The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-11-18
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Chase in the Storm.

gently now but the gusts of damp
wind from the south promised more
and worse to follow.
"A message for you, Mr.. Wilton"
said a voice suddenly from the recess
Of the doorway.
Give it to me-" said
A slip Of paper was thrust into my
hand. and 1 passed up the stairs.
I'll wait for YOU said the mes
senger, and at the first gas jet that
burned at the head of the stairs l
stopped to read the address.
1t was in the hand of the Unknown,
and my fatigue and indifference were
gone in a moment. l trembled as l
tore open the envelope and read:
Follow the bearer OF this note at
1890. Come alone and armed. 1t is
important"
There was no signature
If 1t meant anything 1t meant that
I was to meet the Unknown, and per-
haps to search the heart of the mys-
terry. l had been heavy with fatigue
and drowsy with want of sleep. but at
this thought the energies of life were
once more fresh within me.
The men had waited a minute for
me as l read the note
Go to your rooms and get some
rest, Il said. Il am called away. Trent
will be in charge, and 1 will send word
to him If | need any of you"
They looked at me in blank protest.
You're not going alone, sir?" cried
Owens in tone of alarm.
"Oh, no. But l shall not need a
guard" l hoped heartily that 1 did
not
The men shook their heads doubt
fully, and I continued:
/ "Corson will be down from the Cen
trail station in Is or 20 minutes Just
tell him I've been sent for and to
I come tomorrow if he can make il in
his way"
And bidding them good night l ran
hastily down the stairs before any
of the men could frame his protest
into words
Are you ready, sir?" asked the mes.
senger.
1T is close on half-past twelve" I
answered. Where is she?"
It's not far away" said my guide
evasively
l understood the danger of speech
and did not press for an answer.
We plungel down Montgomery
street in the teeth of the wind that
dashed the spray in our faces at one
moment, lulled an instant the better to
deceive the unwary and then leaped at
US from behind corners with the i'm.
petuous rush Of some great animal
that turned to vapor as it reached us
The street was dark except for the
newspaper offices, which glowed
bright with lights on both sides of the
way, busy with the only signs of life
that the storm and the midnight hour
had left.
With the lighted buildings behind
Us we turned down California street
Halfway down the block, in front OF
the Merchants Exchange. stood a
hack. AT the sight my heart beat fast
and my breath came quick.
AS we neared the hack my guide
gave short. suppressed whistle, ant
passing before me, flung open tn,
door to the vehicle and motioned m,
to enter. l had gone too far to re
treat, and stepped into the hack. In
stead of following, the guide closed the
door gently; l heard him mount the
seat with the driver, and in a mo
ment we were in motion.
Was I alone? had expected to int
the Unknown. but the dark inter;o
gave no sign of companion. A Sigh
movement made me certain that som,
one sat in the father corner of tn,
carriage. The situation became a lit
tie embarrassing. Was it my place t,
speak first? I wondered. At last
could endure the silence no longer.
Quite an unpleasant evening" I re
marked politely.
There was rustic Of movement
the sound of a short gasp. and a soft
mournful voice broke on my ear.
Mr.. Dudley-can you forgive me?
The establishment l felt to hear m
own name once nore-the name tina
seemed now to belong to a forme
state of existence-was swallowed II
as the magnetic tones carried thei
revelation to my mind. I was stricke1
dumb for a moment at the discover
they had brought Then l gasped:
Mrs. Knapp"
Yes, Mrs. Knapp" she said with
mournful laugh. Did you never su:
pect?"
l was lost IN wonder and confusion
and even yet could not understand.
(To be Continuedl