The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1913-12-25

al ,oar wife. under the name OF
Fowler. at a country hotel up in Nev
York state. That's all Hardly worth
mentioning, hey!"
As he had talked, Blake had let
his gaze wander over the ceiling, the
wslls-anywhere except at Matthew
Standish. Yet he had missed not one
detail Of the younger mans express.
sion There was nothing. however, to
be read in that expression. Standish's
heavy face was masklike. blank, save
for faint tinge of polite bewilder
ment.
But Blake was far too wise a reader
OF men TO so by the sign in face He
let his mildly wandering glance shift,
as II by accident, to Standish's hands
They were tight-clenched So tight
that the knuckles showed white from
the convulsive pressure.
Another campaign yarn" smiled
Standish. and his voice was as inex
pressive as his face. Isn't 1t rather
old-fashioned to spring lies Of that
them nowadays. Proofs are needed
Really" drawled Blake Why
Standish. sometimes your knowledge
OF up-tO-date conditions simply daz
zles me. That's what 1t does. Daz
| zles me"
And now" pursued Standish
turning to 60.
| And now" echoed Blake. we've
got you with the goods. Don't blum.
man. No bluh ever won a penny after
the cards were laid face upward. And
they're face upward now You know
what ! mean. And you know we've
got you dead to rights Five years
ago you spent a week with a woman at
hotel whose proprietor can and will
identify you. Any expert can swear
that the registered name. Fowler. is
In your handwriting. II was In March.
Congress was still in session. But
you gave out word that you'd gone to
the mountains to rest. We've got the
dates. We've got ever fact proved.
Man. can't you see I'm trying to help
you? Give me chance to-"
SthuulbH, HIS lhCe Sllll d HlAbk, WAb
staring at the floor. At last he raised
his eyes-the dark tired eyes in whose
depths Self and Love and Happiness
had SO long ago burned out. And turn
ing to Blake. he said evenly:
so you have dug all that up, have
you? | might have expected 1t. In
fact have expected 1t. But it hasn't
| ~
me with such a story"
Mo-" asked Blake. with real inter.
est. why not?"
You know perfectly we'll why not"
answered Standish. the story won't
amount to the paper you would print
1t on unless you can supply the name
OF the Woman. And you can't do
that"
What makes you think we cant
supply the Woman's name?" demand
ed Blake What makes you think
we haven't found herr"
Because" began standish; then he
checked himself and said somewhat
lamely. because have good rea-
sons for knowing you haven't"
Him! Still keep as close In touch
with her as all that? Marks detectives
must be foolishhouse graduates. Well.
III admit we haven't found her-yet.
But we will before midnight You left
some pretty easy clues and they're be-
ing followed. That's the trouble with
man who has something to hide.
He'll lock and double-bar nine doors
to discovery; and leave the tenth wide
open with Welcome sign over it.
And that's just what you did. Why,
SON." he went on, noting Standish's 5
half-smile of incredulity. If | wasn't
dead sure OF getting her. would be
such a fool as to tell you all this? And
whatever else Jim Blakes been called.
no ones yet tied fool to his name. |
tell you once more, we'll have her
name by midnight at the very latest
| or course she doesn't know we're
tracking her" he continued, chuckling
as at his own shrewdness I've seen
to it that she hasn't the slightest sus-
picion. And that makes our work all
the easier. She doesn't know. And
there's no one to warn her. It's \
| cinch!'
His voice trailed of into a self-satis-
fled laugh. Nor was the laugh wholly
assumed For he saw Standish's
hands slowly clench again. And few
beads of sweat were beginning to
show themselves upon the insurgents
| forehead.
tTO BE CONTINUEDD