The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-15
CHAPTER XII.


He moved along TO attend to other
customers, leaving me staring excit-
edly about the room. momont
later. he came back again, swabbing
the despatched bar with towel. As
he passed me without look, he
turned his thumb over and motioned.
as IL the gesture were part OF his
work, toward the corner by, the door.
There sat the two little men at a
table, still absorbed In discussion.
MY throat became suddenly dry.
had started out hunting with the
hounds TO find myself running with
the hare; and the notion OF being
shadoWed by unknown Italians was
more melodramatic than agreeable.
With confused memory OF all the
detective stories / had ever read
seething In my mind lounged toward
the door, gained the street. and start
ed of on a run. l turned the hrst cor
ner. ran half way down the block.
then walked quietly back. The two
men were nowhere to be seen. AS
stood on the corner, one OF them, the
thinner one, came slowly out OF the
saloon, pausing TO light cigarette,
and strolled casually away from me
up the street. IL seemed Impossible
that he had any interest in me, but
would be sure. followed carefully
after him for half a dozen blocks.
He neither looked around nor altered
his pace In the least: and where we
crossed the car tracks. | stood and
watched him go steadily on out OF
sight. Then l jumped on passing
car, congratulating myself on having
carried out my instructions, even
though they had been rather unneces-
sary. And on the outskirts OF the
town. | stepped on to wait for my
own car. Just as IL turned the cor.
ner, some one touched me on the
arm.
Pardon: have you a match?"
l swallowed my heart down again
with a gulp. The fat Italian scratched
the match on his shoe, and breathed u
soft cloud OF smoke.
Thank you, sare. Now tell me-"
he took me confidentially by the ell.
bow, wat Is IL you want with An
tonic Carucci?"
My car was passing. II never
heard Of him." said. as blankly as l
could. You've got the wrong man."
Excuse me, sare. No mistake at
ALL" He smiled deprecatingly.
The car was almost beyond reach.
"All right" said. Come in here,
and II you can show any right to ask,
I'll tell you" Then, as we turned
together toward the hotel behind us.
flung him on his face with a sudden
wrench, and sprinted after the car. AS
/ chung gasping on the back platform,
heard a shout, and saw him follow
ing at waddling run, waving his arm
angrily. The car stopped: and for
sickening instant. thought that my
last device had been In vain. But at
that moment a couple OF men ran
from the sidewalk behind my pur-
suer and caught him by the coat. The
three stood In the middle OF the
street, wrangling and gesticulating;
and the conductor, with disguised
jerk OF the bell, started the car again
Later in the evening. Maclean called
me up on the telephone.
Say, you made pretty good get
away for an amateur. Did you see
US stop your fat friend?"
What? Was that your"
Sure was It: me and the other
one. Now listen. Hello! Can you
hear Those two parties are plain
clothes men after the other party.
That's what they let him out for, to
watch him, you see? I'm with 'em
now. You people better just lie as
low as you can. and do nothin at all.
II you want to keep out Of II. And II
l get wise to anythln' I'll call you up.
Good-by."
And his receiver went up with
cluck.