The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-09-09

from the chauffeur. 1t may nave
been reaction from Smiths words
and it may have been q cunning,
psychological attempt TO lend
further impetus to the brain OF
the young American.
Street lights were burning and
a few great stars had appeared IN
the deep blue Of the Indian sky
as the btakes gave a final screech
and the cal stopped before the
hotel.
Like to go in alone?" asked
Sir Oliver.
"Uh-huh," said Smith. Give
me two yards start"
If Smith had shown excitement
in the car he had no trace OF II
left as he sauntered into the hotel
and stopped for a cigar At the
newsstand. Half way across the
rotunda he had no definite plan
Of action. Before he reached the
desk he saw his first move. II
Cadz vas in the hotel for the pur-
pose Of attacking him he was prob
ably located close to his own
room. Smith turned to the desk
. clerk.
Ny name Is Smith. I don't
Ike my room. Could | change 1t
for the one on the right or left?'
It was a long distance shot and
smith lighted his cigar while the
| clerk referred to the room plan.
Not once had he appeared to pay
the slightest attention to any one
in the rotunda. To all appear
ances he was a tired traveller. in a
hot and dusty c" :rtry with his In
'ernst a the lowest ebb.
Sorry, sir" said the clerk, but
both rooms are taken
Put me down for the first room
vacated" returned Smith.
The one on the right is a per-
manent guest" replied the clerk.
The other mar came in yesterday
and may leave soon. ri put you
down for his room when be
leaves"
Tall Englishman with lons
m~ustache?" asked Smith turning
away.
II think YOU are mistaken, sir"
said the clerk. He is short and
feroiEn in appearance"
But Smith did not appear to
hear as he moved off toward the
grand stairway. His room was
two flights up and. on the first
landing, he stopped TO relight hi;
cigar. Down the long corridor
native servants ~squatted outside
their masters doors or hurried In
and out on errands connected
with dressing for dinner.
Smith saw everything and found
nothing that he wanted. He as
cended one more flight OF stairs
and found himself upon his owl
corridor. Here was much the
same scene as below. but there
was a difference. The hall light
near Smiths room was not burn
ing. Tor was there any light in the
room itself. The room on The
right showed a light through the
transom. but the one on the let'
was in darkness.
Little as Smith knew India, he
Fnew that & good servant should
ne sduatting outside his masters
door before dinner and the room
should be lighted and ready fol
dressing. All white people Of any
Importance dress for dinner in
India. Yet there was no Langa
Ooonh outside the door and the
room was in darkness.
Smith dropped his cigar upor
the tile floor as II in disgust a
its drawing quality. a burning
cigar may be a disadvantage il
the dark. Leisurely he strollet
Forward and Knocked upon hi
own door. II any person waited
for him within, that person woult
not expect the owner Of the room
70 knock before entering.
There was no answer to the
knock and the waiting mar turne'
sidewise so that his ear came very
close TO the panel Of the door
Not a sound was to be heard.
Once more Smith knocked and
dropping a hand into a side pocket
walked boldly in. The shutter:
had been closed and the blind:
drawn so that the room was very
dark. Swiftly closing the door be-
hind him Smith advanced TO the
center Of the DON and felt for the
electric light, a hanging two-bule
fixture.
AS Smiths cropping hand touched
an electric bulb he noted with in.
t"terest that il was warm. In the
dark he deity unscrewed the bulb
and gave the useless switch a loud
click before feeling for and finding
the one remaining lamp. II was
taking a risk. but he had been TAX
Ing a risk. he believed. ever since
he had entered the room and, fol
the matter of that. he had been
taking risks all his life.
For a full minute Smith stood
perfectly still in the silence and
then hurled the u~nscrewed lamp
into a corner Of the room. Halt a
second after the fragile. glass-in-
closed vacuum burst with a loud
pop. Smith turned on the remain
ing light and his free hand shot
out with Il blue-blaCk automatic,
4 man. sitting quietly in a chair
with a peculiar looking gun in his
hand. had twisted his head in the
direction Of the bursting lamp. He
looked back quickly enough but he
did not attempt TO raise his gun,
1t WIS too late. He was covered.
Game is up. Cadz." announced
Smith in a rather bored manner,
The mar smiled and spoke. bnt
he did not speak English and he
sDoke a little louder than was