Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-12-29
CHAPTER XII
What the Telephone Told.

WHAT the elepnone Told.
All Vests Indifference vanished in
stantly. He had to pry the paper out,
so closely had it been wedged in be-
meath the closed blade, and it re-
CURED moment in which to straight
en- it out so that the writing was dis
cernible. Even then the marks were
SO faint, and minute, he could not
really decipher them until he made
use of a magnifying glass lying on
the desk. A woman's hand, using a
pencil, had hastily inscribed the
words on scrap Of common paper,
apparently torn from some book-the
inspiration of an instant, perhaps
sudden hope born of desperation. He
fairly had to dig the words out, letter
by letter, copying them on an old en-
velope until he had the message COM
plete: please notify police to search
Seminole quick
West. read this over, word by word,
again and again. What did it mean?
Did it mean anything? Had it any
possible connection with the case in
which he was interested? There was
no signature, nothing to guide him;
yet in some way the plea sounded
real, was cry of distress, an appeal
for help. 1t could be given no other
meaning yet how long had it been
lying there in the alley? Not any
great length of time surely, for the
polished silver was far too conspicu-
GUS to escape notice. 1t must have
been dropped during the night, within
a very short time of its discovery. But
what did the words signify? Notify
police" was clear enough, but search
Seminole" meant absolutely nothing.
What was "Semillole"-an apartment
house? A hotel? A saloon? Perhaps
the police would know; evidently the
writer so believed, or she would never
have used the name with such conf
dence. A familiar name to her, she
assumed that the police would have
no difficulty in instantly locating the
place meant. The haste with which
the message had apparently been writ
ten, it's short, sharp words, bespoke
urgent need, the consciousness of i'm
minent peril. Plainly the writer had
used the only means at hand in a hur-
ried desperate effort to gain assist
ance.
"The police" The request had been
for the police; then why not appeal
to the police? Why not take the note
now directly to headquarters, and let
them help solve it's mystery? At first
West hesitated, yet moments
thought convinced him this would be
the logical course to pursue. His APP
pealing to the police need not nee
essarily involve any disclosure rela-
tive to the Coolidge matter. He had
found this note accidentally in an al
ley in the northwest section of the
city; his being there need require no
special explanation; he did not I'M
derstand its meaning, and consequent
Iy he placed it in their hands That all
sounded natural enough.
He looked at Sexton, who was sleep
ing soundly, and decided not to
awaken the man. He had no use
for his services just now the City
hall was only few blocks away, and
he might not he out more than an
hour himself. He would leave a note
so that If by any chance he should be
delayed, Sexton would understand
what had occurred. He scratched
this off hastily, placed it in a conspic-
uous place, and swiftly departed, af-
ter extinguishing the light. He was
no longer conscious of fatigue, or the
pain of bruises, his mind eager to
learn the meaning of this new dis
covery.
1t had been quiet night at the City
Hall station, and West encountered
no difficulty in reaching the presence
of the lieutenant in charge. The officer
who had opened the door to the inner
office said rather doubtfully:
"This guy wants to see you person
ally, sir; he wouldn't talk to no one
else"
"All right, Slavin; shut the door,
and I'll hear what he has to say. What
is it, my man? y
West explained swiftly and clearly,
his manner of speech, as well as his
statement as to who he wasS evidently
making a favorable impression on his
listener. He took the note, spread 1t
out on the desk, and studied it care
fully.
Looks genuine enough" he COM
mented at last. "but not very clear
I don't know any place in this town
called Seminole Wait minute.
though; perhaps one Of the boys may
have an idea"
He pressed button on top of the
desk. and in response to the summons,
a side door opened, and a man in
plain clothes entered.
You rang. sir?"
Eyes, McAdams; this gentleman
here"
captain West, as am a sinnerl"
he exclaimed. Gee! but am glad to
see you again, old man. Say. BY
Cad! you don't remember me-"