Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-07-04
The Web of
Destiny
By J. u. GIESY and J. B. SMITH
Copyright. 1.-The Frank A. Munsey Co.

In the midst of the diversion Stake.
rose and excusing himself approached
another table we'll back beside the
cigar-case, where he spoke to couple
of men, After a moment he came
back and in quite audible tones re
quested that we come over and meet
his friends.
1t was we'll played and I'm sure one
not informed of its true purpose
would have been completely deceived
We rose after bit of urging and ac
companied him half across the room
to the place where the other two sat
In.roductions followed.
We learned that the larger of the
two men who were both dark was
called Paulos, and the smaller Hermo
styple. At their invitation We sat
down. A waiter slid up and after a
friendly byplay Stakos ordered the
drinks, and we were alone. Not until
then did Reich speak.
'"These are my friends of whom !
told you," he explained in low
voice. "They want to know about the
girl"
"Mr. Dual an Mr.. Glace, the de-
tective, an Mr.. Sheldon, quite So"
said Paulos. "Those were the names
you gave us. Very well, There is
not such n very large quantity to tell.
Perhaps Mr. Reich have tell you what
we air?"
"We're WISE" muttered Sheldon.
Dual and l nodded. For no appar-
ent reason Hermostyple saw fit to
duck his head also.
"Well them" continued Paulos,
"the ozzer day it was teeped off to
my very good fren' Hermostyple an
me, Eat zere was a girl in room
in house down in thees parts. Eat
have happen before, have it not Her
monstyple?"
Again the little man nodded.
"Ze one who was inform US of
thees, say Eat they think perhaps
thees girl was wat you call detain'
agains' her will, an was not zere of
her own accord. Zen it waj to US to
investigate in wat you call offeecial
capacity, was it not?"
at was" rumbled Sheldon. "Did
you?"
Paulos opened his brown eyes in
surprise. then shrugged his shoulders
in depreciation.
But" he began and paused once
more as our waiter returned with our
order. "But of course" he resumed,
lifted his glass of beer and sunk his
mustache in the foam, "Hermostyple
and I acted at once. What did we
do? What should we do? We go to
thees place, an we deman' to see
thees girl, an we ask her the ques-
tion Have you experience?' to which
she say, oh, yes
"Then what could we do? Wis
her nozzing. She say she is Of the
age, she haf no people. Is she doin'
anything wrong? We may know but
can we prove it? Eth, Hermostyple,
my fren'?"
Hermostyple answered by nod,
and went on consuming beer.
You asked her If she'd had ex-
perience. What'je mean?" said Col
onel Mac.
"Eet is contradistinction from per-
sons who have been persuaded or led
away from home by false representa-
tions," explained Paulos. GAS one
would say, do you come of your own
free will?'"
"An' she told you yes? She
wouldn't do it. I don't believe you"
Sheldon's voice threatened to rise
to an unwise pitch.
"Sssh!" Kissed Reich laying hand p,
on the colonel's arm. maybe she J
had to. Maybe they scared her into
saying what they told her. Colonel, :
they're devils. They've killed girls
who wouldn't do what they told them, :
haven't they. Mr.. Paulos?"
Indeed. yes" declared the Greek. +
Eermostyple nodded.
Colonel Sheldons gray eyes hard I
ened. "All right" he muttered. II
amt very wise to this game l reckon. !
but / got hunch that that leetle gal
wouldn't "a been afraid to cash in IL
that was tn only way to slip this
bunch. Go ahead. won't butt in
any more. reckon I kin think to
myself. What did you do then?"
1--WE investigate. sair," replied
Paulos, coldly. 1--WE try to fin out
where she come from, an we fin she
came from the south. Then we decide
to see her again, because there has
been too much trouble here of lately
an when we go to rec her yesterday
we find she is gone"
"Gone where?" I asked.
1--WE do not krow. We 1ek The
man who rurs tho L1use. Fe say, she