Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1902-09-12

sole purpose in leading Brand this
wildgoose chase was to keep his at
tentlon upon himself while Lady Ar
line and Artemus left the hotel; for
somehow Charlie had n vague fear lest
the resourceful ex-sailor might use
force to prevent his supposed daugb.
ter from departing, advancing some
daring plea that her mind was affected
and having hired experts. who would
perhaps decree that she should be In
generated In an asylum.
These things might appear ridicu-
lous. but such happenings have come
to pass ere now, and he CHANGED to
one similar case.
| Whether or not Charlie were foolish
In thus conjuring up phantoms that
could not exist. was n question that
should not be decided hastily.
| He believed Brand to be desperate
man. against whom he could as yet
hardly appeal to the law. since Airline
would not give her consent
He was convinced that Brand did
not desire the heiress to get beyond
his reach. and would hardly hesitate
at any end In order to hold her until
his sinister plans could be worked out.
Hence IL was. after all. in spirit OF
sclf-sacrifice that Charlie undertook
to have a little fun with Capt. Brand.
and led him this fine chase up and
down the crooked streets OF Antwerp,
All would have been well but for
two cronies of Brand. They CHANGED
to be standing at dark corner where
the other had agreed to meet them.
and. hearing his signals. sprang upon
Charlie ere he comprehcnded his dan
ger.
As a result he was struck senseless
by n blow from some blunt weapon.
when Capt. Brand arrived on the
scene his first act was to sprinkle
powdcEy white pigment In the young
mans hair. to give him the appear
ancc OF age. and to smear his face with
n little street dirt In order TO disguise
his features.
Then. for the benefit OF the man
whom he knew lowered near by. lit
tie one-act drama was carried out. the
two men chasing Brand hithcr and
yon-thcn. an the baron's spy came In
sight. two men running away. while
n form lay on the street.
II worked like charm. The ennis
sary OF Baron Pctcrhofi hastened up an
people began to open the windows of
houses to learn what IN. disturbance
might mean. There he found one who
appeared To b. the old fellow he had
been set to watch.
The man called vehicle. placed the
limp fguEc In it's interior. entered him
self. and then started 10 report tho
astonishing result OF his espionage to
baron PctcEhon himself.
While Capt Brand. rc!o!nins his
eonfF-rcs down the shady street. set
OF in ho, hast. to set aboard the
steamer. which. In another hour or so.
would be moving down the River
sh.id,. bound for the fasofr distant
shores Of America.
Artrmus stood ON the hurricane deck
Of the gr.a, Rcd D ocean liner and
looked back In the morning sunlight
to the dis,aa, and fastscccdias coast
Of Belgium.
HumrWard bound,
There IL always a pleasure In this
thought and Art-mus experienced II
with enthusiasm.
So far as he knew. Charles plans
nAr IsNENNSSFsf ANt Att' bf-NF - s-
left behind. iamcniinE In the laad-of
the nelEians. and clear sailing seemed
ahead.
Then his thoughts ran hack TO the
events of the previous night. He
churkicd To remember the adrostnrss
with which he had seen Lady Airline.
her companion and their iuEsag. on
board the waiting steamer. while Char
lie vas leading the ogre a ~ild'scozc
chase around Antwerp. partly TO
amuss himself aud a, the same time
keep Brand occupied Up TO near the
sailing time.
By the way. where was Chariier II
vas strange that he failed to show
up in time to see the last Of BclEium's
shores.
Lady Airline and her companion
were walking the deck with Jersey and
golf cape to Keep on the singing chill
"i-il go and arouse the siuEEard."
said Artsmus to himself. His little
iaunt abou, town must have worn him
oui-not the FIRST case Of its kind.
rather guess. with a sinister lear at
his Wit.
So he went below.
Tho door of Charles stateruom was
Just opposite his own-a single step
across the little passage.
As he approached he heard the
sounds of loud snoring from within.
ON the spur Of the moment he dc
cidsd TO arouse his friend with sud.
den shout. or by the advent OF a con-
venient shoe tossed across the little
room. Artemus had never wholly out
grown his college days. when he
gained the reputation Of being the
champion practical joker of his class
So he quietly opened the door, which
was conveniently unlocked.
Through the bull's.eys windows
enough Of the morning light crept to
allow a fair survey Of the miniature
apartment.
One Of the FIRST things Artemus saw
was shoe that had been tossed
aside.
As he seized upon Il eagerly. he
failed to note its gencruur proportions
as contrasted with the neat footgear
which Charlie Stuart aifected-such
trifies do not impress themselves upon