Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-06-22
The Web
of Destiny
BY J. U. GlESY & J. 3. SMITH
Authors of SemiDual Stories
Copyright.
The Frank A. Munsey Co.
The Frank A. Munsey Co.

oQquo1cnouo4ou uapapQQauoop
, The introductlons completed Con
ME and Alice went Oft to see the Par
ION baby and sheldon took us men
into the library. To get action as
Ia, said. As We entered the room IL
young man rose iron a chair 0I Spa
ish leather and stood while the col
0nel presented hun as Homer Reich.
He WAS a dapper appearing indl-
yldual, clad in blue serge and tan GA
fords, a soft shirt with French collar
and belt. He was what one would de-
impression, OF an almost tawny com
.plexion, brown eyed. and wearing Il
great mass oil wavy light hair. brush
ed straight back from where it grew
low on his forehead.
His brows like his hair were tawny.
his nose high OF bridge and slightly
lonA. and his rather large mouth was
thin tipped, blending into the general,
long. slender lines OF his face AS 4
whole His figure, TOO. was slender
anu his hands long So much | noted
before he was introduced TO lue.
Homer was Liliys tiancee,' ex,
planned Sheldon, 'an, Thought !on
ought 10 meet him. had him come
liz an wait here, when We knew YOU
WAS comm Now tibet You know him.
guesG we'd better dope this thing out
Iesl q. fast ! We IN. siit down an
let's 10 YORK. First off though |
want 10 sho,y Glaze Gaidiielu high
ball" He struck Il bell tu his ,.esk.
A white jacketed Chinaman answer
ed the ring and 10 him Colonel Mae
gave his order. by holding up four
finsels, and then separating his two
hands about six inches.
Long ones, Lee he directed and
glanced al Semi who shook his head.
An lemonade said Colonel Mac.
The servant srinned ana shuiled
from the room.
An now resumed our host,
Just how much of this here are YOU
w.se 10, Mr.. DUAL"
And SEMI Dual answered prompt
~. Even TO me his words We're a sur.
prise, for remember there had been no
way for him 10 learn the things he
said save by his own peculiar meth
DDS. Yet he smiled s. entity as the
colonel asked the question, leaned
back in his chair and spoke.
Merely the main points, Colonel
Sheldon. AS / understand II, young
lady is missing. She is woman, in
whom YOU feel an interest, though She
is in no way related TO you. She may
he described as Of some five feet four
inches in height, medium complexion.
brown haired, and with brown eyes
and a well rounded figure. She has
been in peril for some time, but it
was not until five days ago that the
climax of her danger arrived"
well. my lord CALCULATED Shell.
don. lie took his cigar from his
mouth and turned his eyes about our
circle of faces Can you beat it?
What do you think of that Homer, my
boy"
Quite coincidence" said Reich.
coincidence your grandmother.
began sheldon He kin do that any
time he wants"
i might add" Dual interrupted,
shat Mr. Reich was one of the fac.
tors in causing her disappearance.
What do You mean by that?"
Reich sat forward and hall rose from
his seat. I'VE may as well under.
stand one another first as last" he
went on with u good deal OF heat. Il
was. engaged to marry Miss Lawlon.
Do you think I'd be apt to-"
STEADY, Homer" Colonel Mae
cautioned. Don't YOU go to goin Oft
half cooked Mr., Dual says you was
q factor, an you was. That telegram
said you was about ready to kick in,
an that's why Lilly left in the first
place. You want to keep cool an not
leave your feelins lynn around like n
cats tail. Nobody's amin TO step on
you"
Perhaps you had better tell the
story. Colonel Sheldon" suggested
Dual.
The China boy came back with the
drinks and served them on the desk.
When he was gone the colonel picked
up. his and took long draft, set ii
down. and stuck his cigar back in a
corner Of his mouth
We'll. them he began, Il reckon
will Lilly's last name was Lawton.
Her dad was a foreman In my mine,
IN Almighty fine Straight man as they