The Forrest City times., 1912-11-15
CHAPTER V.-(continued).

CHAPTER V.-(Continued).
 had not looked at 1t in that light, yet I felt that he was right. There could not be a moment of happiness flor the girl I loved until the black shadow that menaced her. home and those she loved had been dispelled. Yes. Davis was right. l would go to lArdway that evening stopped only long enough to telephone Louise of my intention and to go to my rooms for bag.
 If you have revolver you'd better take 1t with you said Davis.
 q never owned one in my life" replied.
 He drew out his own and handed it to me. It was of the hammerless variety, flat and almost square.
 Be careful how you use it." he warned ne. It's d magazine gun and goes of with very light touch
 What do you expect me to find in Ardway?" I asked him as a taxicab Hurried US to the Hudson tunnel.
 There are two things First: find out if Hugh Crandall is there, when he arrived and what he has been do- ing. Probably If he is at the hotel he will be registered under an as- sumed name Second find out who has Lock Box r. There is list of iDox-owners kept in every office, with the names of the two referepces. Find ,out all you can without arousing sus- npicion I'll be out and join you there tomorrow evening. I'll come out on this same train I'll leave it to you to find a plausible pretext for ques- Sioning the postmaster.
 Tedious as the trip to Ardway would ordinarily have been, so absorbed was l in puzzling over the mystery I hard ly noted the passage of time and was startled to hear the brakeman calling my station. l had learned from the conductor that it was village of less shan two thousand inhabitants and that there was only one hotel, about a block from the station. It proved to be a country hotel of the better sort, doing a thriving business in feed ing motor-car folk who passed through and in taking care of trayeling-meE and farmers supply agents who wis tied the neighborhood.
 As I signed the register I scanned the names. hoping to see that of Crandall, but if did not appear. Yet registered the night before was a name Henry Cook" that caught my eye. Something about the writing made it as distiuctively that of a city
 ls- ts.ff fv, guished him from the country boy be hind the desk.
 Where will l find the post-oftice?" asked the clerk. T want to get spe cial delivery letter off tonight"
 Its couple of blocks up Main street" he told me. but you'd better go in and get supper. The dining room closes at half-past seven and the post-office stays open until eight"
 took his advice and. after an ex cellent meal. lighted my cigar and walked in the direction he had indi cated The streets were lighted after a manner by oil lamps al the corners. There was no moon and the villagers for the most part seemed to live i'll the
 
 struggling stores had their windows lighted. so 1t was with difficulty read the signs on the buildings l passed, yet l had little trouble finding the post-office. It was a one-story build Ing that stood on a vacant lot in the middle of the block It evidently had been built by some local politician for the purpose, as 1t was not quartered in the corner of a cigar or grocery store. as r-ost country offices are. reering into the darkness l read the sign "Post-Office." and noted with ] some surprise that the windows were : without lights I drew out my watch and striking a match looked at the time. IL was half-past seven For tack of something better 10 do walked round the building. To my amazement when reached the end away from the street found the rear ioor standing wide open. Thinking perhaps that the postmaster might merely have gone to supper. relying ,n the honesty of his neighbors 10 cave things undisturhcd, loitcred in the vicinity for full half-hour At last. growing impatient. l entered the rear door and striking another match looked about me. As far as the uncer- .ain light permitted me to see, the a1kxv s-S-<->aS A .t- y-.-n--.~. a-c