The Red Cloud chief., 1902-07-11
CHAPTER MI.
Waylaid By tho nrrN

1t suited his own aggressive nature.
Always bent upon carrying the war
nto the enemy's country and striking
quick blows.
That's kind of you. Artemus." he
said, Immediately. and shall be
only too pleased to meet the captain
Fate decreed that they should
meet Capt. Brand as they sauntcred
toward the exit.
Both gave him a cold bow.
IL was no more nor less than he
was accustomed to from these friends
of Airline. and yet he looked after
them suspiciously.
All. had he but dreamed Of whittier
they were bound. and for what pur.
pose, the ogre would have considered
that the case called for something
beyond suspicion.
Keep an eye on him, Artemus.'
said Charlie.
We'll, rather. II would precipitate
matters If he CHANGED To see MS meet
the original ghost, of we may so term
Capt. Brand
But apparently the ogre had awak.
oned TO the fact that he was assailed
by a thirst which would not be dc.
MED, for the last they saw of him
h. was heading in a bee line for the
barroom.
once clear Of the hotel, the two
friends turned along The avenue
Artemus knew whore he was going;
this was his old stamping ground.
over which he had ranged for years,
always searching for that ~will.o'the.
wiSp which until now had ellded his
grasp-a sensation that would take
the thcater going public by storm,
and make his reputation at a bound.
SO he led Charlie at length into a
public house, where many men came
and went. where silver and cut glass
cleaned upon the buffet back Of the
bar, and tables invited a social chat.
Before they reached a distant table.
Charlie had located his man; 1t was
easy enough after he had points given
to him.
Nor was Artemus an iota out Of the
way in his rough .and.ready diagnosis
OF the mans character.
Charlie saw he had been a blum,
genial sailor. and these years OF wild
life on the Sahara. with the wander.
ing tribes of nomads into whose
hands he had fallen. had not eradi.
Gated these predominant traits.
Warmly he shook the hand Of the
%wanderer.
Eye looked into eye and read there
the nature of the man back OF it.
And Capt. Brand was thanking
heaven mentally that his child had
been beloved by one whom he recog,
nized in his soul to be natures noble.
man.
Long they sat there and con.
versed.
The hours passed unheeded.
Charlie was enthralled by what he
heard.
There was no braggadocio about
this a as In the case OF the ogre,
and yet he had evidently passed
through adventures beside which
even the imaginary ones of the other
paled into insignifcance.
He asked eager questions about
his child, and 1t could be seen how
anxious the father was to enfold her
in his arms.
pleasant time of II, and were finally
%astonished when one of the walters
came with the Information that mid
night had arri' dit was time to
close the house, and would the gen
tlemen have the kindness to vacate?
Which. Of course, they did.
Arrangements were made for an.
other meeting.
Capt. Brand also yearned to EN-.
sure he could easily lead into the
right path.
Charlie walked on air as he re.
turned alone to the hotel, Artemus
pleading private business elsewhere.
Possibly his study of dramatic art
included also the stars of the stage,
and he thought il his duty to see
some divine Casino girl to her home.
There were many reflections to
keep Charles poor mind in trouble,
and ward off sleep.
This appearance or the real Brand
on the scene was a remarkable event
so opportune that he could not but
look upon II as p~rovidential. Indeed,
had the affair been left entirely in his
hands, the chances were he would
never have conceived so brilliant a
climax as to raise Brand from the
grave he was supposed to occupy in
Africa, and bring him upon the scene
to confound the ogre.
Little did this latter individual
dream of what was In store for him,
or that he stood upon a volcano that
was ready TO explode.
1t was a man very well satisfied
with the way the world treated him,
who s%auntered into the Windsor late
that night, and ran upon his bette noir
at the very first turn.
Charlie believed Brand had been
waiting for him; his manner seemed