Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-12-02
CHAPTER X.
WHO is sHEf

II Reporter Thomas had been pre-
viousiy curious about the identity OF
the fugitive from the North house
| hold, this curiosity had suddenly in
tensihed into acute anxiety, now that
1 he had discovered the nature of her
mission TO the water side. Rather
than she should escape him at tais
moment ne would willingly forfeit a
| months salary. He felt the keen ex-
element of the man who finds him
self on the verge Of a momentous dis
| covery.
Thrusting the pistol into his pocket,
he FASTENED 20 assume his clothing,
and. at the top OF his speed. made up
| the road in the direction the woman
had gone. He reached the Phillips
Beach station. only TO find it black and
| deserted. There was the solitary fig
ure OF a man crossing the open space
near by. Thomas FASTENED to accost
1 him.
Has the last train gone. sir7" he
inquired
"Trainl" echoed the man. There
| is no train from here tonight The
train leaves from Swampscott station
] at 1926. It's not a great way down
the track, but I'm afraid it's too late"
ne added. looking at his watch
sudden thought came like an in
/ SEPARATION 20 the reporter.
You didn't see a woman running
down that track moment or two ago.
did your"
why. yes" returned the man. evil
| IDENTIFY struck with the coincidence.
1 ffT ~
question you did and started on in
chase for the tram. but Il was a good
ten minutes ago. The fact was. the
/ whole thing struck me as so peculiar
that I went after her bit. but some
how she gave me the slip I must say
l never saw a woman who could get
| over the ground SO fast"
I Thomas waited to hear no more. but
was on like an arrow down the dan
| gerously dark road bed.
| u was a fruitless chase Entirely
out OF breath. he reached the Swamp
scott station just in time TO see the
doors closed. A man bearing a lantern
| eyed him curiously as he came upon
the platform
Last trains gone" be said, CURLY.
Il know said Mr.. Thomas Its
rather hard luck that Of miae tonight.
Fate's against me. sure. / had a mis-
hap-a ducking. as you see; and what
4 with one thing and another. l have
been baked every way. I wouldn't
care, only that lady was to meet me
here and go to Boston with me in the
| train"
Lady with veil and long cloak"
Yes"
''She went on In the train without
you, my friend. Sorry for you. but
there's once chance yet. You may
catch that horse car into Boston. ny
way OF Lynn, II you hurry"
| Mr.. Thomas was perfectly aware OF
1 this fact. but he thanked the man with
the lantern very gratefully and set out
on run for the corner indicated.
The car was passing Just as be ar
| rived. and Thomas went with Il as II
| ratified It's slow way into Boston,
| slowness that was magnined 4 hundred
| fold by the reporters keen impAtience
He was anxious 10 examine the weap-
on or which he had so strangely pc
come possessed, but he did not con-
slider IT prudent to do so until he was
ii @-NA- Oe~N- aAASAs NC
ity arrived at last under an electric
hgat. In quiet street In the city
"Callber7" he mentally commented.
| 'Thirty-two! / thought as much. The
| old-fashione1 four-barreled pepper-box
OF kind in use before the war. Ali
Shsrp's patent, 1889. Probably q rem
iniscence OF North's younger days.
| Breech-loading. too There's no aim
to the thing at long range: but it's q
deadly weapon in a hand-to-hand con-
4 nict. And IL contains at present.
Let's see. How do you get the con-
founded thing open? All! by this lit
Gle button above the trigger. Sc. so.
l Three full cartridges and one empty
shell. The smut OF the powder is stin
upon the muzzle- Recently fired. and
not yet cleaned! Why, what fool could
have taken so little pains TO conceal a
| guilty fact?"
1 ne hastily thrust the pistol from
sight and drew a long breath. A coin
cidence was out OF the question. He
no longer doubted the importance of
his discovery Luck-or was 1t fateg-
had strangely favored him.
BY this time Mr.. Thomas had
reached the borders Of the district
where life is stirring. night as well as
day.
1t was late, but not so late that the
hackmen. always inclined to social
: propinqulty, we're not still to be found
In their accustomed haunts.
BY all the groups gathered in smoky
all night restaurants, or talking over
the merits and dement's of their re-
spective teams, Thomas was welcomed
as friend OF long standing.
He took their chafnng about the out
ward and visible signs OF his wstting
with characteristic Eood-humor: and
I between repartees that brought q broad
grin 20 the faces Of his associates.
managed TO introduce certain terse
questions as 70 the matter In hand.
Eastern depot? Why, Big Jim had
q fare from there tonight. Here, Big
Jim, leave of your palaver with the