The Red Cloud chief., 1906-01-12

ly," laughed Miss Kendall ms she
looked mt my rueful c~ountenance. II
myself think it's rather fortunate that
he's OH the boat"
Fortunate. You don't mean that"
Precisely that. Suppose the Jour.
dains hadn't gone to him. He'd have
left the hospital anyway In two or
three days. He isn't the man to lie
inactive when ne knew you were
searching for the fugitlves. He'd have
returned then TO his apartment next
to yours; your landlndy would have
told him that you had sailed for Eu-
rope, and he had only to examine his
boats passenger list to discover your
name"
But, at any rate" l pointed out,
he would still have been in America.
He couldn't have caught u.s."
HE couldn't have caught you, but a
%cablegram would have passed you In
midocean warning his confederates.
IL they have time to conceal their pris-
Oner, you'll never find her. Your only
hope Is in catching them unprepared.
Ni Y aliOtlNI It y
on the boat, you've another opportuni-
ty. Why not go and have a talk with
him-that battle OF wits you were look
ing forward tor
I'D thought Of that" I said, but
I'm afraid | couldn't play the part"
THE part?"
"Of seeming not to suspect him. It's
too great Il risk"
"Thc advantage would be on your
side she pointed out. "YOu could tell
him so many things which he already
knows and which he has no reason to
suspect you know he knows. II sounds
terribly involved, doesn't It? But you
understands"
"Oh. yes; ! understand"
"And then Ii would be the natural
thing for you TO look him up as soon
as you learned he was III. TO avoid
him will be to confess that you suspect
him"
But his name isn't on the passenger
list. IF l hadn't happened to see him
ms he came on board I'd probably not
have known 1t at ALL"
perhaps he saw you at the same
time"
'"Then the fats In the fire." I said.
IF he knows ! know he's on board,
then lie also knows that ! suspect him
If he doesn't know, why, there's no
reason for him TO think that I'll find It
out, unless he appears in the cabin,
which doesn't seem probable"
"Perhaps you're right" she admit
ted. There's no use taking any I'M
necessary risks. The thing appealed
to me. | think | should enjoy a half
hours talk with him, matching my
wits against his"
But yours are brighter than mine
1 pointed out. you've proved 1t pretty
cffectually in the last few minutes"
mo, ! haven't. I've simply shown
you that you overlooked n little
thing. And | think you're right about
the danger of going to Martlgny. Our
first duty is TO Miss Holiday. We
must rescue her before he can war;
his confederates to place her out OF Oul
reach"
The unstudled way in which she said
WI hiiNu NV III "h uilNNSOliih
happiness.
But why should they bother with 6
prisoner at all? They didn't shrink
from striking down her father"
And they may not shrink from strik
ing her down AT n favorable moment
she answered calmly. at will be cas-
Ter In France than In New York"
My hands were trembling at tn,
thought of it. If we should really b,
too late.
"But | don't believe they'll go to sucl
extremes, Mr.. Lester" continued IN.
companion. ~ believe you're going 4
find her and solve the mystery. NJ.
theory doesn't solve II, you know; 1
only makes 1t deeper. The mystery
after all. Is: Who are these people
Why did they kill Mr.. Holiday? VIII.
have they abducted his daughter
What IL their plotY'
we" | assented. And again l ha,
a moment of confused ~perplexity.
But after YOU find her" she asked
what will You do with herr
"Do with her? Why, take her home
OF course"
But she'll very probably be broker