The Washington times., 1912-10-06
CHAPTER XVI.
Colson Unfolds 4 Tale.
URLEIGH'S eyes b

~ URLEIGH'S eyes became posi-
x lively saucer-liks.
IL yFrom George Coison. you say,
sir?" he cried.
Grafton held out the telegram.
There is the signature. Bur:eigh-its
indeed Il ia, SIR" muttered the de-
tective. scanning the yellow slip.
Now what-wnat the devil could
have taken Colson TO Chicago?'
ITS the most remarkable thing! To
have him just drop out like that and
then reappear at Chicago"
Burleish laughed softly. .....
IF you're not getting. used to re-
never will." he observed. what with
the happenings Of the last twenty-four
hours. II would take good deal to sur
And yet. Il we could know Colson,s
might be surprised. Burleigh." /
IT don't doubt that, SIR" 4
Grafton walked to the window ana
regarded the world below with q very
thoughtful frown.
"That wire must be genuine"
we are certainly not justified In re-
garding II as anything else. Mr.. Graf
ton. When a man simply vanishes from
the face Of the earth. and Is then oblig-
Ing enough to send a telegram ANNOUNCE
without a great deal Of question"
"Of course. but-the thing seems so
Internally odd. somehow"
Things have been seeming that way
lately, SIR"
Grafton shrugged his shoulders apd
continued his study for few minutes.
Then he turned sharply.
"You don't believe that 1t Is some kind
Of q game, do your
What kind, SIR"
we'll give that up"
And SO do l."
Then we may dismiss 81 think
such an idea. We should nrst have to
| find q motive, and I'm blest II I can put
| q motive to that wire other than the
fact that Colson has gone to Chicago
for some very good reason. and that for
some other very good reason he wants
~ can Certainly see no other explana-
tom" rejoined Grafton. nodding slowly.
Well: yop'll. 20. then7"
ITO Chicago"
There's no time to wire, and he gives
no address. Yes. sir; I believe that I
should CO."
And you Wouldn't advise my sending
Certainly not, sir. Whatever Colson
has to say. he will probably say to you
alone.
OHIy tHlHB 10 tHat uibhht ithNhb hetS
while things are in SO unsettled q state.
| However-this may mean the settling
Of 1t. "Tll depute you to call at my
house and explain matters to Mrs.
Grafton" he ended. with slight smile.
| Burleigh nodded assent. His employer
glanced at his watch. e.. !
To catch that o'clock train meant
some hurrying. He called Jennison and
without stating tho latest development
told the chief clerk that he should be
| nt,t NJ tnu a favy hnnrQ and thu 4
several minor matters were TO- be ar
ranged thus and so. Then. picking up
his hat and overcoat. he turned back TO
They walked to the depot almost in
silence. Matters had gone. almost be-
yond the point where discussion was
profitable. Why Colson had disappeared.
what he had to say now, how the In
terview would affect the remarkable
situation were matters which could be
settled only at the meeting. and the
sooner the meeting was over the better.
The train from the South rolled in and
Grafton stood by the steps.
| well, good-by, Burleigh."
"Good-by. sir. When shall I expect
you back?'
IT don't know. Tomorrow afternoon
| II all goes well-possibly sooner
Should things straighten out, by any
that leaves Chicago at 3 tomorrow
morning, but I don't know. of course"
And I am to keep on here?"
TO the best Of your ability III leave
whatever seems advisable"
And your address in Chicago?"
| III find have to stop over, I'll wire
you in the morning. Good-by. Bur
leigh"
Tor car and the detective watched him
out of sight with what was meant for
an encouraging smile.
When the train had rolled out and the
detective turned. his solemnly shaking
head and his muttered remark might
hardly have been supposed to hold much
Has he gone to clear 1t up or t,
tangle It more? And is It going to give
| me a black eye as a detective or Is II
going to be the biggest victory everi
Oh, DAMN
Grafton sat back in his chair, as tn,
green country. appeared In the late af
ternoon sunshine, and went once mort
to the bordering OF his trouble. Ant
then, at the end Of ten minutes, h,
scowled and came to most sane con
clusion. Six hours of quick travel wer,
to be long hours II he spent them II
trying to unravel what at present seem
ed very nearly inexplicable. More thar
that, he needed clear head for tn,
coming interview. and this train o
Happily, he espied friend, the presi
dent Of a st. Louis bank, making TO
the smoker. Grafton followed and with
in the quarter hour had lost his troub
les In an intensely interesting game o
whist.
Some few minutes past II the journe!
came to an end the train and Graftoi
had arrived In Chicago.
He stepped from his car and locke,
about eagerly. The lateness of the hou
had kept the platforms fairly clear an,
the failures of the few in sight wer
sign of Colson.
Where wasthe? Why, more particu
larly with the train overdue, did he no
appear? Was he playing some incredi
BILE game on Grafton? Kenyonville'
magnate scowled as the fact Of Colson'
! absence became indisputable. and h