The Glenwood post., 1911-01-07
CHAPTER xV.-Contlnued.

AS we turned the corner | glanced
back. Half a block behind US John
son was moving our way slowly.
When he saw me he stopped and pro-
ceeded with great deliberation to light
a cigar. By hurrying, however, he
caught the car that we took, and stood
unobtrusively on the rear platform.
He looked tagged, and absent-minded-
ly paid our fares, to Meningitis de-
light
I'VE will give him run for his
money" he declared, as the car moved
countryward. Conductor, let us of
at the muddiest lane you can find"
At one O'Clock, after six-mile ram
BILE, we entered small country hotel.
We had seen nothing of Johnson for a
half hour. At that time he was a
quarter of 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
ed with perspiration, and he limped
RS he walked. He chose a table not
far from us and ordered Scotch. Be-
yond touching his hat he paid no at
tention to US.
I'm just getting my second wind" !"
Mcknight declared. How do 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 was, however, that l was
like Johnson. | was soft from my
weeks inaction, and | was pretty well
zone up. Mcknight, who was we'll
spring Of vitality and high spirits, or
dered strange concoction, made of
nearly everything in the bar, and sent
1t over to the detective, but johnson
refused It,
81 hate that kind of person." Nc.
Knight said pettishly. Kind of a fel.
low that thinks you're going to poison
his dog If you offer him bone"
When we got to the car line. with
Johnson a draggled and dropping tail
to the kite, l was In better spirits.
had told Mcknight the story of the
three hours just after the wreck;
had not named the girl, of course; she
had my promise of secrecy. But | told
him everything else. 1t was a reliei
to have a fresh mind on it: l had puz
zled 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
to be amused, until | came to the
broken chain. Then he had whistled
softly.
But 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 looked around. johnson was
far behind scraping the mud off his
feet with piece of stick.
II have the short end of the chair
in the sealskin bag" ! reminded him
When couldn't sleep this morning
thought would settle 1t, one way oil
the other. 1t was hell to go along the
way had been doing. And-there's
no doubt about 1t. Rich It's the same
chain"
We walked along in silence unit
re caught the car back to town.
Well" he said finally. you know
the girl, of course, and | don't Bu
If you like her-abd | think myself
you're rather hard hit, old man
wouldn't give whoop about the chair
in the gold purse, It's Just one of the
little condolences that hang people
now and then And as for last nigh
If she's the kind of a girl you sa,
she Is, and you think she had any
thing to do with that, you-you'rt
added, that's all. You can depend
on 1t, the lady of the empty house las
week is the lady of last night. Ant
yet your train acquaintance was IL
Altoona at thst time"
Just before we got off the car, l re
verted to the subject again. 1t wa
never far back in my mind
About the-young lady of the train
Rich" said, with what I suppose wa
elaborate carelessness, II don't wan
you to get wrong impression. I an
rather unlikely to see her again. bu
even II do, IL believe she is a
ready bespoke or next thing to It.
He made no reply. but as 1 opene
the door with my latch-key b
stood looking up at me from the pave
nent with his quiz8ical smile.
Love is like the measles" he ora