Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1918-09-27


Giles remark that II not with us, then
she would come to San Francisco
alone.
Why, I asked myself, should she
have felt so keen an interest in this
one case. over and above others she
had doubtless handled. oh, it was
very maelstrom of cross currents,
cross purposes as 1t seemed, on which
we drifted on a fog-clouded night.
Even the fog seemed in keeping with
the rest of the affair, as Lucille had
said.
We had nearly reached the red and
gilt entrance. Dual swung his COM
panions up to a window, where costly
treasures of the Orient lay behind the
glass. Lucille and !, too, turned in be-
side them, and We stood gazing
, through the thin barrier which shut
US out.
Then l heard the girl at my elbow
catch her breath in a gasp of quick
ened attention. / followed her eyes
as she turned them.
A figure had come to the entrance
Of the restaurant and stood for a mo-
ment, gathering up it's skirts. 1t was
short and heavy, clad plainly in black,
and above it quivered and nodded q
hat crowned with waving willow
plumes.
The woman glanced up and down
the street. stepped down and turned
or n haa ri RI a
window and gave it my attention.
i heard the click of her heels as she
passed, and swung away from my
forced inspection, in time to see a
STOPPING figure emerge from the door
way she had left, and shuttle after.
McKabe was on the trail.
Not until he was well past did Semi
give the signal which turned us from
the window and started us on the
heels of the detective along the
street.
Himself he forged slightly ahead of
Sheldon and Reich walking with
long stride, his head thrust slightly
forward, his eyes never, as l believe,
loosing sight of the shuffling figure of
McKabe.
The woman went straight on. So
far as her actions showed she was
without suspicion of the man who
logged her footsteps, but at that
she observed the axiom, that the
longest way round is the safest way
home.
She walked slowly up Grant toward
Clay, passed that and continued to
Sacramento, swung up that partially
darkened thoroughfare toward Stock
ton, and so brought McKabe to a
pause. He was waiting as We came
up.
"She's foxy" he muttered. Il
don't believe she's on to my follow,
but she knows somethin could hap
pen, so she leads us clean out of the
town an ducks west along here.
You can glimpse her around the cor
ner. an if we was to start after, she'd
spot us too quick. You folks wait here
for while an then come round in
a body. Now I'm goin ahead, l reck-
on
He broke off and peered up the
street in the direction Greek Annie
had taken, looked back and nodded
and was gone. We stood huddled to-
gether and waited, and presently we,
too, were off again on the trail.
Twothirds through the block we
could see a shadosIy figure trotting
forward in slouching gait. We
quickened our own pace to 'keep it in
sight. We forged up the slope at
something like a dog-trot. Lucile's
hand struck against mine and / took
it into my fingers.
She gripped mine in turn and we
ran on. / glowed as we ran. This was
something like. At last We were on
the track of something. And smiled
as l asked myself if ever there was a
hunt Just like this. Literally We ran
in pack to the chase.
McKabe's figure slid around the cor
ner of Stockton, going north, and as
we followed it sank back out Of sight.
We slowed and went forward boldly,
waiting for his temperance. Midway
of the block he stepped from door
way.
Hurry up" he painted. "She
stopped on the corner and l ducked."
He set off running, darted around on
to Clay going east, and ran forward,
with us at his heels.
Thus it came that at the corner of
Grant when we had completely circled
the block, and McKabe started to
cross and continue along Clay still
east, Reich once more attempted in
reference.
where are you going?" he snap
ped, springing forward and laying a
hand on McKabe's arm. What are you
going down there for. She went up
this street. l saw her."
He waved a hand along Grant.
McKabe shook off his hand. mot
much you didn't" he retorted. "She
went straight down Clay here, toward
Kearny. You mind your own bust
ness and don't try to teach me my own
tricks"
I'm not trying to teach you a
thing" Reich persisted. II tell you
the woman went the other way. You
just didn't happen to see her. Come