The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-05-25
MeMAN IN the.e
BROWN DERBY
~
Wells HASTINGS
x0o Author Of GEO
The Professors Mystery
(Oyushtl9Ilby BobOale"iA 20
CHAPTER VII.
(contlnued)

w nut ulu Ht lOOh AAhNs N-'N''
We'll. | don't know rs you'd say
he looked like anything particular.
He was just tall man, with good
clothes. and a nose perhaps a little
longer than the law allows, The only
thing | really did notice about him
was his cap / did like his cap. II
was lust like one | have had my eye
on for the last two weeks. | am go
ing 10 step around and get II this az
ternoon:"
The taste OF the Bucks county clerk
in caps add not seem To me a very
enthralling subject. "Oh. YOU must
nave been mistaken" said; there
is nobody about here that | know.
II must have been some other Ellis
worth that he was looking for"
We'll" drawled The clerk. he ask
ed for Mason Ellsworth as plain as
paint. Wanted 10 know il | had
teard either of you or OF young
lady named Nancy Bond. Said he was
the agent for some photograph or
other. and his firm had asked him TO
look you up" He eyed me Tor mo-
ment shrewdly. II did not take much
stock in that agent business. though.
Mason Ellsworth Nancy Bond"'
Who in the world could be looking for
us? Who In the world in this out
of-the-way place? No one but Nancy 5
uncle could. il seemed 10 me, know
where we were: and yet this was evil
IDENTIFY not Ephraim Bond. ] had come
very bravely upon my errand, put
now | felt vaguely afraid, and my fear
was the greater simply because IT was
vague. OF a sudden, | remembered
the man in the brown derby hat, and
felt that | was five long miles and
over away from Nancy. Thank you,
! said to the clerk and walked out OF
the Office as quietly as | could. It
was agony 10 keep my measured step
through the almost empty streets OF
the quiet, inquisitive little town.
Once out Of II, started running and
ran until could run no more. So |
went along those five miles that had
seemed so short, running when
could. walking when | could run no
more; fear growing In my heart with
every tortured, painting stride. No
vehicle OF any kind passed me, and
| hated the physical disability and
lack OF training that kept me from
running every step of the way. But
at last came In sight Of home.
There IL lay across the rolling
fields, peaceful and secure. Smoke
was curling lazily from the great cen
trial chimney and the gray expanse OF
shingled roof was blotched irregularly
with color, where pigeons summed
themselves in the glow OF the late at
ternoon How foolish | had been
Here. il anywhere in the world, was
security itself. I had tasted of melo-
drama. To be sure but, thank God,
had left ii behind me in the city
where anything may happen; here
vas only peace and quiet and the
poignant happiness of ultimate tran
guilty. | laughed at the thoughts
flat had stirred me and made up my
mind that they should not trouble
Nancy too. was hot and tired and
dusty, and | stopped in the road to
make some Disgusting repairs TO my
DISAGREEMENT. / was busting my shoes
with my handkerchief when there
came a rattle of wheels and shout,
and | had only time to leap 70 the
roadside, when horse and buggy
rounded the abrupt turn of the road
and dashed past me at runaway gal
lop in the direction I had lust come
I turned to look after it; the buggy top
was up and lurching drunkenly 10 III,
mac galloping OF the horse II / had
not heard the shout | should have
thought the runaway was driverless
and then to my amazement | could
see far off the thin flicker of whip
as the buggy disappeared in a cloud
of dust.
After all, ! was tired and nervous:
even this sudden chance awoke my
fears again. vaulted the whitewash
ed rail fence and started running across
The fields, laundering through bits OF
bog, tearing impatiently through
briers. and once or twice almost fall
ing on the deceptive, uneven ground
made the veranda steps in a rush
the front door was open and paused
second gasping in the hall Nan
eye | called, Nancy" and stood
slclly afraid Though my voice
echoed holloway through the house
and | knew. even as ! called. that
was all alone there, that Nancy was
cone. nevertheless, ran up to her