Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-07-10
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he had Il spy at Ogden, and | didn't
notice any.
NO. ! believe she thinks herself
safe yet. but she Is going home by a
roundabout way as a matter OF prin-
ciple. These people, like foxes,
rarely run straight 10 cover They
double"
III only she'd double back this
way" remarked IN rather ruefui
tones. Il wonder II sheldon caught
up with Reich?"
From the rate at which he started
he should have Miss Foote re-
joined.
We could see Duals figure standing
al the corner, from where We were,
and FASTENED forward 10 JoN him.
Yet, before we had recovered the
ground. McKabe shuitleG up, spoke 10
Semi. and went ON west along the
street.
A moment later We came up. and
addressed Dual.
Not Il trace, SEMI
He smiled slightly.
probably not" he returned. Nc.
kabe just followed her off. She pas
sed on the other side moment ago,
and. just after, our guide came along.
We had better follow
Then she did double back ! eX-
claimed.
Lucille nodded.
"Kismet," she said. 1T is fate. To
call ii luck would be an insult TO the
goddess OF chance. Now feel sure We
will win out yet. She's probably run
ming to cover right now
We moved up the street in the wake
Of McKabe. whom we could see at
times, lodging back and forth thyoush
the scattered pedestrians on the pave
ment.
Dual, atill silent and retrospective,
walked beside us AZ we mounted the
hill toward the street We had brst ira
yelsed this evening.
4
ton might be, had led Us around sew
eral city squares and then turned ana
back tracked toward her objective
point.
| agreed with Miss Foote that 1t
seemed as though her fate must nave
driven her back into our hands after
Reich's interruption had caused us 10
lose her.
AT the same time prayed that that
fate might hold until Mckabe should
be able to locate the point OF her ultl'
mate disappearance.
CHANGING ahead, realized that the
detective was no longer in sight. The
fact brought me out OF my mental
straying. into active question. Where,
wondered, had he gone now?
| glanced al Semi, and found nm
still moving forward without hesita-
ton, and decided that the best thins
| could do was to follow his lead. AT
the same time | called Miss Foote' 5
attention to McKabe's disappear
ance.
Can YOU see McKabe?" ! asked.
She shook her head
NO. did minute ago, put he
sesns 10 have turned in somew here.
Let's see, where are we? Oh yes, were
pretty close to the native theater
now"
Hardly had she spoken when we
saw our missing companion shutfling
toward u.s. He came up and met us
and began speaking at once
"She went into the theatre here,
followed her clear 10 the steps and
saw her go inside; then | went up and
bought tickets. Come on"
He led US to wide front and up
some steps to the entrance. A slant.
eyed Chinese took our tickets, and we
passed into the barnlike structure
where the native Thespians portray
the Oriental form of drama, the play
running on in an unbroken stretch
from night to night, at lines for
weeks before the denouement is
reached.
Before us as We came in stretched
a sea of heads. occupying the pit OF
the house. A low balcony rooted the
rear portion of the auditorium and
stage which reached across the major
one side of the entrance.
Everything was in half light from
the stage illumination, but even so
could see that there was little at
tempt at ornamentation in the hall
Evidently with these people gathered
before us the play was the thing Of
interest.
And the play was In progress on d
stage which reached across the majol
portion of the end OF the room. Tl
! the Occidental it would have lacked
in setting. There was surprising
lack of scenery or stage properties
about 1t. Things appeared to be indi
Gated rather than portrayed in the
/ presentation.
There appeared to be a sort of SYN
bolism about 1t, rather than any rep
| resentatiOn of actual every day affairs
AT the same time the costumes were
| gaudy and rich al one and The SAME
time, and made scintillating bit Of
color and life upon which the audience
sazed In rapt attention.