The daily Alaskan., 1915-05-21
Hunted Down
 By M. QUAD Copyright. 1915, by the Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
By M. QUAD

I was putting in a month in q Swiss town, and as l was strolling along the highway in the suburbs one day Ye- hicle containing a single traveller ap- l peared.
 The driver pulled up that the traveller might ask if he could find accommoda- tIon at some chalet instead of the hotel, as he was not in good health and want ed ouietness. l was lodging at a pri- vate house, and there was room for an- other guest The stranger was driven on, and sat down on rock to sum him up. Having come from the west ill a country vehicle, he must have come from beyond the railroad station. The | horse looked weary. and the hour was 4 In the afternoon. and settled 1t that hs must have come from Thalla, fifteen miles away. The man wore a hat that did not at him and had the collar Of his coat turned up. He had goggles, though 1t was a dark day. A person who wears goggles for weak eyes will carry a finger to one of the glasses every two or three minutes. even if he does not move them occasionally. On this mans face was q newly grown beard about an inch long. Every thirty seconds up went his hand to scratch. He WAS not used to a beard, but had grown 1t for an object. He thickened bis voice when he spoke to me, and It was easy to detect the unnatural in tonation. Why did he do it? Travellers searching for health are seldom to be met with in the mountain except in early summer, and this was late in the season. He might explain. however. Mir. Braceby, as he had given his name, probably had more reasons for SerIn- sion than he had slated. and l had q curiosity to observe him further
 He was taken in ut the chalet. and that night We ate supper together. l saw by his table manners that he was used to the quick lunches of restau. rant. He claimed to be an English man, but bis American idiOms would have given him away to child.
 In the course of four or five days had the stranger sized up 10 dot and would have bet five to one that my diagnosis was positively correct. He was a straight haired American. He was public official, It was his first time abroad. He was in dis gulse and fugitive. Whatever poodle be had with him he had in hlS under shirt pocket. l knew this because he was constantly raising his hand to the spot.
 1 am DO man hunter. l did not go to the police or drop hint to any one Of whatever crime he was guilty he was safe from me. l knew 1t wasn't murder, unless done in the trial of passion. for be was sentimental and tender hearted. think 1t was on the fifth day of bis stay that he became feyea sh and called ln a doctor and went to bed-mental worry, you see. had finished my supper and was smoking my pipe when l saw stranger coming up the path from the hotel. From his gait judged him to be an American. From the way he furtiEely eyed the chalet and Its sur roundings l reasoned that he had other business than looking for lodgings. As he came to a halt and looked me over he gave himself away as a de tective. He had taken me for the man hs wanted, and chagrin showed clearly on his face. He was from a western state and on the trail of defaulting city treasurer
 It was queer enough that he didn't ask if there was another traveller in the house. He took 1t for granted that l was the only one. and be told me the whole story of Braceby's theft and highA He talked for two hours and then went away, saying that he should hang around for a few days. Half an hour after hls going 1t was discovered that Braceby was missing His bed. room window was over the veranda. and be had heard all.
 When three days had passed and no
 trace of the missing man had been had be was given away to the detec- tive by one of the town officials. He had left the chalet lightly clad, with out food or baggage and in a fever. and the idea was that he had lost him. self on the mountains and would per sh fl not found. Parties were sent iout in. search, and 1t was not long be- forS evidence was found.
 Being i'll and without food and thlnly clad be could not keep his life over two or three days. h the gloom of that. .hrst night he had travelled nearly two miles, making up the mountains I by Il path. Then he had wandered from the path and fallen into stream from thirty foot bank. The rushing waters had carried him down mile or mora. and they found his body wedged between two great rocks.
 When the coroner overhaued the effects found on the body there came I to light S5,OO0 in English money and drafts for nearly S200,OOO more. His ] name w6s not Braceby, of course, but as the city treasurer of town in the