The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-12-14
pumes. ana thinking Of his $50 with

nrumes and thinixing OF his $50 with
~aschucklc. |
1t was surprising how much that
thick-set a ear and desperate
though he was, could accomplish, when
once he reached he telegraph stations
and sent his messages flying on their
way. In less han three minutes after
his arrival he had extracted from the
station agent the fact that two people,
man and woman, answering the de-
scription he gave. had bought tickets
for Pittsburgh and taken the afternoon
train for that city. The agent had no.
ticed them on account of their looking
az If they came from the city. He
especially noticed the purple plumes.
the like of which he had never seen
before. He had taken every minute
he could get off from selling tickets
and sending kilograms TO watch the
lady through his little cobwebby VIM
dow, They didn't wear hats like that
in Milton.
IN ten minutes one message was on
its way TO q crony in Pittsburgh with
whom the thick-set man kept in con
slant touch for just such occasions as
the present stirring him to
action: another message had winged its
mysterious way TO Mr.. Holman, giving
him the main facts in the case; while
a third message caught another crony
w AAD ~ vi. a AAADBtA 4 III 0yId-
orcd him 10 board the evening express
at his own station, hunt UP the parties
described, and shadow them to their
estimation, If possible getting in touch
with the Pittsburgh crony when he
reached the city.
The pursuer then ate a ham sandwich
with liberal washings OF liquid fire
while ne waited replies to some OF his
messages; and as soon as he was salts,
fled that he had set justice in motion
he hired an automobile and hied himf
across country to catch a midnight ex-'
press to Pittsburgh. He had given
orders that his man and ACCOMPANYING
lady should be held in Pittsburgh until
his arrival, n he nae no doubt but
that the orders would be carried out,
so sure was he that he was on the right
track, and that his cronies would be
able and, willing to follow his orders.
There was some kin of an excur-
sion on at Pittsburgh, and the place
was crowded The trainmen kept call
ing. off specials, and crowds hurried out
or the waiting room, only to be replaced
by other crowds, ell eager. pushing.
talking, laughing. : They were mostly
men, but a good many women and some
children seemed to be of the number;
and the noise and excitement worried
her after her own exciting afternoon.
Celia longed to lay her down and sleep,
put the seat was narrow, and hard, and
people were pressing on every side.
That disagreeable man In the SLOUGH
nat would stand too near. He was most
repulsive looking, though he did not
seem to be aware Of her presence.
Gordon had a long wait before he
finally secured the coveted state
room and started back to her.
when suddenly a face that ho
knew doomed up in the crowd and
startled him. It was the face Of a
private detective who was we'll known
about Washington, but whose head
quarters were in New York.
Until that instant, It had not oc-
Cured to him to fear watchers SO far
south and west Of Pittsburgh. 1t was
not possible that the other BRIDEGROOM
would think to track him here, and,
as for the Holman contingent, they
WOULD not be likely to make a public
disturbance about his disappearance
lest they be found to have some con-
nection with the first theft OF govern
ment property. They could have
watchers only through private means,
and they must have been willy indeed
II they had anticipated his move
through Pittsburgh to Washington.
Still, it was the natural move for him
TO make in order to get home as quick
ly as possible and yet escape them.
And this man in the crowd was the
very one whom they would have been
likely to pick out for their work. He
was as slippery in his dealings as they
must be and no doubt was in league
with them. He knew the mar and his
ways thoroughly, and had no mind to
fall into his hands.
Whether he had been seen by the
detective yet or not, he could not tell,
but he suspected he had, by the way
the man stood around and avoided req
ognizing him. There was not an in
slant to be lost. The fine state room
must go untenanted. He must make
a dash for liberty. Liberty! All, East
Liberty! What queer things these
brains of ours r He knew Pitts
burgh just a little. He remembered
having caught a train at East Liberty
station once when he had not time
to come down to the station to take 1t.
Perhaps he might get the same train
at East Liberty: 1t was nearly two
hours before 1t left.
Swooping down upon the baggage,
he murmured in the. girls ear:
can you hurry a little? We must
catch a car right away"
She followed him closely through
the crowd, he STOPPING as IL to look
down at hiss suit case, so that his
height might not attract the attention
of the man whose recognition he
feared, and In q moment more they,
were out in the lighted blackness of
the streets. One glance backward
showed his supposed enemy stretching
his neck above the crowd, as If search.
ing for some one, as he walked hur-,
riedly toward the very doorway they
had just passed. Behind them shad-
owed the man in the SLOUGH hat, and.
with a curious motion Of his hand sig
nailed another like himself, the Pitts
burgh crony, who skulked in the dark
ness outside. Instantly this man gave
another signal and out OF the gloom
Of the street a carriage drew up at the
curb before the door. the cabman look
ing eagerly for patronage.
Gordon put both suit cases in ono
hand and taking Celia's arm as gently
as he could in his haste hurried her
toward the carriage. 1t was the very
refuge he sought. He placed her inside
and gave h order for East Liberty
station, drawing a long breath of relief
at being safely out Of the station. He
did not see the shabby one who
mounted the box beside the driver and
gave his directions I'm o1ttf,tral u,b;.