The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-05-27
The House ofthe Three Gamblers

seemed to have no business. He had
money. He spent 1t freely in the bar
rooms. He drank with all their cheer
full habitues-the horsemen, the sports,
the roustabouts. He had Travelled
much. He had been cowboy in the
wild West. He was good story-teller.
The boys liked him.
'Some one discovered that he car
ried a big revolver in his hip pocket.
He went into the woods for hunt
with Royce. There Royce tells Of see
ing him throw silver quarter in the
air and shoot hole in 1t with his re-
volver before 1t came down.
snow in the early evening Of the
tenth Of November he was seen in a
canoe on the river. Roger Wingate,
a patient of mine, and his young son,
passed near him in boat. The time
was quarter Of seven or nearly that.
1t was rather dark. The boy had his
fathers dark lantern. He opened 1t
suddenly and flung its light on the
stranger. Here was Enthusiastically the
man known as Algyre. Wingate had
met him. He spoke but got no an
swer. Now the point at which they
met was nearly opposite Browns cove
Wingate thought nothing of the Incl
dent. It seemed to have no relation
to the murder
Shad was quick to say: "That man
couldn't have got to Doolittle's house
by seven O'clock"
"It would have been impossible. No
suspicion Of that ever entered the
mind Of my patient. He had forgotten
the matter until the excitement Of yes
terday in Ashfield had begun to
spread"
"What excitement?' Shad asked.
"Oh, you have not heard Of it?"
mo, I left Canton early and was with
Bumpy at his shack all yesterday and
got here less than an hour ago."
swell, while back I had written
to a classmate Of mine at McGill uni
versity, who is in practice at Win
chester Springs, Ontario. Ihad framed
theory and wanted to learn what he
knew about Donald Algyre. He an
swered promptly. No man of the name
and description / had given was known
in that village or In the country sur
rounding it. The genial stranger had
vanished from our neighboring village.
was mystified Detectives from Chi
cago arrived In Ashfield on the noon
train yesterday. They were looking
for the man described In this docu-
ment."
He drew from his pocket a small
poster containing half-tone photo
graph and the following announce
ment:
"Reward of $1,000
"For information which will lead
to the arrest of the famous bandit and
bank robber, Reuben Smith alias John
O'Brien alias Percival Roberts alias
and lately Donald Algyre Of whom this
is photograph. He Is about six feet
tall. He has large, bony hands and
rather broad shoulders. His face Is
freckled, his hair red, his ears large
and prominent. When last seen he
was dressed in dark and rather
shabby suit. He wore a Canadian
Scotch cap. Address communications
to the police of your own town or to
"Allan Pinkerton,
Chicago, Ill"
1t will be remembered that Shad
and Bony had seen the man so well
described in the poster, sitting with
Royce, Anderson and others at the
Westminster hotel in the evening of
the day of their successful hunt for
the hats and the handkerchief. The
boy read the words Of Mr.. Pinkerton
with deep interest. A thought flashed
in upon him.
He asked: do you know when
this man was last seen in Ashfield?"
The doctor answered: "It is well
known that his last appearance there
was about seven o'clock in the eve
ming of December 1. A telegram had
been delivered to him that evening.
He paid his bill. Royce ate supper
with him. In long ulster and yarn
mittens he went out Of the front door
of the hotel with his two bags. The
bellboy offered to help him but he
said, No, thank you The door closed
and he was gone. He had vanished.
1t would seem that no one got
glimpse of him after that. 1t Is
supposed that, somewhere near, a
wagon was waiting for him."
II think that saw his hand and
arm that night" said Shad.
He told the doctor of the singular
event in Colonel Blake's office on the
night of December 1.
''This is interesting" said the doctor
gravely.
but who was the woman in the
buggy?" Shad asked.
ITO RE CoNTINTyEDN