The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1913-01-04
CHAPTER v.-(continued)

CHAPTER v.-(continued).
had not looked at it in that light,
vet | felt that he was right. There
could not be a moment of happiness
for 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.
'Tf you have a revolver you'd better
take 1t with YOU" said Davis.
Il never owned one in my life." l
replied.
He drew out his own and handed
1t to me. 1t was of the hammerless
variety, fat and almost square.
BE careful how you use it." he
warned me. ITS a magazine gun and
goes off with very light touch"
what do you expect me to find in
.Ardwayr' l asked him as taxicab
hurried Us to the Hudson tunnel.
There are two things. First: find
out IL 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 H. There is list OF
box-owners kept in every office, with
the names of the two references. Find
out all you can without arousing sus-
picion. I'll be out and join you there
fo-morrow evening. I'll come out on
this same train. I'll leave it to you
to find a plausible pretext for ques-
tioning the postmaster"
Tedious as the trip to Ardway would
ordinarily have been. go absorbed was
i In puzzling over the mystery hard
1y noted the passage OF time and was
startled to hear the brakeman calling
my station. I had learned from the
conductor that 1t was village oh less
than two thousand inhabitants and
that there was only one hotel, about
a block from the station. 1t 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 traveling-men
and farmers supply agents who Wis
tied the neighborhood.
AS l signed the register ] scanned
the names. hoping to see that OF
Crandall, but 1t did not appear. Yet
registered the night before was o
name Henry Cook" that caught my
eve. Something about the writing
made it as distinctively that of a, city
man as his clothes would have -distin
gl1ished him from the country boy be
hind the desk.
Where will find the post-office?"
asked the clerk Il 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 halfpast seven and the
post-ofice stays open until eight
/ took his advice and. after an ex
cellent meal, lighted my cigar and
walked in the direction he had indi
Gated. The streets were lighted after
. manner by oil lamps at the corners
There was no moon and the villagers
for the most part seemed to live in the
rear part of their homes. Few of the
struggling stores had their windows
lighted, SO It was with difficulty read
the signs on the buildings | passed
yet had little trouble finding the
post-office. 1t was one-story build
ing that stood on vacant lot in the
middle of the block. II evidently had
been built by soine local politician fol
the purpose, as 1t was not quarteret
In the corner of cigar or grocer,
store, as Tost country offices are
reering into the darkness I read the
sign post Office and noted with
some surprise that the windows were
without lights. ! drew out my watch
and striking a match looked at the
time. 1t was half-past seven. Fol
lack Of something better TO do
walked round the building. To MI
amazement when ! reached the emf
away from the street found the real
1oor standing wide open. Thinking
perhaps that the postmaster nigh
merely have gone TO supper. relyln.
On the honesty Of his neighbors &
cave things undisturbcd. loitsrcd il
he vicinity for full half-hour. A
4ast. growing impatient. ] entered thu
fear door and striking another mattel
cooked about me. As far as the uncer
iain light permitted me to see. tn
11acs looked as Il the postmaster hal