Courier Democrat., 1904-07-28
CHAPTER xxxv.

S1HORPE walked through the 81
lent group Of men without see
ing them. He had no thought
for what he had done, but for
the triumphant discovery he had made
in spite Of himself.
1t was then about 6 o'clock in the
morning. Thorpe passed the board
ing house, the store and the Office, to
take himself as far as the little open
shed that served as a railway station.
There he set the semaphore to flag the
east bound train from Duluth. At 6:36,
the train happening ON time, he climb
ed aboard. He dropped heavily into
seat and stared straight in front of
him until the conductor had spoken to
him twice.
"Where to, Mr.. Thorpe?" he asked.
ooh! Mackinaw City,"
Thorpe descended at AIackinaw CITY
to find that the noon train had gone.
He ate lunch at the hotel. borrowed
500 from the agent Of Louis Sands,
lumberman Of his acquaintance, and
seated himself rigidly in the little wait
ing room, there to remain until the 9:2O
that night. When the cars were backed
down from the siding he boarded the
sleeper. In the doorway stood disap-
proving colored porter.
"Yo'u fin the smokin' cab up fo'wu'd.
sah," said the latter, firmly barring the
way.
"It's generally forward" answered
Thorpe.
This yeah's the sleepah," protested
the functionary. "Yo' pays extry."
II am aware Of it." replied Thorpe
curtly. "Give me a lower"
eyes, sah," acquiesced the darky,
giving way, but still in doubt. He fol-
lowed Thorpe cautiously. peering into
the smoking room on him from time to
time. A little after IL his patience
gave out. The stolid, gloomy man of
lower 6 seemed to intend sitting up all
night.
"Yo' berth is ready, sah," he delicate
y suggested.
Thorpe arose obediently, walked to
lower and without undressing threw
himself on the bed. Afterward the
porter in conscientious discharge of his
duty looked diligently beneath the seat
for boots to polish. Happening to glance
up after fruitless search he discovered
the boots still adorning, the feet of their
owner.
"Well, for the lands sake!' etaculat-
ed the scandalized negro. beating a
hasty retreat.
Thorpe descended at Twelfth street
in Chicago without any clear notion of
where he was going. For a moment he
faced the long, parklike expanse Of the
lake front, then turned sharp to his left
and picked his way south up the inter-
mfnable reaches Of Michigan avenue
Block after block he clicked along, the
calks Of his boots striking fire from the
pavement.
After an interval he seemed to have
left the smoke and dirt behind. The
street became quieter; boarding houses
and tailors' shops ceased; here and
there appeared bit Of lawn, shrub
berry and flowers. By and by he came
to himself to find that he was staring
1T the deep carved lettering in stone
horse block before large dwelling.
His mind took the letters in one after
the other, perceiving them plainly be-
fore 1t accorded them recognition. Fl
nally he had completed the word Ear
rand" He whirled sharp on his heel,
mounted the broad white stone steps
and rang the bell
It was answered almost Immediately
BY clean shaved, portly and dignified
man with the most impassive counte-
nance In the world. This man looked
upon Thorpe with lofty disapproval.
Els Miss Hilda FaEfand ut homer he
a1ked.
II cannot say." replied the man. sIf
Jon win step TO the hack door ] VIII
ascertain"
'.rhs .ssws, WIN a. Now - tAat