to page Mr.. Linsnore.
Checked out fifteen minutes ago"
he i.Sormed me. l turned to so out
and down to the station. when
through the revolving door spicd the
secret service man.
"Linsmore fel!" way his laconic
greeting Come up to the room and
I'll tell you about it,
Where Is he?" l asked.
On his way to New York In few
minutes" "Peyton" answered.
But you'll lose him." l protested.
i. Nope" said the operative. Tim.
the waiter-who's got to hand me back
some OF those big tips gave him
has chair in the Same car Tim is
an operative hired at a Boston agency
when we stopped of there.
1T worked beautifully" "Peyton" ex
planned. Ringing himself on the cot in
The room. But, believe me. that boy
Is a slick as they make them. You'd
no sooner gone than he got busy. Said
he felt like taking a stroll. Looked me
square in the eye when he allowed he'd
go UP to his room and get his cane.
Asked II he'd bring me down anything?
Il yawned and told him no. but I
didn't feel as calm as I looked. II he
opened the letter II was all OF. He'd
slide It back and we'd still be without
solid evidence. 1 was banking that he
wouldn't.
Well. he went He was down again
Inside OF four minutes. Fast work. He
Joined me at the cigar counter.
~ guess I'll postpone my STROLL"
ne told me.
THAT set me to wondering. Did he
or didn't he have :he letter? To save
my life couldn't have told. and didn't
dare TO take tho slightest chance on
showing my hand. SO made up my
mind to let him do the leading.
With that he walked across the
lobby and stretched out In one OF the
big leather chairs. sucking at the end
of his cane. He had me buffaIoed.
Then thought of Tim, who was cover
ing outside the hotel. By good luck,
got Tins eye and motioned him TO go
Into the hotel bar. Tim crossed the
street. l went into the bar.
But Tim did not show up, and got
q ut OF nerves thinking of the oppor-
tunity he was having had my eye
on the street door of the bar. expect
Ing Tim to walk In. Lo and behold.
who should pass by but Linsmorc.
saw him lift on his toes as he passed
and turned my head as his eyes lit
on my hat.
Il worried no longer about the miss
Ing Tim, whom I wanted to send up to
J, the room to sec whether Linsmore had
lifted tho letter.
IT knew he had It. He couldn't re-
slst that surreptitious peep to see
whether was still In the bar. Deep
down In him somewhere was sus-
picion Of anybody and everybody, you
see,
And I knew that he felt safe So l
went righs out through the street door
locking for Tim. He was walking
leisurely past Tim. who had taken his
understood my signal. l motioned Tim
10 follow. Then l went back to tho
lobby to await results.
SENDING THE WARNING,
PAGING MIR. LINSMORE
give minutes later a belIboy came
through paging N{r. Linsmore, wanted
on the telephone
FOR second I was tempted to take
the call for him. but let 1t go by.
ut must have been ten minutes later
when he came in and strolled over to
tho cigar stand. He beckoned me to
join him. I did. He bought = cigar
for himself and one for me. Then the
bellboy came up and told him of the
telephone call.
wonder who 1t can be- said Lins-
more, and with that he walked over to
the telephone booth. / looked for Tim
outside. and again motioned to the bar.
This time Tim got the signal right. and
on meeting me there reported quickly
that Linsmore had gone to the nearest
stationer's, bought a large sized en-
yelope. slipped your letter into it and
7 put on the stamps.
; Then he walked fast up the street,
turned at Main Street. dropped the let
ter in the letter box around the corner
and started to cross the street Some
thing changed his mind. and he stepped
back on the sidewalk and headed
straight for the telegraph company Of