Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-04-06


here for-eh?"
Same to you and many of them,"
l came back.
johnson grinned.
"I'm scouting," he explained.
Scouting?
"Yes. That friend Dual of yours
didn't seem to be exactly satisfied
with all the statements of our friend
Mallet. He told me to do little
work about the gentleman's fiat and
see what / could pick up"
"And what did you pick up?" I
queried.
81 found back door opening off
his apartments and leading direct to
a bridesmaids entrance" said john
son slowly. "That makes two ways
in which it would be possible for any
one to get out of his fiat"
"But it doesn't prove anything at
that, Johnson"
"No it merely settles possibility.
That seemed to be what was wanted"
l considered the matter while we
stood there.
l wondered just what Dual knew
that he had sent johnson on this in
vestigation, and more than anything
else l wondered where my messenger
had gone.
"Where are you going now?" l
asked at length.
"Nowhere," said Johnson. "I'm
just waiting around. Nv got a shad
ow on Mallet, and Pm just watching.
Bryce Il be down here before long,
and we've date with your friend at
five o'clock. I've an idea things
will begin to move shortly after that
from what he told me after you left" !"
A blue-clad figure was coming up
the street, lodging in and out among
the pedestrians. looked again to
be sure, and at length l was certain
that it was my boy.
stepped back to the head of the
stairs and met him as he came up.
"Sorry to have kept you, mister"
he remarked as he drew sealed
envelope from his pocket and gave it
to me, "but that guinea kept me an
awful time. First l had to wait a
long time fore l could see him at
all, and then after l gave him the
note you sent he read it over a couple
of times and then he called up some
number and had a rag-chew with the
folks at the other end and couldn't
seem to get the party he wanted. So
after that he wrote an answer, and
that's it."
glanced at the envelope held in
my hand.
1t was addressed to Marian Bur-
ton" at st Mary's Hospital. nod
ded, and putting my hand into my
pocket, drew out bill and gave it
to the boy.
Then | started for the curb where
my taxi still waited, when johnson
interrupted.
"What have you got there?" he
wanted to know.
"a sample of Mallet's handwrit-
ing" told him, grinning, and hoped
into the cab.
johnson whistled. His face wore a
very satisfied smile as the taxi lurch-
ed away from the curb.
At last | was on my way to Smith
son!
The last step of my task had been
taken and crowned with success.
Again, as so many times before, the
very fates themselves seemed to be
working to assist Dual. And he was
going to strike!
Johnson had said that he and
Bryce had an appointment with Semi
for five o'clock. That could mean
but one thing to my mind. Dual had
said that the sword of justice would
be unsheathed at noon.
That was over four hours ago, and
the wheel had been going around
ever since. At five o'clock he would
begin to close in on the guilty.
Some time after that the sword was
going to fall.
And Dual, sitting in his great room,
high above the city, was calmly
waiting for the appointed time.
That he knew it | never doubted
On that first case in which he had
ever helped me he had set the time
of mans ending to the minute.
doubted them, but now l could nc
longer doubt. Always l had marvel
ed at the mans wonderful impass'
ivity.
He could look ahead and quietly
say at such time such thing will
happen. More. he could be sure that