South Bend news-times., 1919-08-12
NGv< u. S. btr rattVSay q

AtfH - dLSefl do All AtNFt Va
dismay. He stood near the cigar
stand in the lobby Of the Royal. and
gazed helplessly at a crumpled dollar
bill in the palm of his perspiring
hand He felt. rather than saw, the
looks OF suspicion directed toward
him by the hotel clerk. and dark.
slim man who stood at the desk. con-
ferring with the clerk in excited,
hurried whispers.
Had they found him out, he won
dered? He VS. registered at the
hotel under an assumed name
John Douglass. The clerk a few mo-
ments before. turned his check. sign
ed by that name. over and over. and
then, directing a suspicious glance at
Tom, told him imperiOusly that ne
would keep the check and give him
the cash next day. Suppose ke was
found out? He shiyered. as the
thought came TO him that he had
been foolish 10 leave the check. II
would certainly be returned on the
morrow, marked mo funds" and
Tom reflected gloomily the gates OF
WatertoWn's Jail would swing wide
to receive him. And his errand there
would come TO naught Tomorrow
if he could only hold out till to-
morrow.
At that moment a large. robust
man. followed by the dark slim man
who had stood at the desk, passed
by him, and emerged into the street.
He waited until they had climbed
INTO a machine. and as they shot
away toward the state capitol, Tom
guardedly left his post and hurried
out The machine was still in sight
although two blocks away. Tom
looked about him in vain for a
street car Then he hurried up to
a waiting taxi.
What's the fare to. the state
house =" he inquired hastily
"Dollar'n half" was the laconic
reply
Tenn WINGED then he held out the
dollar
Gene" he coaxed the chauffeur,
"be a sport. Take me there now for
a dollar II" he hesitateo
abruptly. No one was 10 be trust
ed He was under surveillance
Please he began again. ="
What We take me for, sneered
the other. Take a street ear"
Tom thought quickly Time was
precious. so he sprang into the cab
Take me as Tar as you can" ne
commanded the chauffeur sharply
LII walk the rest
The chauffeur regarded him sus-
pIciously for moment. then jump
ed into his seat and drove OF. Sew
eral times the cab stopped al stree
crossings. and Tom swore softly
under sis breath. Finally the chauf.
feur brought his cab 10 a sudden
stop.
Dollar limit. ne sang out. jeer
ingly An OF for pikers."
Tom wanted TO wipe up the eartf
with the offender. but ne simply
tossed the crumpled dollar zip on tn,
drivers seat and hurried on Tn,
big car was still ir sight. and ne
broke into a run. Passers by re
garded the flying figure quizzically
but ne ran ahead then he broush
up suddenly. He scurried inside tn
doorway of a store-for half a blocl
ahead the big car had come to q
halt, The large .nan spranE 70 tn,
/ pavement with a litheness surpris
! ing in one Of his gir,h. and hurried
I ahead. hut the tali slim one stood a
I the side OK The machine. as II guard
/ irg the approach 20 the state house
Z whose gilded dome could be seei
/ only "A block away. Tom auickl,
entered the store. spoke hastily q
! the proprietor and Il moment late
emerged into an alley in the rea
and hurried again toward the hal
I OF the g7lded dome. once ne stop
ped and his action seemed NOR
/ suspicious -han ever, For he slappe,
a gray mustache on his upper lip
\ then pulled a grey wig over nj
curly brown hair. He threw ava,
\ his slouch hat and thrust a cap ol
/ his head. A minute later. the darl
I entrance OF the state house swallow
ed him up
An hour later IL was a triumph
ant, IL somewhat excited. Tom VIII
/ entered "A telegraph office and nod
/ ded smilingly at a blue-eyed attract
! i've young girl behind the desk. Sh
I beSmed on him in return. for Tom
face was not unknown 10 her. al
| though his identity was. She too
knew him only by the name attach
ed 10 his wires the past two weeks