The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-12-07
CHAPTER xI
What the Telephone Told.

Stanty. ne hau 10 pry the paper out,
so closely had 1t been wedged In be-
meath the closed blade, and It re-
quired a moment in which to straight
en- 1t out so that the writing was dis
cernible. Even then the marks were
30 faint, and minute. he could not
really decipher them until he made
use Of magnffyib& glass lying on
the desk. A woman's hand. using q
pencil, had hastily inscribed the
words on scrap Of common paper,
apparently torn from some book-the
inspiration Of an instant, perhaps a
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 meanf
Did 1t mean anything7 Had It any
possible connection with the case I'm
which he was interested7 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 tirpe surely. for the
polished silver was far too conspicu-
sns to escape notice. It must have
been dropped during the night, within
a very short time. Of it's discovery. But
what did the words signify? Notify
police" was clear enough, but "search
Seminole" meant absolutely nothing.
What was "Seminole"-an apartment
house? A hotel7 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 n hur-
ried desperate effort to gain assist
ance.
''The police" The request had been
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 ap-
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 un-
derstand Its meaning, and consequent
ly he placed 1t 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 a few blocks away, and
he might not be out more than an
hour himself. He would leave a note
so that II by any chance he should be
delayed. Sexton would understand
what had occurred. He scratched
this of hastily, placed 1t 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 a quiet night Mt the CITY
Hall station, and West encountered
no difficulty I'm reaching the presence
of the lieutenant In charge. The officer
who had opened the door to the inner
office said rather doubtfuliy:
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 manT
West explained swiftly and clearly
his manner Of speech. as we'll as his
statement as to who he was. evidently
making favorable impression on his
listener. He took the note. spread II
out on the desk, and studied 1t care.
fully.
LOOKS genuine enough" he com.
mented at last, ''but not very clear.
] don't know any place In this town
called Seminole. Walt minute
though; perhaps one of the boys ma!
have an idea
He pressed a button on top Of the
desk. apd in rGsponse to the summons
side door opened, and q nan IN
plain clothes entered.
you rang, sirT'
"Yes, McAdams; this gentleman
here"
Captain West. as I am a sinner :"
he exclaimed Gee but an, glad 10
see you again. DID mani Say. BY
Cad you don't remember me-"
"Oh, but I certainly do, Mac" and
West grasped the extended hand
heartily. TITS a devil Of surprise,
that's all. Saw you last at Brest, the
day you sailed for home. So this was
your job, sergeantT
Been with the department ever
since i was kid. Put me in plain