Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-04-23
CHAPTER XXI.
THE FACE OF THE FOE.

building he had escaped from but a
few moments before. He could dis
tinguish a number of dark, moving
objects bearing lights. The police
had brought lanterns with them to
prosecute the search, and some, lying
at full length, were peering down
over the parapet of the building into
the gloomy depths below.
Job did not move, hoping to escape
observation in the shadows, and
presently he heard one of the men
above saying confidently:
'"The poor wretch must have tried
to climb down, and fell and killed
hisself."
Job waited to hear more but it was
not forthcoming. Evidently the COM
rades of the man who had made this
statement believed as he did that the
object of their search had escaped
them. After time they slowly dis
persed, and the light no longer
twinkled from the roof above.
'Now or never is the time to get
out of this" Job muttered to himself.
'"They are making for the street to
make sure that am dead, and, find
ing no sign of the remains, will prob
ably renew the search"
Making his way carefully along
the edge OF the roof, he was over
joyed presently to come upon a fire.
escape, which, though rusted with
age and broken, enabled him to make
his way down to the street. Feeling
sure that the front of the hotel must
be guarded, he chose to take the
opposite direction.
Hearing the sound of steps APP
preaching, he paused for moment
in the shadow of the factory, to see
with whom he had to deal. The
man had come out of one Of the doors
of the hotel. and as for moment the
light fell on his face, Job recognized
him as the individual who had plan
ned the ambush to secure possession
of the paper. He made his way along
with an unsteady gait, as if he had
not fully recovered from his exper-
fence, or the narcotic effects of the
ring.
Evidently the police had no further
use for a man whom they believed
had humbugged them, and so had
permitted him to go his way, little
caring what became of him.
Job was not sorry to see his quon-
dam enemy, and after watching his
unsteady progress for while, re-
solved to go and follow him. For
this parsonage interested him
strangely, and he was not yet done
racking his brains, hoping to find
out in what important crisis they had
once figured together.
Ellison, half supplied, stumbled on
like a man in a dream. He did not
look back to see whether he was
followed or not. Now and then he
would raise his head sleepily and
stare around, as if to make sure
where he was.
Hendricks was glad to remain un-
noticed, for, after the exertions he
had made in escaping, he was not
prepared for fresh encounter with
any one.
Arrived at the corner of the street,
Ellison paused in dazed kind of
way, as if he were looking for car
rage, little thinking that such luxu-
ries were scarce in such locality.
Job had meantime taken up his
stand in a nearby doorway. Under
the circumstances it was not likely
that he would be noticed.
81 wonder what neXt?" he heard
Ellison mutter; then, with silly
laugh: 81 suppose l shall be able to
square myself with the police should
I happen to be in the neighborhood
again Oh, dear!" with a groan, II
suppose / shall have to foot it home
unless / have the luck to strike a
carriage on the way. There don't
seem to be anything on wheels in
this cursed neighborhood," then
swaying for a moment unsteadily on
the curb, he drew himself together,
and went lurching forward ON his
way with Job at his heels.
1t was a long journey they made
together, and Job was heartily glad
that they met no vehicle on the road,
for he had no desire for run in his
tired condition. He was still worry
ing his brains trying to recall where
he had seen this man before, and
ever the search eluded him.
"Time to acknowledge that you are
getting to be an old man." he NUT
tered to himself, "since you can't re-
member where you had dealings with
this person in the past-and he
played mighty imp ortant part in
your life, too"
Ellison had turned in a northerly
direction, and was making his way
along as if half asleep, and anxious
to be home and in bed. He apparent
ly had given up all hopes of getting
a carriage.
They had reached the uptown resi-
Dental district of the west side of the
city, when Ellison suddenly turned to
the right, passed down narrow