The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-08-13
Half a
+.
Chance
By FREDERIC S. ISHAM.
Author Of 1.-The Strollers,'' ''Un.
der the Rose" THE Lady
Of the Mount" Etc.
Copyrights. 1909. by the Bohbs-
Copyrights. 1909. by the Bohbs-
Merrill Company.
CHAPTER XIV.

city, while favorable to John
Steele in some respects, les
sening for the time his own
danger, made more difficult the task
to which he now set himself He
dared not too closely approach the t1g
ure before him lest he should be seen
and his purpose OWNED. Once or
twice Dandy Joe looked around, more
perhaps from habit than any suspi-
cion that he was followed.
At a crossing, where opposing cur
rents had met and become congested,
utter confusion reigned. From the
masses Of vehicles Of all kinds, con-
stituting seemingly inextricable
blockade, arose the din Of hoarse
voices.
Joe essayed to cross. By dint of
lodging and darling between restless
horses he reached the other side. A
sudden closing in Of cabs and carts
midway between curbs held John
Steele back. He caught quickly at
the Birdie of the nearest horse and
forced it aside. An expOstulating
shout, a half scream from somewhere.
greeted the action. A whip snapped.
stung his cheek.
Turn back Get out Of this some
how, cabby!' He heard familiar
tones, saw the speaker, Sir Charles,
and, by his side-yes. through the cur
tain Of fog. so near he could almost
reach out and touch her, he saw as
in a fash Jocelyn Wray!
She, too, saw him, the man in the
street, his pale face lighted up ghost
like from the mist. A cry fell from
her lips, was lost amid other sounds.
An instant eyes looked into eyes, hers
dilated, his unnaturally bright, burn
ing! Something struck him-a wheel.
He half fell, recovered himself, man.
aged to reach the curb.
Dandy Joe had disappeared. The
hope Of attaining his end through
him, of being led to the retreat of
one he had so long desired to find.
had proved Elusive.
John Steele did not go far In mere
aimless fashion. Leaning against a
wall, he strove once more to plan, but
ever as he did so through his thought
the girls fair face, looking out from
enshrouding lace. intruded.
he forgot his purpose, when a fig
ure coming out Of a public house
through one of the doors near which
he had halted caught his attention.
Dandy Joe, a prodigal. with unexpect-
ed riches, wiped his lips as he saunter-
ed past John Steele and continued his
way, lurching little.
For time they two seemed the only
pedestrians that had ventured forth
that night in locality so uninviting.
Through the gulchlike passage swept
cold draft Of air. 1t made little
riffs in the fog and showed an en-
trance-a dim light. At the same time
the sound Of the footsteps in front
abruptly ceased.
For a few minutes Steele waited.
He looked toward the place Dandy Joe
had entered. 1t was well known to
him and, what seemed more important,
to Mr.. Gillett. The latter would re-
member it in connection with the
Frisco Pet and presumably turn to it
as likely spot to search for him who
had been forced to leave Captain For
sythe's home. That contingency-nay.
prOba bility-had to be considered. The
one person he most needed to find had
taken refuge in one of the places he
would have preferred mot to enter.
But no time must be lost hesitating
He had to choose. Dismissing all
thought of danger from without, think
ing only of what lay before him
within, he moved quickly forward and
tried the door. He entered, felt his
way in the darkness through winding
passages downward, avoiding bad
step-did he remember even that?
How paltry details stood out! The
earthen floor still drowned the sound
of footsteps. The narrow hall took
the same turns.
A slant Of light like sword, from
the crack Of door, cleaned on the
dark floor before him. He stepped
toward it. The low sound Of mems
tones could be heard-Joe's; a strange
voice, no, a familiar one, that caused
the listeners every fiber to vibrate.
"And what did you say when he
pumped you for the coteY"
"That you would rather call on him.
"And then he cared nought for the
Job? You're sure"-anxiously-"h
wasn't playing to find outT'
The other answered loosely and
walked away. A door closed behind
him. For a time the stiffness remain
ed unbroken. Then a low rattle, az
Of dice on a table. caused John Steele
to glance through a crevice. What
he saw seemed to decide him to act
quickly. He lifted a latch and step.
ped in. AS he did so huge man with
red hair sprang to his feet. From one
great hand the dice fell to the floor.
His shaggy jowl dropped. Casting
over his shoulder the swift glance of
an entrapped animal, he seemed about
to leap backward to escape by a rear
entrance when the voice Of the in
truder arrested his purpose, momen-
tarily held him. ~<
ooh Pm alone! There are no police