The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1905-07-29
CHAPTER III.
Hypnotized by a Loos.


stands there as II petrined
Several times during the short ad-
dress OF the elderly and picturesque
gentleman with the long silver locks
and velvet sack coat he has endeav-
ored TO break in. eager to disclose the
fact that a mistake has been made.
Tor Jack is not the man to feel at ease
In borrowed plumage: but. strange to
say. when the other finishes his per
Grafton with the ntterance OF Jacks
name. all desire to thus disclaim any
connection with the matter. passes
away.
He is like man partly under the
influence of ether. He sees things as
through a glass, darkly. and yet en-
deavors TO grasp the truth as a drown
ing man grasps a straw
A dozen things fash through his
mind at once. First comes the
thought that by some accident he has
stumbled on the house to which his
unknown correspondent with whom
he had the appointment in the Canon
gate meant To lead him. but this he
speedily dismisses as less plausible
than others.
Before his bewildered mind flash
the remarkable things uttered by
Howard in his confused state follow
ing the smash.up. That is why he
does no. make any resistance when
the Spanish gentleman draws him
over the threshold. Curiosity is
aroused, and even on the instant there
has arisen a desire to discover why
they play at battledore and shuttle
cock with his name.
Given an active mind and Jack
Travers may be expected TO soon
solve the mystery; but il will take
little time. to gain which. without
arousing curiosity. he must carry out
his part OF the program naturally.
Probably II would be hard 10 iind a
man more willing to meet Fortune
halfway and dance to her merry tune
until the hour for unmasking comes.
He Is bold by nature. fearless from
constant association with danger.
since familiarity breeds contempt. and
not averse at any time 10 engage In
an enterprise the outcome OF which
p.ques his curiosity.
"Ha, what your" suddenly exclalms
the elderly gentleman. as he brings
the door TO. and nails poor All Sin in
the jam-Ah Sin who. seeing Jack en-
ter. attempts to slip across the thresh-
old. believing II to be his duty to fol
low where the master leads.
The wretched Celestial Is In a way
to feel the power of the press. since
l. oh uff ~ raT
ing, when Jack hurries to his relief.
and hastily explains that the heather
Chinee IS his valet. his shadow. with
out whose watchtni presence he would
scarcely dare to breathe; upon hear
ing which the muscular old gentleman
suspends the pressure. and Ah Sin. re-
lieved. though considerably fattened.
slips in.
Jack hears voices somewhere near
by. and his nerves are tingling with
an eagerness to discover the meGn-
ing of it all. which desire has been
brought into existence by the mere
mention of his own name by this re-
markable foreign artist.
Follow me-. Senior Jack" says the
party in question. as he turns and
walks in the direction of the stairs
leading aloft.
lack unconsciously allows a hand
to slim round to the pocket where he
usually carries a small revolver. For
wears he has lived among the wild
cowboys of the Texan plains or the
lawless miners in the Cripple Creek
region. where a mans existence aften
depends on his possessing a shooting
iron, and his ability to handle the
same in the smallest possible fraction
of a second. Old habits are dificult
to break away from. and Jack has not
vet grown to feel at ease without be-
ing "heeled-"
As he strides past the parlor door
he has glimpse of several parties In
the lighted room. and somehow dis
covers himself taking an unwarranted
interest in the graceful figure OF
Young lady who chances to have her
back toward him.
The faithful. II wondering. All Sin
fellows at his heels. apparently deter
mined to watch over his beloved mas
ter at all costs.
Having surrendered to the condi-
tions by which he has so suddenly
been surrounded. Jack fancies him
self ready to follow the lead OF this
dancing will-o'the-wisp of fortune al
least to the very danger line.
They enter a room light stands
or table Jack. giving hasty
glance around. sees nothing more
dangerous than a hairbrush on the
dresser.