Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-06-26
The Web !
of Destiny
BY J. v. GiESY 4 ]. 3. SMITH
Authors OF Semi.Dual Stories
Copyright.
The Frank A. Munsey Co,
The Frank A. Munsey Co.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS p1npdanuupupq
Chief Brant sat in large room.
furnished with desk, leather couch,
several chairs, a rug. and a cnspidor.
He raised his face crowned with heavy
hair and trimmed with an iron-gray
mustache. and silently sazed in my di.
rection as | advanced, then waved me
to chair, and continued to stare.
lost no time in making myself
known and explaining my mission
! Brant listened until was done and
then nodded. Il shall be glad to help
. you, il | can" he said as ii hap.
pens, there has been a good deal OF
this sort Of thing going on here OF late.
and think can get YOU the sort OF
assistance you're needing. III send
you up a detective as soon as can get
the person want Was there any
thing else?"
mo, that was ALL answered, ris
Ing. shook hands and left with feel
Ing Of satisfaction. Outside | found
my cab and returned to the hotel. At
last 1t seemed that We were about to
get to work.
! Dual and Sheldon were each read,
ing papers. Reich was standing at q
window staring out into the street and
drumming on the pane above his head.
He whirled around at my entrance.
well. I'D you get your ball?" he in
Quired.
nod, ID. m re at Dual's eyes bovs
his paper than to Reich,
The latter snorted. Il could have
done that much three days ago. il
Sheldon had let me come up here" he
sneered with Impotence. That's just
three days wasted, and God knows
what's happened to the kid in three
days Where's the tee you were to
get?'
Coming up said !.
"Still in the future" he growled.
"Oh, this business makes me sick.
Wait wait wait, We haven't all the
time there is. have We? I'm tired OF
waiting" He turned to Semi. Cant
We do something. Dual?'
"Walt for the detective" sad Semi.
Reich threw himself into a chair
and thrust fingers info his tawny
thatch of hair.
Good Lord, he groancd, when YOU
get tired of waiting, suppose YOU can
wait some more"
"See the chief?' inquired Dual
I nodded. Eyes. He'll send us his
best man on The case az soon as he can
locate him. he says"
"Thals the stuff" exclaimed Shel-
don. "Then wen get action. I'm
eoin' to ring for a drink. My nerves Is
settin' kinder jumpy, like liomer's.
,Glace?'
4 shook my head. wanted TO think
To tell the truth there was something
funny about The thing, couldn't ex
actly blame Reich or the colonel, even
considering the formers peeyishness
Of demeanor.
In all the years had known him,
Dual had never puzzled me more Not
that / doubted him for momsnt, |
knew him too well. Neither. am
sure. did Colonel Mac. i was only
Reich who was wholly unacquainted
who did that. At the same time his
utter apparent lack OF endeavor, his
unbroken calm o. manner, his what ]
once heard physician describe as
mastery irActivity. gave Inc an odd
feeling OF uncertainty in things,
Here we were confronted with
matter whose every detail was grip.
ping, warranted to excite to the most
rapid OF action which would justify
almost any means to bring about Its
Successfnl Issue. and Duars one word
seemed to be summed up in the coun.
Gel to wait. Like Reich, | asked my.
self what we were waiting for? II
,eeemed almost AS though the answer
came In a knock on the door.
Before could more than turn Dual
4SSd dropped his paper, crossed the
room, and swung the portal open.
Framed In its rectangle appeared the
figure Of a woman.
She was young, brown.haired,
brown-eyed OF medium height, and a
strong assured figure and carriage,
clad In a tan khaki skirt, pongee
shirtwaist, with soft collar and tie to
match, and wearing tan walking shoes.
A soft hat OF tan felt was caught on
her head by n strong silver pin, and
she carried pair Of gloves m her
hand. with which she tapped her
aikiit.
Nh" Mr.. DUAL" abe inquired.
,.aenHll Oval bored. ----------.--.---.----.