Charlevoix county herald., 1913-01-25
CHAPTER III.-continued.


On the instant his brain became ac-
tive again. 1t did not take long. as
matter of fact, TO find the car; though
when he stumbled on il. turned about
and neatly slowed away close beside
the partitioning wall he gave a start
II was such a tangible evidence or
what had threatened to grow vague
and unreal on his hands. He squeezed
himself into the narrow space between
1t and the wall. finally thrusting his
head under the curtains OF the ton
neau.
Ii was high and dry, empty as last
years cockleshell. Not a sign Of life.
not loose object OF any kind except
a filmy thing which Hambleton found
himself observing thoughtfully. At
last he picked IL up-a long. mist-like
veil. He spread II out, held IL gin
gerly between q thumb and finger Of
each hand, and continued TO look at
IT abstractedly. Part OF 1t was clean
and whole, dainty as only bit OF
woman's finery can be; but one end
OF il was torn and twisted and
stretched out OF all semblance to it.
self. Moreover, it was dirty. as If 1t
had been ground under muddy heel
1t was, in it's way, shrieking evil
dence of violence, OF unrighteous
struggle. Hambleton folded the scarf
carefully, with its edges together. and
put it in his pocket.
Jimmy's actions from this time on
had an incentive and spirit that had
before been lacking. He noted again
the number Of the car, and returned
to the edge of the dock to observe the
yacht. She had steamed up river a
little way for some reason known only
TO herself, and was now turning very
slowly She was but family lighted and
would pass for some pleasure craft just
coming home. But Jim knew better. He
could, at last. put two and two togeth
er. He would follow the Face-in-
deed, he could not help following 1t.
In him had begun that divine expert
ence Of youth-of youth essentially,
whether it come in early years or late
of being carried off his feet by
spirit not himself. He ran like
young athlete down the dock to the
nearest workman, evolving schemes
as he went.
The dock-hand alphabetically trun-
died a small key from one pile OF
freight to another. wiped his hands
on his trousers. took a dry pipe out
OF his pocket. and looked vacantly up
the river before he replied to Handle
toms question.
Queer name-Jene Dark they call
her"
1t was like pulling teeth 10 get in
ormation out OF him. but Jim applied
the forceps.
The yacht had been lying out In the
river for two weeks or more, possibly
less; belonged to foreign parts; no
one whereabouts know who its owner
Was; nor It's captain; nor its purpose
In the harbor OF New York. At last,
quite gratuitously. the man volun-
teered personal opinion. slippery
boat in a gale wouldn't trust her"
Hambieton walked smartly back, |
taking q look both at the yacht and |
the motor-car as he went. The yachts |
nose pointed toward the Jersey shore:
the car was creeping out OF the dock. |
As he overlook the machine. he saw |
that it was in the hands OF mechanic |
in overalls and jumper. In answer
to Hsmbletons question as to the |
owner OF the car, the mechanic told |
him pleasantly to go to the devil, and |
for once the sight OF a coin failed TO
produce any perceptible effect. But
the major-general. waiting half a
block away. was still In the humor OF
giving fatherly advice. He welcomed
Jim heartily.
That's hole amt got no use
for. 'Ow'd you make out?"
Well enough, for all present pur.
poses. Can you undertake to do a Job
for me?"
III 1t amt nothing I'd have to ar.
rest you for. might consider it." he
chuckled.
II want you to go TO the Laramie
Club and tell Aleck Van Camp-got
the name?-that Hambleton has gone
of on the Jeanne dare and may not
be back for some time; and ne is to
look after the Sea Gull"
Hold on, young man; you're not
going TO do anything out of reason, as
one might say"
oh. no. rot at all; most reasonable