The Arvada enterprise., 1913-12-18

as Your wife. under the name o
Fowler. at n country hotel up in New
York state. That's all, Hardly woru
mentioning, hey?"
AS he had talked. Blake had le
his gaze wander over the ceiling, tn,
walls-anywhere except at Matthew
Standish, Yet he had missed not on,
detail of the younger mans expires
sion. There was nothing, however. t.
be read in that expression. Standish's
heavy face was mask-like. blank. saw,
for faint tinge OF polite bewilder
ment.
But Blake was far too wise reader
OF men to so by the sign in face. II,
let his mildly wandering glance shift
as II by accident, to Standlsh's hands
They wore tightclenched SO tight
that the knuckles showed white from
the convulsive pressure.
Another campaign yarn" smiled
Standish, and his voice was as mex
pressive as his face. Isn't 1t rather
old-fashioned to spring lies of thai
sort? The public doesn't stand fol
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 II does. Daz
Zles me-"
And now" pursued Standish
turning to go.
And now" echoed Blake, "we'v,
got you with the goods. Don't blum
man. No bluff ever won n penny after
the cards were laid face upward. Anc
they're face upward now. You know
what | mean. And you know wev,
got you dead to rights. Five year,
ago you spent week with woman a
a hotel whose proprietor can and vii
identify you. Any expert can sweaI
that the registered name, Fowler II
in your handwriting. II was in March
Congress was still in session Blu
you gave out word that you'd gone tc
the mountains to rest. We've got tn,
dates. We've got ever fact proved
Man, can't you see I'm trying to hell
you? Give me n chance to-"
Standish. his face still mask. wa'
staring at the floor. At last he RAISED
his eyes-the dark tired eyes in whos'
depths Self and Love and Happiness
had so long ago burned out. And turn
ing to Blake. he said evenly:
80 you have dug all that up, have
you? | might have expected it. II
fact have expected It, But 1t hasn'
worried me. Because you cant harm
me with such story"
Mo-" asked Blake, with real inter
est. why not?"
you know perfectly well why not,
answered Standish, the story won
amount to the paper you would prin
it on unless you can supply the nam
of the Woman. And you can't d.
! that"
What makes you think we can
supply the Woman's name?" demand
ed Blake What makes you thin
we haven't found her?"
BECAUSE" began Standish; then h
checked himself and said somewho
| lamely, "because-I have good ret
sons for knowing you haven't"
HIM Still keep as close in touc
with her as all that? Marks detective
must be foolish-house graduates. Wei
III admit we haven't found her-ye
But we will before midnight. You lei
some pretty easy clues and they're b.
ing followed That's the trouble wit
n man who has something to hid,
He'll lock and double-bar nine door
to discovery: and leave the tenth wild
open with Welcome sign over |
And that's just what you did. VIII.
SON." he went on. noting Standish
halfsmile Of incredulity. "if ! WASH
dead sure OF getting her. would b
such fool as to tell you all this? An
whatever else Jim Blake's been calle'
no ones vet tied fool to his name.
tell you once more. well have he
name by midnight at the very lates
| OF course she doesn't know we'r
tracking her" he continued. chucklin
as at his own shrewdness. I've see
to 1t that she hasn't the slightest su
picion. And that makes our work n
the easier. She doesn't know An
there's no one to warn her. IT'S
cinchl"
His voice trailed of into n selt.sati
fed laugh. Nor was the laugh who'll
assumed For he saw Standish
hands slowly clench again. And fe
beads OF sweat were beginning I
show themselves upon the insurgent
forehead.
CTO BE CoNTINUEDD
exo ~ % Jy1Hj~M~