The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-07-27
CHAPTER X
Continued.

said, and carried his overcoat on MS
arm. He came in from n stree'
and looked all around. ! think ne
saw and recognized you, Mr.. Leigh,
for he went out in a great hurry. NO,
I am not mistaken. 1t was Mr.. Starr.
and he had a white carnation in his
buttonhole.'
This white carnation was IS much
a part of STAIRS evening toilet as the
Goa itself, and was to me a convinc-
ing proof of his identity. | again
sought the des.; and questioned the
clerk. That young man had appar-
emily begun to look suspiciously upon
me, for his w were brief and
rather snappy. No, there was no one
stopping in the house by the name OF
Starr. No, of course he had not no.
ticed the gentleman come in. Many
people came and went, and it was
not his business to spy upon them
Boston was quite a city, and there
were a number of people in it he had
not the pleasure of knowing, also
some he did not care to know. l reg
istered a mental resolve to complain
to the management of the Fremont
House about the manners of the
clerk, and was ready to admit myself
bafied again, when I noticed Julie
Schuyler close behind me, apparently
engaged in selecting a picture post
card from some displayed for sale.
Don't look" she whispered;
don't even turn your head. He's
still there-just outside. And he's
watching you through the crack of
the door whenever it opens"
Are you sure?"
Quite sure. Oh, Mr.. Leigh, don't
let him get away. Remember Aunt
Harriet. / don't believe he murdered
her, but where is she? Remember
Mr.. Casey, in prison for something
he didn't do at all. Why don't
you have Mr., Starr arrested and force
him to explain? You can do it, for
Of course he is being looked for in
every city"
I would not with my own hand
set in motion machinery to capture
and perhaps crush my friend, and l
said so. Then the girl with red hair
and corresponding temperament
showed me that she knew she had
the whip-hand and meant to keep it.
Don't forget" she said very
pointedly, that your own liberty is
entirely in my hands. l should hate
to interfere with your honeymoon, of
course, but there are times when one
must do ones duty, however unpleas-
ant it may be. I have never felt ex-
actly comfortable about MI. Casey
anyhow. l am quite sure he is per-
fectly innocent, but I cannot help
having doubts about you, and who
knows when my conscience may get
the better of my naturally kind
heart Now will you notify the po-
lice about Mr.. Starr"
At that moment l disliked Julie
Schuyler intensely. She had inter-
fered with my every plan since she
first cast herself into my arms in the
cab and buried her head on my shout
der, and l vindictiveIy hoped Fer
guesson might get off entirely free,
and that the lady was young and
pretty.
"Wel1?" said Miss Schuyler.
! glanced over my shoulder toward
Nancy. She was looking at me with
the light in her eyes that was SO
dear to me, and l could not bring
myself to darken it.
"Oh, very we'll" I answered; "as
you will. ! should like nothing bet
ter than to find Starr and get to the
bottom of this muddle."
1 got my hat and coat, then turned
defiantly to the girl.
VIII you come with me?" I in
quired.
Julie Schuyler hesitated. She was
plainly divided in her mind between
suspicion of me, and fear Of missing
the return of Randy and his friend.
In the end love, or perhaps jealousy,
triumphed.
Il will wait here" she said, Nth
Nancy"
The latter clause showed me that
Nancy was to be retained as a hostage
to insure my safe return, and I felt
a grudging admiration for her gen.
eralship.
Once safely outside the hotel, |
paused to consider. Not for a mo-
ment did l intend to inform about
Starr, yet | was quite as anxious as
anyone to discover his whereabouts.
A motor stood at the curb, and in
side / caught a glimpse of a large
hat with a white feather. A man
stood with his back toward me, talk
ing to the chauffeur, his hand upon
the door of the machine. As he
turned his profile toward me !
started, incredulous, fol- it was Starr
himself.
l shouted his mama and hurried
forward, but with n hasty glance in
my direction he sprang into the
motor and it glided swiftly away.
l looked about for means of pur-
suit, and discovered a taxicab about
to depart, having deposited fresh ar
rivals.
Follow the motor l called, and
jumped inside.
1t was an exciting chase that IN
sued, lodging street-cars and swing
ing round corners, but always keep