Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-07-05

The Web
of DESTINY
BY ]. v. GiESY 4 J. b. SMITH
Authors of Semi Dual Stories
Copyright,
The Frank A. Munsey Co.
The Frank A. Munsey Co.

paaqQaoaQuuququonuqupaponr
Mr.. Reich" Dual addressed him.
you also come under my mandate of
complete obediancc. For reasons of
my own ! do not wish Won TO remain
here IN Your present mental state.
II Is harder to wait than Ia he ON
The held OF action, | do not wish to
condemn YOU to that | merely want
10 provide in advance against any con.
tfetemps which sudden outhurst on
your part might occasion For the
rest lie, me advise that YOU control
you self to the best OF your ability
and await the end h"
But don't see-I don't see how
you can eld things tonight. How
can you? You've just got here 49, How
Reich spoke in Il manner half
dazed.
III IL not necessary that YOU
should said Semi You may remem.
her that in Goldfeld you said il was
results YOU wanted, and that promis.
ed that you should have them In
FEW hours shall redeem that promise.
Al the same time told YOU that nv
methods were peculiar and there il
now no time for explanations. After
the matter is ended shall explain
everything to YOU"
But what are YOU going to do?
Why keep us all in the dark" com
planned Reich
i VIC in my own manner" said
Dual. 'tordon are you ar.nei?"
nodded.
Dual turned his eyes ON Sheldon.
And you, colonel?"
Me? Am i heeled? Well, rather"
Colonel Mac rose and walked to the
piled-up luggage, dragged out his
bag, unlocked it, and put in his hand.
In !, minute he withdrew il. clutching
the butt OF long barreled Al reyol-
Yer.
Il fetched along my Old lambs
leg, he Went on, holding up the wea,
pom, I've shot OF the head of more'n
one chicken an rattler with this here.
an ! reckon amt forgot her balance.
All you got to do is TO lead me to il.
amt pulled trigger for a right smart
spell" He lifted his vest, thrust the
revolver inside the band Of his trous,
ers, replaced the vest above il, and ~.
sumed his chair
"fon got gun, Homer?' he re,
marked
Reich nodded Automatic" he
said
"All right erinned Sheldon. "Only
YOU want ter be careful how YOU pull
IT. | guess then we're all heeled. Mr..
Dual"
There remains then but to wait for
Miss Foote's return" advised Semi.
He leaned back in his chair, closed his
eyes and folded his hands For the
time he seemed to slip away into Il
held of unconscious relaxation which
none of us sought to disturb.
Reich, too sat hunched in padded
armchair. Sheldon lighted one Of his
ssries OF panetelas, and sat silent.
SO we waited The noises Of the
.euter street came family to us; the
clang OF passing trolley, The clack Of
horses hoofs. Through a partly open
ed window a cool damp breeze crept
in and brought with the odor of The
fog
] looked out over the night.shrowded
City where the twin rows of lights
lined the fartiung streets.
From ne water front drifted the
mournfu boot of a ferry boats siren
like the voice OF a soul in torment-a
lost soul drifting through>a world of
night and fog, Subtle 1t came to me
that il was like the hopeless cry of the
soul Of the woman who somewhere out
under those twinklng lights was held 4
in 4 pitiless bondage
! turned my eyes back to the room
and the figure Of Dual He had not
moved from his position.
Only the slow rise and fall Of his
chest told that he lived, and won
dsred what was passing back of his
broad brows, inside his strange brain
Would he, questioned, heed that cry
Of the lost and follow II to bring again
the light Of freedom from bondage and
danger, and even as | wondered, | child
my self for asking the question.
Footsteps passed down the hallway
outside our door A voice spoke and
was answered woman laughed the
door OF an elevator changed softly
glanced at Sheldon. The old man
lat solidly smoking. YET change had
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