Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1914-12-18
1914 by Louis Joseph v.nes

at Providence with the Midnight Ex-
press for New York pulled out of New
bedford bearing transformed Barcus.
Not until sound nights sleep had
topped on the beginning of his rest in
jail did Barcus come down to earth.
He demonstrated his return to COM
mon sense by making a round break
fast In Grand Central station before
looking up the residence of Digby in
the telephone directory.
Inc information he gathered from
the voice that answered the name of
MI. Digby over the telephone shook
only momentarily Barcus' innate con-
viction that intimate acquaintance
with battle. murder and sudden death
was the inevitable reward of associa-
tlon with this friend Of his heart.
Alan being married to Rose Urine
In Jersey City at this very minute!"
ne breathed specifically as he emerged
from the booth memorizing the ad-
dress of the alleged officiating clergy
man. Il don't believe it; it's too sud-
den."
soFsSsash &c engaged a taxicab to
convey him to Jersey City, at top
speed, for an exorbitant reward,
And when, from the forward deck of
ferryboat, he beheld a dense volume
OF smoke advertising conflagration
on the Jersey shore, not far from the
waterfront, he shook a moodilv ga.
gacious head.
III Alan isn't mixed up in that,
somehow" he declared, "he's missing
a bet for once-and I'm sorry failure
as prophet of woe and disaster!"
There was as much intuitive appre-
hension as humor responsible for this
remark; witness the fact that, on land
ing, he risked the delay required to
turn aside and have look at the fire.
1t proved to be situated in the heart
OF squalid slum-a wretched tene-
ment of the poorest class. whose roof
had already fallen in and whose walls
were momentarily threatening to 20
oy the time Barcus arrived on the
scene.
AT a considerable distance from him
small disturbance had broken out
clamor of protesting voices lifting
about the rumor Of the mob-as a
number Of men, case-hardened roughs
one and all, began to force their way
In V-shaped wedge through the
throng, making toward its feT:y henri.
the point on the fire-lines nearest the
burning building. ' vi. &; ;.';3ssss
What this meant, MIR. Pa1cuB had
not the slightest idea. Bit His atten.
ton was first distracted by the maneu.
yer, then fixed by the fates Of q man
who was following in tke 3lovs Of
the Van evil white face .that seemed
somewhat vaguely familiar, soKaehow
reminiscent of something strange that
had happened in the history of Mr..
| Barcus.
At the same time, at the point where
the v had paused, a wild uproar lifted
up and, coincidentally, a wilder confu-
sion became noticeable. A cry was
"Firebug! Lynch him! Lynch
him! Lynch the firebug!"-and at
this the mob turned as one man and
streamed away in pursuit of an in
visible quarry, who chose to attempt
his escape by route directly oppo-
site to that which would have led him
within view of Mr.. Barcus.
Startled, and of sudden persuaded
that there might have been more in
his bunch" than was sanely to be
credited. Barcus started up and was
on the point Of stepping ont of his
cab. II with rather aimless purpose.
when he was stayed by sight of that
evil white face returning the way It
had come-still in the hollow of the
flying v, which now made faster proe.
ress, thanks to the disorganization of
the. mob by the chase of the alleged in.
cendiary.
And now. Barcus saw, the man Of
the white face was not alone. There
was someone with him-someone
whose head was bent and face con.
cealed, but who seemed to be femi.
nine.
And SO, Barcus argued, why might
1t not be Rose Urine, suffering new
persecution at the hands of her unnat-
ural fathers creatures?
He was too far away to make sure
and attempt any interfsrence; but he
pointed White Face out to his chauf.
feur as the v reached q touring car
on the edge Of the mob and the woman
was lifted in (unresisting and appar.
emily In dead faint, and when the
touring car swung round and picked
up its heels, the taxicab of Mr.. Barcua
trailed 1t as unostentatiously a. II IL
was q pertinacious shadow.
Ten minutes later. from the rear
deck Of ferryboat in midstream-a
boat bearing back to New York NOT
only the touring car Of White Face.
but the cab Of Mr.. Barcus-the latter
gentleman formed one of a small hnt