The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-06-05

peared. 1 don't know that there's
any such person"
You don't want to say, then, why
you've been advertising for her|
The only answer he got to that ques-
ton was a click which meant that the
other receiver had been slammed
dowu on the hook. So Martin hung
up, too. and left the booth.
The first thing TO find out was the
number of Forster's apartment, and
of course, the obvious way would be
to walk up to the desk and ask the
clerk. But instinctively be SHE'D at
that Forster was no ordinary tran
sient guest here. A man as rich as
he was. and permanently domiciled
here, would have special defenses.
You wouldn't be able to mention his
name without starting something. The
better way would be to drift into
casual talk with somebody, bell hop
or the girl who sold theater tickets
lead up TO his question and ask ii idly.
But it wasn't so easy as it looked.
TO frame that question so it would
sound casual. And if he failed. if his
question reused suspicion. he'd be
worse off than if he'd gone straight to
the clerk in the first place.
His gaze was questing about the
lobby noting everything that every
body did. studying faces in the hope of
finding one dull and friendly and IN
The man who had just come down
in one of the elevators anC now stood
talking to the captain hadn't face
like that; very much the contrary, IN
fact. bleak and rocky as chunk of
the great American desert and he
talked as if he were biting off the
heads of finishing nails.
Martin stared at him, regardless of
the risk of catching his eye. until, in
his own minds eye, he had put derby
hat on his head and brown over
coat on his back and little leather
notebook in his hand. and recognized
him. He was the man who had come
to the studio last night, getting names
for the new city directory. And this
Identification led on so quickly to an
other that it was like firing the second
barrei of a shotgun. This was the
man whose v, ice he had just now been
trying TO remember. the man on the
telephone who had been pretending be
was Forster.
1t seemed reasonable guess that
the instructions Blue Serge was Civ.
ing the captain were that any reporter
or other inquisitive person asking
questions about C.. ]. Forster or try
ing to get through to him was to be
dealt with in special manner.
Satisfied that the captain understood
these instructions, whatever they were.
Blue Serge left him and crossed the
lobby to the desk. Here his business
was not with the clerk but with the
manager. who promptly came out of
his little private Office to talk with
him. The manager was taking orders.
too. with an alertness which showed
he recognized their Importance.
Leaving the desk and a completely
instructed manager behind it. the man
In the blue serge suit now started
across the lobby in a new direction;
one that would bring him, unless he
veered off. uncomfortably close to Mar
tins chair. But before this embar-
rassment became acute he was divert
ed by one of the bellboys who crossed
his path. The boy seemed perfectly
unaware of him, but Blue Serge. after
a sharp look. turned on his heel and
went back to the desk. summoned the
manager again. brought him out into
the lobby a little way. and nodde,
after the boy. Then he went off and
disappeared into an elevator
The manager. returning to bis Office