The Columbus journal., 1910-10-12
CHAPTER Xv.-Continucd.

As We turned the corner ! glanced
back Half a blocl. behind US john
son was mO"ing our way slowly
When he saw ne he stopped and pro
cceded with great deliberation to light
a cigar. by hurrying. however. he
caught the car that we took, and stood
unnbtruSiveIy on the rear platform.
He looked tagged and absent minded
~ paid Cur fares, TO Meningitis de-
light
We will give him run for his
money" he declared, as the car moved
countryward Conductor, let lis of
at the muddicst lane you can find
At one O'Clock. after a siX-milc ram
bic, we entered a small country hotel.
We had seen nothing of Johnson for a
half hour At that time he was a
quarter of n mile behind us and losing
rapidly. Before We had finished our
luncheon he staggered into the inn.
One OF his boots WAS under his arm.
and his whole appearance was deplor-
able. He was coated with mud. streak
cd with rerSpiratiOn. and he limpcd
as he walked. He chose a table not
far from US and ordered Scotch. Be
yond touching his hat he paid no at
tention 10 us
I'm just getting my second wind.
Mcknight declared How 10 you feel.
Mr.. Johnson? Six or eight miles more
and we'll all enjoy our dinners" John
son put down the glass he had raised
TO his lips without replying.
The fact MAS, however. that I was
like johnson. | was soft from my
weeks inaction. and | WAS pretty well
''One UP. Mcknight. who was a we'll
spring of vitality and nigh spirits. or
dered a strange connection. made OF
nearly everything in the bar. and sent
it over to the detective. but Johnson
refused il.
Il hate that kind of person." Nc
Knight said pettiShly. Kind OF a fell
low that thinks you're going to poison
his deg if you offer him a bone"
When we got 10 the car line, with
Johnson a dragged and dropping tail
10 the kite. WAS i'm better spirits. I
three hours just after the wreck: |
had not named the girl, Of course: she
had my promise of secrecy. But told
him everything else. II was a relief
to have a fresh mind on ii: had puZ-
lied so much over the incident at the
farm house. and the necklace in the
gold bag, that | had lost perspective.
He had been interested. but inclined
20 be amused, until | came TO the
broken chain. Then he had whistled
softly
'Rut there are tons of fine gold
chains made every year." he said
Why in the world do you think that
the-er-smeary piece came from
that neCklace?"
had locked around. Johnson was
far behind. scrapins the mud of his
feet with 4 piece OF stick.
Il have the short end of the chain
I'm the scalSkin bag" | reminded him
When l couldn't sleep this morning
thought | would settle it, one way or
the other. II was hell to go along the
way l had beer doing. And-:here's
no doubt about il. Rich. Its the same
chain
We walked along in silence until
we caught the car back to town.
Well" he said finally. you know
the girl. OF course. and | don't But
If you like her-and | think myself
you're rather hard hit. old mani
wouldn't give whoop about the chain
il the gold purse. Its just one of the
little condolences that hang people
now and then. And as for last night
if she's the kind of 4 girl you say
she is. and you think she had any
thing to do with that. you-youre
added. that's all. You can depend
on it. the lady of the empty house last
week is the lady of last night And
yet your train acquaintance was in
Altoona al thct time"
Just before We got OF the car. I re-
verted TO the subject again. 1t was
never far back in my mind.
About the-young lady of the train
Rich" said. with what l suppose was
elaborate carelesSness, Il don't want
you 10 SCI "ioBS iIupleSSiou- l am
rather unlikely to see her again, but
even If I do, II believe she is al
ready bespoke or next thing to it"
He made no reply, but as | opened
the door with my latch-key he
stood looking up at me from the pave
ment with his QuizZical smile.
Love is like the measles" he orat-
ed The older you get it, the worse
the attack"
Johnson did not appear again that
day. A small man in q raincoat took
his place. The next morning l made
my initial trip to the Office, the rain
coat still on hand. l had a short con-
ference with Miller, the district at
torney. at IL. bronson was under sur
VIGILANCE, he said. and any attempt to
sell the notes to him would probably
result In their recovery. In the mean
time. as ! knew. the Commonwealth