The Coolidge examiner., 1932-02-26
The Men on the
Dead Mans Chest
by
Clifford Raymond
CwNU service.)
Copyright. The Bobbs-Merrill Co.
CwNU service.)
CHAPTER VIIl-Continued


had Stanton turn aside with him to
the desk.
1--WE were disturbed last night"
he said to the clerk. Il have reas-
on to question the explanation given
by the disturber. We are in room
five-ten. He insisted it was room
six-ten. He had a key. Who occu-
pies room six-tenw
The clerk hesitated as If about
to refuse to give the information.
Stanton perceived his reluctance
and supported Roberts.
'In the circumstances" said Stan
ton, sit is a fair question. AS Mr..
Roberts says, we were disturbed
and were not satisfied with the ex-
PLANTATION"
Have you made any complaint|
the clerk asked. 81 have been on
duty only a half-hour."
1T isn't necessary to make a COM
plant" said the lieutenant. "We
Just want some information"
The clerk decided to give it. He
looked at his board.
Room six-ten is occupied by
Mrs. II. C. Carroll of Providence,
and her daughter"
"And room fourteen"
The clerk turned again to his
board.
Room fourteen by ]. D. Adams,
of Des Moines. That is Mr.. Adams
at the other end of the cigar coun-
ter" He indicated a man of slen-
der build who was selecting a cigar.
Our visitor could not have had
either room. He was fat. He was
or pretended to be, confused by
drink"
"Is it something the manage
ment should take up?" the clerk
asked.
NO" said Stanton, "we are leav-
Ing today. 1t was only an incident,
but we were curious"
Just another thing" said Rob-
erts. Lieutenant Stanton was
moved yesterday from the room he
was occupying-what was 1t, STAN
tonT
'Three-twelve."
ITO room five-ten. Would the reg
lister still show him in three-twelve?
Let's see If it does"
He turned back the pages Of the
book and found the line where STAN
ton had registered.
"Yes, it does. Who had room
three-twelve after six o'clock?"
Mr.. Peter L. Ashe of Albany" he
said.
ASK Mr.. Ashe, will you, when
you see him, if he was aroused last
night. We are going in to break
fast. Try to find out from him."
1T seems to me should know
why I'm making inquiries of our
guests If it is serious matter the
manager should be informed"
IF it's a matter of any impor-
tance, it's only to us" said Stanton,
''or may be. It's not likely to be TO
the hotel or to anyone else Ask
Mr.. Ashe. Or we'll do it if you
don't want to. You'll have q bet
ter opportunity"
If / see him / WILL" said the
clerk.
At breakfast Roberts explained
that he had not registered his name
but had assumed another. He was
not on the books as himself If the
fat man had been a bird dog he
would not have found Roberts, but
he would have found Stanton. If
the occupant of room three-twelve
had any experience with a fat visi-
tor or intruder it would make the
incident at room fve-ten under
standable in only one fashion.
Then you'll admit" said Roberts,
that they have begun. They've
gone at it quick. The very night of
the day they find me here"
I've been encouraging your ideas
too much,' said the lieutenant.
"They're improbable The only
reason I've taken any of them in is
because I'm a bit fanciful myself.
And I've known the copper type
which won't see at all with the
minds eye. Eat your bacon and
eggs, man. l don't want to take
only a package of coffee and gin
back home. Put a little food around
your ribs"
You still think I'm yellow. don't
you?"
I'm not wasting much time think
ing about it. You probably know
yourself better than | ever will. But
if half the things you think are true
happen to be true you'll need both
nerve and luck to get through"
I'll get by. I'm going out into
the far Pacific. I'll get a couple of
Malay knife-men who will be mil
tionaires in their own coin as long
as I'm alive. A few flower girls to
go along with them. Some Chinese
music and the Temple bells. Sixty
thousand a year. 1t won't be so
bad"