Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-01-04
CHAPTER XIV.

-"sS pdil VI liC City Dy Liz
fastest time an experienced chauffeur
dared to make. About the time they
turned the first orncr into the avenue,
TWO burly policemen sauntered casu-
ally into the pretty squar in front of
the house where lived the chief Of the
secret service. There was nothing
about their demeanor to show that
they had been detailed there by spe-
cial urgency, and three men who hur-
r1ed to the little park across the street
from the house could not possibly know
that their ~leiSurely and careless stroll
was the result of a hurried telephone
message from the chief of police
headquarters Immediately after his
message from Gordon.
The policemen strolled by the house,
greeted each other, and walked on
around the square across the little
park. They eyed the three men sitting
IDLY on a bench, and passed leisuyely
on. They disappeared around a corner,
and to>the three men were out of the
way. The latter did not know the hid
den places where the officers took up.
their watch, n when an automobile
appeared, and the three stealthily got
up. from their park bench and dis
tributed themselves among the shrub
berry near the walk, they knew not that
their every movement was observed
with keen attention. But they did
wonder how 1t happened that those two
poilcefnen seemed to spring out of the
ground suddenly, just as the auto came
20 q halt in front Of the chiefs house.
Gordon sprang out up the steps
with a bound, the door opening before
MIN as II he We're expected. The two
grim and apparently Indifferent police
men stood outside like two stone
mages on guard, while up the street
with rhythmic soundr rode two mounted
ponce, also coming to a halt before the
house as. If for q The three
men in the bushes hid their instru-
ments OF death, and would have skunk
away had there been a chance; but.
turning to make q hasty flight, they
were met by three more policemen.
ihere was the crack Of a revolver as
one OF the three desperadoes tried a.
iast reckles dash for freedom-and
tailed. The wretch went to Justice
with his right arm hanging limp by
his side. =
inside the house Gordon was deliv-
orlng up his message, and as he laid it
Defore his Chief, n stood silent while
the elder man read and pondered it's
tremendous import, it occurred to him
Tor the hrst time that his chief would
require some report of his journey. and
the ~hindrances that had made him a.
Whoie day late in getting back to
Washington His heart stood still with
sudden panic. What was he to do?
How could he tell it all? What right
had ne to tell of his marriage to an
woman? A marriage that.
perhaps was not a marriage. He could
not know what the outcome would he
until he had told the girl everything.
AS lar as he himself was concerned he
knew that the great joy of his life had
come to him in her. Yet he could nor
hope that it would be SO with her.
AND ne must think e. her and protect
her good III in every way. Ii there
shouid be such a thing eve as that she
should consent to remain with him and
be his wife he must never let a soul
Know Y what the marriage had been
Planned LONG ago. 1t would not be
iair to her. 1t would make life %intoler-
able for them both either together or.
apart. n while he might be n
uouptless was perfectly safe in con-
noins IN his chief, and asking him to
Keep silence aheat=the matter, st;1 ,3s
felt that even that would be a breach
OF faith with Celia. He must close his
lips upon h story until he could talk
with her and know her wishes. He
drew 9 sigh of WEAKNESS. 1t was a
long, hard way he had come, and If
was not over. The worst ordeal would
not his wife.
The chief looked up.
Could you make this out, Gordon?"
ne asked noting keenly the youny
mans weary eyes,, the strained, tense
look about his mouth.
On, yes sir; l saw it at once. l was
Almost AFRAID my eyes might betray
the secret before l got away with it,"
Then YOU know what you have saved
the country, n what you have been
worth to the service"
The ,aung a flushed with pleas
Thank you. sir" he said, looking
uoWn. understood 1t was important,
Y am glad ! was bile to accomplish
the GRAND without falling
2 reason to suppose you
were followed, except for what YOU saw
at the station in this city,
< es, ssiN; Lam slre there were de-
seclives arter me as ! was leaving New
york. They were suspicious of me. I
saw n of the men who had been at
the dinner with Ele watching me. The
Observation-Disclosures circumstances
threw him OFT. He wasn't sure. Then.
there was q man-you know him, Bald
er-at Pittsburgh?- p
"Pittsburgh."
burgh. You sec, / was Swallowed almost
from the. first. I suspect, for when i
reached the station in New York | was
Rlire recognized this man who had sat.
OppOSlte me q few minutes before. I
suppose my disguise, which you so
thougftfully provided. bothered him,
for though he followed me; about at a
little distance he didn't speak to me. L
had to get on the first train that Cir
cumstanceS nnrtnitted. anl uarha.u~ +l,a
fact cIts a.. was a e.nlcago train made
him think he was mistakensin me. Any
how 1 saw no more OF him after the
train left the station. Rather unex-
pectediyI found I could get the drawing
room compartment. and went into inn
mediate retirement, leaving the train
AT daylight where it was delayed on u
side track, ard walked across country
till 4 found q conveyance that tool me
TO a Pittsburgh train. 1t didn,t seem
feasible TO get away from the Chicago
train any ooner az the train made no
further stops and 1t was rather late at
night by the time boarded 1t. I
thought I would run less risk by maxi
Ing q det0prs never dreamed they
would hape watchers out for me at
E5ttshurefi, IND I can't think yet how
1hsy Manngetk 20 get on my track, but
1linoatsthe 1trstsIninute I landed 4 spied
Baader stretchinE his neck over. the
crowds. i bOlted from the station att
once and finding u carriage drawn up
o6f0reAthe door Just ready fGTme 4 got.
n Ind ordered them to drive me to