Evening star., 1918-08-18
CHAPTER xz
Flight.

.. Flight. M
In leaving the building Mr.. Gryce
almost ran into the arms of Perry.
In his anxiety to be within call the,
young detective had seated himself
on the steps outside and now stood
ready for any emergency.
Mr.. Gryce's spirits rose as he saw
him there. The great door leading to
the elevator opened not twenty feet
to the left of him. Perhaps Perry had
seen the woman and could tell which
way she ran. Questions followed.
rapid and to the purpose Perry had
seen a woman fash by. But she SEEM
ed to be in company with man. He
had not been able to see either
clearly.
which way We're they heading?"
asked Mr.. Gryce.
Perry told him.
1t would look as though they were
making for the station. Alarmed at
the idea, Mr.. Gryce stepped down the
road and endeavored to pierce. the
darkness in that direction. All he
could see were the station lights.
Eevrything else was in shadow.
The night hung over all, and had
it. not been for the grinding ma
chinery in their rear. the silence
would have been just as marked.
Perry. Is the way rough between
here and the station-l mean, rough
for me?" m
Not very, IL you keep in the road"
run ahead, tnen, and learn how
soon the next train Is due--any train,
going north or going SOUTH don't
care which. II 1t is soon, look for a
middle-ased woman In striped dress,
and If you can't prevent her getting
on, without fracas, follow her your
self and never quit her--teiegraph-
ing me at the first opportunity. Run"
Perry gave a leap and was soon
swallowed up in the darkness which
was intense as soon as he had passed
beyond the glare from the factory.
Mr.. Gryce followed after, moving as
quickly as he dared. 1t was not far
to the station platform. but In his
breathe with ease till he saw q flying
shadow come between him and the
station lights and knew that Perry
had reached the platform.
1t was Just at the hour when the
fewest trains pass. and Mr.. Gryce was
himself across the tracks and on the
platform before far-off whistle
warned him that one was approach
ing. Looking hastily around, he saw
Perry hurrying up behind him.
mo one" said he. mo such person
around" ~
They waited. The train came in,
stopped, took on two unimportant pas
sengers and rushed away north.
'Tm afraid I shall have to ask you
to stay here. Perry. 1t would be SO
easy for her to board one OF these
night trains and buy ticket from the
conductor"
But as he spoke he paused, and
gripping Perry's arm, turned his ear
"A boat" said he. "A small boat
1t was so. They could hear the dip
of the oars distinctly in the quiet
which had followed the departure of
the train. No other sound but that
was in the air. and 1t struck cold upon
one old heart.
ut is she! I'm sure of It," muttered
Gryce. The man across the river has
warned her--sent a boat for her, per-
haps. Run down to the point and see
If there is any one there who saw her
CO."
Perry slid into the night, and Mr..
Gryce stood listening. The quiet dip
of the oars was growing fainter every
instant. The boat was rapidly with
drawing, carrying with 1t all hope
of securing offhand this desirable WITT
ness.
To be sure, there was nothing very
serious in this. He had only to tele-
phone across the river to have the
woman detained till he could reach
her himself in the early morning. Yet
, he felt unaccountably disturbed and
anxious. For all his many expert
ences and record which should have
made him immune from the ordinary
disappointment of life. he had never,
or so 1t seemed to him, felt more
thoroughly depressed or weary of
the work which had given him oc-
cupation for more years than he liked
to number. than in the few minutes
of solitary waiting, with his face to-
ward the river and the sense of some