Charlevoix county herald., 1918-08-30
CHAPTER v.
A Man Of Mystery and Sympathy.


outside.
(Which of youse calls himself Semi
Dual?" he wanted to know.
lifted a hand and waved him to
Semi at the table. He crossed and
produced a telegram and receipt-book
from his cap, showing them like an
automaton into DuaPs hands.
Semi took the message and signed
the book, slit the envelope open and
gave the message one glance, turned
and tossed 1t to me.
caught ii as it fluttered and spread
II before my eyes, and then / con-
tinued to stare. 1t was brief and SEEM
ingly without meaning as all the other
things which had been treading on
each others heels, and it consisted of
merely one word of current slang:
Gotcha. BRYCE.
folded 1t up, put 1t back in its
cover and walked over to the table.
There I laid it down and raised my
eyes to the gray ones Of my friend.
Deep within them I fancied saw a
faint spark of something like invita-
ton, and | burst out in brief piqued
question:
For the Lords sake what does 1t
mean?"
Dual punched his papers in his
hands, folded them twice, and thrust
them into his pocket.
ut means" he replied in some
what offhanded manner, that we
leave for San Francisco in the morn
ing"
II you are going to San Francisco
by the northern route from Salt Lake
the Short Line turns you over to the
Southern Pacific. Consequently, the
next morning found us steaming out
OF the Union Station bound north.
Lucille had met us just before we
boarded the train, not little to Ho-
mers surprise. He eyed her with an
almost antagonistic stare as she gain
ed our side beyond the barriers, and
~ soon as possible made an opportu.
nifty to speak to me.
what is that woman doing with
us?" he wanted to know.
She's going along with us, un-
derstand," / informed him.
What for? Why don't your
friend Dual take the whole town on
this hunt?" he scowled.
"She's going along to identity
rraaly Apnia understand
replied.
"Oh," said Reich. "Well, / hadn't
thought of that"
He lapsed into silence and presently
moved to a seat with Sheldon, to
whom he began to talk. Meanwhile
Lucille and Semi had found a seat to.
gether and were conversing in lower
ed tones. I leaned back in my seat
and gave myself up to my own
thoughts as we steamed up the valley.
I thought of Connie and wondered
what she was doing. Surely Dual had
been right that morning out of Grand
Junction when he predicted that my
honeymoon would be interrupted. I :.
reviewed the whole matter thus far,
and as before l ran up against the
blind wall of Semi's reticence.
The farther we went the more
wondered at his course.
OF course knew that he was acting
from some purpose, but for the life
of me I could not understand why
was shut out. 1 confessed that was
beginning to feel as imagine sailor
must who moves through blind fog
under the guidance of pilot.
l had every confidence in my pilots
ability, and with reason, and yet in
stinctively l wondered-where we
were going, and just when we would
arrive-where?
Such things held me until the train
ran rumbling across a considerable
river, and Dual rose and began gather
ing up his and Lucile's bag.
ogden. We change cars here" he
announced.
Reich's head came around with
Jerk.
Change cars! What for? This
train goes straight through to Port.
land" he said quickly, and realized
then that neither Semi nor had men,
toned our changed destination to !
either him or Sheldon. Semi did so i
now briefly.
But we go on to San Francisco" he
replied.
"San Francisco"
Reich almost shrieked as he sprang
TO his feet and confronted Dual!
I'VE do not. l won't do 1t! We're ,
going to Seattle on this train; do you
hear me, you fake sleuth-Seattle!
You can come or get out II you like.
You've done nothing but blunder. J.
This is Sheldon's and my affair after
all, and what we say goes. Amt that
right, Colonel Mac?"
Sheldon struggling with his own
surprise cleared his throat in a visible
effort to adjust himself to changed
plans, before committing himself to
words, and in that moment Dual spoke
again.
"That is undoubtedly right In part.
Colonel Sheldon az the man who was
acting as Miss Lawton's protector at
the time this happened has the entire
right of decision in the matter. You