Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-01-10
CHAPTER v.
The Third Note.

CHAPTER v.
The Third Note.
The malady of romance is not so
contagious at forty. Next morning
was able to make my plans without
taking Isabelle Reade into their con-
sideration. 1t was Thursday, and on
Saturday morning the Thurston Line
S. Wilton sailed for Guayaquil and
way ports. ! determined to be aboard
unless restrained by the police.
There was reason enough in get
ting away in the fact that 1 wanted
to begin activities in new voca-
ton, and my savings would not war
rant long delay; but the stronger rea-
son was my desire to keep outside the
st. Dunstan mystery. 1t might weave
more closely, bind more surely, and
I did not intend to be caught in its
meshes. was through unraveling
mysteries, and l particularly wanted
to stay through.
I told Holme my plans and he
agreed to the advisability, although
he hated to have me go, so long as
I might help in the solution of his
problem; but his friendship was such
that he accepted my reasons without
question.
I called up Thurston, telling him
would take immediate advantage of
his kindness and the letter, and he
offered to attend to the details of re-
servation of a stateroom and notice
to Captain Blake. Marcus / could not
get in touch with, as he was not at
headquarters, but 1 left word for him
to drop in on me should he be in the
building, and as that was pretty GER
tain, I began packing and assembling
nay belongings for migration.
I decided to give up nay apartments,
a. my future plans were 80 indefinite
that would not know where / might
live after my return from Ecuador.
Such of my things as need not take
on the trip would store until
again had home. In short time
I was in the midst of q muss that
1t Is hard to believe could all be con-
tanned in the confines of a two-room
suite.
Sergeant Marcus called when / was
In the heat of it, coat and vest off, and
down on my knees before a trunk.
"On the window-ledge behind the cur
tain," called to him, referring to the
bottle of Scotch, and he grinned and
found 1t.
Going away?" he asked as he filled
the glass. His back was toward me,
and was anxious to see his face
when I answered, so / resorted to a
ruse. Letting the trunk-lid fall with
a bang, 1 stuck my thumb in my
mouth and yelled. He turned all right.
what the deuce" he began.
Gust bruised it," said "Yes, I'm
going to South America, Marcus"
South America? What for South
American" he asked, but there was no
suspicion in his mind felt certain;
nothing more than natural interest.
'I've a little plan for earning a liv-
ing outside of newspaper work. Going
to test it by round-trip on the Wilton
to Guayaquil. I'll combine business
and vacation"
Guess you've earned the vacation
all right" he said, swallowing his
drink with a perfunctory "Gesund-
heit!" "Td like to get away for
few weeks myself Twenty years on
the force and not longer than week
off at any time in the twenty. BY
Crikes, it's dogs life!"
He settled down in the only chair
that was not loaded with bric-a- brac,
and prepared to discuss the hardships
of his profession, but shifted him
promptly into the st, Dunstan affair.
That If at all was where the hitch
nigh; come in my plans.
Nothing new" he answered my
query. I've been prodding the ten.
ants, but haven't lead. A Jap, Ko-
dani-know him?" l nodded He's
skidooed, but it isn't this affair. He's
been stealing necktie pins and cuff
links here and there, and made his
getaway yesterday, so they shoveled
him into our case. But this killing
wasn't any Jap servant business. 1t
was conspiracy"
Political, religious, or social?" I
asked.
white slavers. That's where it IL
end, mark my word. That's what I'm
working on, and when l get hold of
two oi three of my stools down on
Barbary Coast. I'll begin learning
something. You see. Gilmore. the
sergeant replenished his glass and
settled more comfortably in the chair
It'll is corpse hasn't beel identilie:,
aud why? Because size hadn't be IN
In mo city twenfy-four hours She
vas just brought IN bS the trust. and
somehow she got away. and, In fear
Of exposure. they killed her. Thass