The Detroit times., 1912-06-08
MeMAN>m Ms~
BROWN DERBY
Z,
Wells HASTINGS -
Soo Author Of GEO
The Professors Mystery
(0gushtl9Ilby BobbAle"s "a
CHAPTER XIV.
(ContInued.l

turned, and making my way back
to Fifth-ave., took a bus uptown, de-
ternining on my way that the mo-
ment the door was opened ! would
slip past the servant and enter the
house. With any sort OF luck the door
should be opened by Jonas, and Jonas.
as II seemed TO me, was really devoted
TO Nancy; so that | might question
him exhaustively before he even an
nounced me to Mr. Bond. Just
what method would take with
Mr.. Bond himself left 10 cir
cimstance and our meeting. But
i made up my mind that he
should give me information II he had
any. and, in any case, what immediate
assistance | needed got down from
my bus very truculently and with my
heart beating wildly at the possibility
that my search might need go no fur
ther, that perhaps | was to find Nancy
again in the place that ] first found
her. I had rung the bell for the taird
time in my impatience before | came
down to earth. They had seen me,
thought, and would not answer. Then.
with a weary certainty. | went down
the steps and looked up over tho
house. The sign OF an Electric Pro-
tective company hung In front or the
drawn shade of the lower window, as
indication TO all the world-and more
particularly the underwood-that the
house was closed and empty and
wired against intrusion.
That | might leave no stone un-
turned, rather than through any hope
OF success, looked up the Lexington
ave- stable. only 10 find II locked as
I had expected. II was like beating
against the stone wall. And like a
man suddenly thrown into a dungeon
and finding suddenly that there is no
way of escape, for little while,
think, | went mad. Nancy was some
where, probably not far away. and for
all my strength and for all my love,
could not find her. The fact dinned
itself through my consciousness as
blindly paced the crowded city streets
and walked aforementioned miles.
brought up again, at last. before the
Lexington-ave. stable. Like some one
lost In the woods, had probably walk
ed in a great irregular circle. Now
II was late afternoon, and / was ut
terly tired. ! looked about YEARLY
for a place where / might rest and,
II possible, bring myself to some con-
dition of reason.
Across the street from the stable,
and sandwiched in between a strand
ed dwelling and tobacco shop, was a
little lunch-room dignified by the name
of the Golden Cafe" The place as
entered II was almost empty, and
took a table in a corner by myself
The red-haired, Indifferent boy in
charge brought me black coffee. Two
women were chatting over tea by the
window, and | fingered impatiently
over my coffee, waiting for them to
leave: for | wanted to have the pro
prietor to myself. They were an I'M
considerable time, and | made sure
that other patrons would drop IN: but
no one else came, and at last the wo
men departed, leaving a tip Just large
enough to put the red-haired boy int
bad humor.
do you know" asked him. "who
owns that red-brick stable across the
way?"
What did you say you wanted?'
he replied, passing me and speaking
across the counter behind me.
Il wanted to know" repeated
who owns that stable directly op
poster"
Dunno" said the boy.
He spoke as II he had paid no atten.
ton to my question, so that I turned
around for my next and launched II
squarely. at him. We'll, have you
ever heard of Ephraim Bord?" !
asked.
Nope; want any more coffee?"
II suppose So" | said. and turned
back to my table.
The boy came out from behind his
counter, and shuffled past me; and I
looked UP to see that another GUS
toner had entered. He was a small
white-haired man, whose plea SAINT
face, with its widely-set, attractive
looking eyes, seemed perfectly famil-
lar. When he had given his order he
looked down the room at me, and |
bowed, for l was certain that had
met him somewhere. Indeed he
might have been some old friend OF
my fathers, aged now beyond instant
recognition. but still certain mem
ory He returned my bow nervously,
and bent over his food; but once or
twice, as | slipped my second cup of
coffee, | found his mild eyes studying
me. I had forgotten about him, how
ever. and the idle wonder of who he
was. when he abruptly slid into the
chair opposite me.