The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-28
CHAPTER Xxi.
OK THE TRAIL

SAN Eood-bv TO my wife and strobe
NAV in the rain down the street
which led to my destination-the
Spravcliffe depot-in the very teeth
Of the wind, which was blowing eale'
/ was headed for the railway station
10 catch that Il O'Clock train Which
vas due TO leave FOR the city IN less
than fifteen minutes. Ordinarily lhe
distance from our house 10 the depot
could easily be covered In less time
than I now had TO reach It But To-
night the storm was a hindrance 10
rapid travel. which held me back and
made my progress annoyinsly slow
As ] had told my wife. I thought
that Lizzie would perhaps attempt TO
take that i O'Clock train-the first
in any direction leading away from
the scene of her daring abduction Of
our child
But Of course. il was only an idea
OF mine that she would board the train.
1 had no definite means OF knowing
whether she intended doing so or not
Nevertheless, # seemed probable to
suppose that she would wish 10 put
as much distance as she could be
twecI, herself and possible capture in
the shortest length Of time. And the
most rss tural means she could take Of
doing was 10 catch this train for
the city.
Il was right and found that she was
a passenger I could end matters be-
tween us in short order, take her off
the cars-she would recognize my au-
thoriry I'm ordering her off. ] kneW-and
bring her and Ronald back home with
me.
That would be speedy and salts
factory way out Of our present diff
Guilty
But II 1 was wrong, and she was not
on the train. or did not attempt TO
hoard then I q
and aarder task IN front of me 10 bring
about her apprehension and the return
OF my boy
that train myself, as I had planned.
And there I would enlist the services Of
private detective agency 10 begin
thorough search for the missing child
and her kidnaper.
This latter course would be expen-
sive, Of course also, IL would take time
Tor their operation 10 bring results
stu. that was the best ] could do N
failed 70 find the girl and my child on
the train for which / was hurrying as
fast as the weather would permit
II I only knew for sure whether she
was going 10 be on that trainl
Perhaps somebody could tell me n
she had been seen going in the direC-
ton Of the depot only short time be-
fore-for only short time had passed
since her departure with Ronald from
II only more people were out on a
night Ike this. ] thought regretfully, 1
would be sure to meet some one who
would remember seeing the child and
her If they passed that way They
would have made an unmista kable cOu-
pie: their Identification with the descrip-
ton could give Of them would have
been simple.
But the streets through which fought
my way against the wind and rain were
deserted, due both 10 the UTetched night
and the ldteness Of tho hour
Inpm ] turned the corner of a side
street, and literally bumped into Casey,
the policeman who patrols the ten blocks
surrounding my home.
"Ph0Ht tho divil--.' ne rOarcd at
me, and then broke off as ne recognized
me. Mr.. Norris, soT, excuse me. An
phSst are ye doiu ont on a night like
This fl Oi may ask yey'
u was ON the tir ~ my tcaEuc 70
blurt out my real trouble 10 the friendly
Trishmau. But a glance At the ominOus
blue and brass of his uniform stopped
me T remembered that ne was a min
ION Of the law. sworn TO do his duty to
friend or foe alike. And ] would have
been a case for him had he only known
what T did with Lizzie.
I'm going down 20 the depot Casey,
answered. I'm after my nursCg'rl,
who has gone Of with my son-throuEh
some mistake she made In my wife's
sure. an ] passed them not fifteen
minutes ago as T came ND the street
here. They were hurryin' along through
me rain ike Nli possessed fNhtu Gu
what they were doin' out Ga all this
weather An the girl
Which WaV were they going, mani
cried eagerly. Were they headed for
the railway station Did they tell YOU
that's where they were goihg2"
That's whc-e they were bound. soT,'
nc answered Immediately. The girl
said
THANK heaven" 7 exclaimed. brush
Ing by him. Good night, Casey,