Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-07-24

tention upon himself, while Lady Ar
line and Artemus left the hotel;. fol
somehow Charlie had vague fear lest
the resourceful ex-sailor might use
force to prevent his supposed daugh
ter frcm 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
have personal knowledge of at least
one similar case.
Whether or not Charlie were foolish
in thus conjuring up phantoms that
| could not exist, was 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 it was. after all. in spirit OF
| self-sacrifice that Charlie undertook
| to have 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
~ Ior IL hor
the other had agreed to meet them,
and, hearing his signals, sprang upon
Charlie ere he comprehended his dan
| ger.
AS result he was struck senseless
by blow from some blunt weapon.
When Capt. Brand arrived on the
scene his first act was to sprinkle a
powdery white pigment in the young
mans hair, to give him the appear
ance of age. and to smear his face with
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 hither and
yon-then, as the baron's spy came in
sight, two men running away, while
form lay on the street.
II worked like a charm. The ennis
sary of Baron Peterhoff FASTENED up as
people began to open the windows of
houses to learn what the disturbance
might mean. There he found one who
appeared to be the old fellow he had
been set to watch.
The man called a vehicle, placed the
limp figure in its interior, entered him
self, and then started to report the
astonishing result of his espionage to
Baron Peterhoff himself.
While Capt. Brand, rejoining his
confreres down the shady street, set
off in hot haste to get aboard the
steamer, which. in another hour or so,
would be moving down the River
Sheldt, bound for the far-off distant
shores of America.
Artemus stood on the hurricane deck
of the great Red ID ocean liner and
looked back in the morning sunlight
to the distant and fast-receding coast
of Belgium.
Homeward bound.
There is always pleasure in this
thought and Artemus experienced it
with enthusiasm.
So far as he knew, Charles plans
had progressed all right, the ogre was
left behind, lamenting in the land of
the Belgians, and clear sailing seemed
ahead.
Then his thoughts ran back to the
events of the previous night. He
chuckled to remember the adroitness
with which he had seen Lady airline.
her companion and their luggage on
board the waiting steamer. while Char
lie was leading the ogre wildgoose
chase around Antwerp. partly to
amuse himself and at the same time
keep Brand occupied up to near the
sailing time.
BY the way, where was Charlie? 1t
was strange that he failed to show
up in time to see the last of Belgiums
shores.
Lady Airline and her companion
were walking the deck with Jersey and
golf cape to keep off the singing chill.
I'm go and arouse the sluggard,"
said Artemus to himself. His little
jaunt about town must have worn him
out---not the first case of it's kind.
rather guess with sinister lear at
his wit.
So he went below.
The door of Charles stateroom 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 de-
cided to arouse his friend with sud
den shout. or by the advent of 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 bulls-eye windows
enough of the morning light crept to
allow fair survey of the miniature
apartment
One of the first things Artemus saw
was shoe that had been tossed
aside.
AS he seized upon 1t eagerly, he
failed to note its generous proportions
as contrasted with the neat footgear
which Charlie Stuart affected-such
trifies do not impress themselves upon
the mind when weightier things are
demanding recognition.
Now for certer shot.
He turned his attention to the lower
berth, which was occupied by human
form.
Just then the nasal sounds came to
sudden stop with a savage snort, and
the sleeper whirled over on his side.