The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-01-04
CHAPTER X.
A Disappearance

time Tor ulhcuhhink inc TOPIC AHhl
had come pretty near 10 filling our
whole horizon. Immersed ms | was
/ in weller OF legal details, be-
tween periods OF debating. and
when her typewriter wasn't
rattllng like a machine gun, ] did
now and thon grasp the oppor.
tunity to drop n word or two about
the days developments and the
proposed programs for the night.
SO that in n jerky. unsatisfactory
fashion. she got some idea Of what
was In the wind.
When she learned that Lao Wing
Fu had promised to produce James
Strang that very evening. and that
the whole confused and confusing
mystery very likely would be
cleared up. a tinge OF color stole TO
her pale cheeks and her glorious
eyes shone with suppressed excite
ment.
| Her loycliness gave me an idea.
f, After a particularly trying spell OF
dictation. ! asked:
III | get word that Strang win
see me. how would you like TO be
present. too7"
Her countenance lighted up. "oh.
II only could"
Bless you. you can. The hour
will be iate-i0:30. or thereabouts:
perhaps II would be better for mo
not TO call. will send n taxi"
oh. no. Come. ~ you can--if
II Is convenient"
She hurried away. We had no
tlmc 10 consider the matter at
length.
For obvious reasons had never
called on Miss Fox. close as our
friendship had grown. There was.
IN our association. a level OF con.
/ fdence and esteem. OF liking and
companionship. that was entirely
separate and distinct from tho dull
grind OF daily routine: but 90 the
world at large We we're merely a
busy-sometimes a fussy-lawycr
and his young lady Etenographcr
and typist. and | could not be too
eircumspect in my conduct toward
! her.
Tonight. however. was 10 be an
exception. big things were In store
for Us. and We could afford TO dis.
7 regard tho conycntionalitics Just
this once. would accep, her In.
vitatlon and call at her home that
very evening.
Why walt alone In impaticnce
until 10 o'clock? could leave
word where Lao Wing Fu's mes.
senger would find me. and Lois
and ! could relieve each Others
impa,iencc
dallied over my dinner and
killed time until eight O'Clock, then
went TO Miss f'ox's.
Imagine my amaxement when
her aunt informed me that Miss
Fox had gone out shortly after
eating her own dinner. and had not
yet returned.
"Where7" | said biankly.
The lady stared at me In sur
prise.
why" she said. Il supposed
yon would know. She got your
note and hurried away In the auto
mobile you sent
A thrill OF alarm ran thru me.
Note Automobile, I almos,
shouted Il sent no note and no
automobile What do you mean ?"
She shrank away from me with
a hushed. shocked cry OF conster.
nation.
oh Mr.. Ferris" she gasped-
what can have happened7"
With an effort got a grip on
myself
For heavens sake. tell me-" |
begged. what do you mean by a
note from meF'
"wh-why. she showed me a
note she said was from you.
stood here at the door and watched
her get into the machine; II was a
| big tourinE.car. II left immediate
I ~. Wait a minute. I'm
so frightened and confused that |
forget She left your message on
4 the parlor table"
4 In moment she returned and
placed in my hand a sheet of
paper nat looked strangely. terri.
I fylngly familiar.
Please accompany bearer OF this
note without delay. He Will bring
you TO a safe rendezvous. where /
shall meet you. Upon this meeting
depends the clearing up OF all our
perpleslties, and the removal OF all
the dangers that have menaccd US.
I urge you not TO deIay.-erlee
Ferris.
Excepting that the superscrip-
ton had been neatly cut away. IL
was the very note had written
that afternoon and handed 10 Lao
Wing Flu!
| felt III and weak. staggered
over to the hall-tree and dropped
upon its leather cushion. Like a
tremendous binding white light.
came the realization that loved
this girl. and my whole being sud.
denly surged upward on a wave
of pure joyousness.
One instant of irrepressible,
dominating happiness. then my
fears rushed back again.
II was only few blocks to po-
lice headquarters. and | fastened
away.
What I had to say was quickly
told. Already the chief had sum-
moned an attendant and the place
had taken on an air of activity that
It did not have when | arrived.
Men In uniform and men In the
ordinary habIliments of everyday
life entered. were told briefly what
had happened. were supplied with
minute description of Lois-I
was too miserable and distracted
to wonder how the police happened
to be 80 we'll informed-and were
sent away.
well, the drag-net is out" said