Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-07-21
XII.

darker material. From the pockets
of the discarded suit he transferred
to the pockets of the suit he had
just put on. amongst other things,
his automatic and his bunch OF skel-
eton keys, He opened his trunk, re-
moved tile false tray, and smiled
with sort of grim competency as
his glance inventoried it's unhallowed
contents; and particularly he smiled.
as, opening little box, he allowed q
stream OF cleaning stones to trickle
out into the palm OF his hand-the
twenty thousand dollars worth OF
diamonds robbed from the Fast Mail
three nights ago.
Some haul" observed the Hawk
softly. And, with any luck, theren
be something else there worth the
whole outfit put together before to-
night IL over" He replaced the dia-
monds, IN the box, the box in the
tray. and spoke again, but now his
smile was hard and twisted; not an
article there but he had scooped
IRON under the noses of the gang.
..Yes.NI guess I'd 60 out like you'd
and guess they're getting-queru-
i lous!" 4s
1she Hawk. however, had not open
( ed the trunk purely for the oppor-
! tunity itsaffordeds OF inspecting these
few mementos, interesting as they
,smight bt.. 1t was an excellent safe
guard te, change his clothes. but 1t
would avail him very little iE-well.
ANY one. ssay-were still permitted to
3 tecogniztshis face! From the top
2 or the tray. where it lay upon the
packages of banknotes that had once
reposed in the paylnaster's safe, the
hawk picked up mask and slipped
1T into his pocket. He fitted the
false tray back into the lid OF the
trunk, closed the trunk, locked it.
put on a. wide brimmed. soft felt
nut. locked the door OF his room be-
hind him, descended the narrow
staircase, and stepped out on the
street.
His destination was the Corona
Hotel, but there was no particular
hurry. Undoubtedly from the mo-
ment the Frenchman had left the
train some, or one, Of the gang had
fastened ON the mans trail, but the
companionship Of the Selkirk ply
sician guaranteed the Frenchman'a
Immediate safety. His own plan, az
tar ~ it,awaa matured. s3swas very
simple. he meant to spot" II he
could, should that particular mem
Der, or members, Of the gang be IN
known to him personally, the man.
sor men, selected by the Wire Devils
to shadow the Frenchman-and then
I watch the gang! The Hawk had nc
intention whatever Of making an at
tempt on the Frenchman.s property
4 with the gang watching him-that
would hAye been little less than the
act OF q fool who was bent on sui
eide! Since, therefore. he. had nc
choice La the matter, he was quite
content to have the gang take the
initiatory risk In relieving the
Frenchnlan Of the handbag! After
!. that-the Hawks old twisted smile
was back on his lips as he walked
along-after that It became his bust
ness to see that the bag did not get
very far out OF his sight!
ne reacneo ana crossed tne cus
park upon Wnicn the corona Hose
sironteo.' entered the hotei, ano' saun'
ter1ng leisurely thru the loooy, ap'
preached the desk he glanced cas-
nally over the register; then. lighting
{ 4 cigar, he selected q chair near thu
front windows where he could com.
I mand a general view Of the lobby
and sat down.
Doctor Meunier's room was Mum,
Der 10e.
Once the Hawks eyes lazily sur.
veyed the lobby: thereafter they ap
peared to be intent ON what wal
passing in the street He was /,
luck! The, first trick, at least, hae
gone to him. Lolling In chair nea,
the elevator doors, and apparentl,
drowsy from a heavy luncheon. wa
the Bantam. The Hawk smoked on
Half an hour went by. The Bantam
smiled sheepishly about him, wen
over to the news stand, bought a pa
Hawk finished his cigar, rose, stroll
ed to the main entrance, and wen
trusted to, see, that Doctor Meuniel
did not vanish into thin air! H.
would 40 the ike for the Bantam
He crossed over into the park.
Tue neW cnose oencn-stra
t!eee, No nAo Tue corner upon wnici
Tag noeS' w. ouAt oiasonsity ne'
10.e 'l'"'' sAa Sou4o SEQ ootn 'ne sio'
ilont eNsisnce On lne uain tnoF'
ouS
-. .ss...s, " wa