Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1918-06-07

turned to the door. Connie came
to my side. BE careful" she whis.
pered. Something terrible has hap.
pened. I feel II. Look at Mr.. Dual.
! He looks as he always does when he
is ready TO drag something evil to
light"
nodded. !, too. had seen the
strange. intent expression which had
settled on Semis face. I took her in
to my arms and kissed her and went
out of the room.
1t was midnight. What is there
about the hour which always makes
the unseen draw closer, the heart
beat slow, the breath catch, the i'm
possible become but the possible for
the time? You have felt 1t, and felt
It that night as passed down the hall
of the hotel toward the stairs to the
ground floor.
Our rooms were on the second
floor, and but short distance from
the main staircase. The lights were
on. Even some of the transoms still
showed light within rooms.
Yet as went with soft-footed tread
along the hall felt a cold wind
which seemed to play upon the full
length of my spine till the scalp on
my head appeared to tighten.
Deadi
could not doubt 1t. Too often had
Semi Dual foretold the thing was to
find. reached the staircase and
ttxx 20
Of a group of men standing near the
desk in the lobby of the hotel.
Before / was halfway down saw
that two of them held lanterns al.
ready lighted, and sensed that they
were canon guides attached to the
hotel staff. Another of the party was
Dayton, who seemed to be directing
the others or giving them informa-
ton. Still another was the clerk, who
had come out from the desk and was
shaking vigorous head as reached
the lobby floor. A couple of bell-boys
hung wide-eyed on the edge of the
circle of men.
I advanced to the group quickly.
That's ALL" Dayton was saying as
I came up. miss Wingarde and /
were sitting on the veranda about
eight-thirty as near as can recall.
One Of the guides we had with us on
our trip came to the foot of the steps
and spoke to the professor.
HE went down and talked to the
chap. We didn't hear what they said.
After bit Wingarde turned and
called up that he was going a ways
with the guide and would be back
shortly. They walked off, and
haven't seen him since. OF course l
can't speak from deep knowledge of
your aborigines around here, but 1t
looks funny"
Nonsense" the clerk cut in.
Those fellows the professor took on
his trip are perfectly reliable men.
There's no chance Of their having
done anything to him."
The two guides shook their heads
in agreement with the clerks pro-
nouncement.
Then he must have sustained fall
or something and been hurt" said
Dayton. Here it's after twelve and
he wouldn't be apt to stay around the
Indian village till any such hour.
fancy we'd best start search. That's
why l sent for you chaps" he ad-
dressed the guides.
"Then let's get at It," suggested
one.
Dayton nodded. zone minute. I'll
inform Miss Wingarde and go with
you" He started for the stairs.
l followed and touched him on the
arm. He turned with an impatient
manner. go on" ! said. speaking
softly. 'Tm Glace. You saw me in
the poolroom this evening""
"Oh. yes!" he acknowledged.
"Well?"
I'VE began to mount the stairs.
"Just this" I returned. miss Win
garde is worried about her father.
She'll have dreary time waiting the
results of this search alone. My wife
would be glad to stay with her, and
I'd be glad to help in the search, IL
you like"
Jolly good of YOU" said Dayton.
"If you'll wait bit till l can ask
Evelyn about it"
He went on up and turned down
the same hall on which our own suite
was placed. Passing its door, we went
on a few numbers farther down and
Dayton raped. Almost at once the
girl l had seen earlier in the evening
drew 1t open and he stepped inside. l
waited. In a few minutes he was out.
II have advised Miss Wingarde to
accept, IL you will be SO kind" he
advised me.
led him back to our suite and IN
side. Connie, dressed In. soft, loose
gown, was sitting in the chair where
/ had left her. Dual, at a writing
table, bent forward, and knew that
already he was at work upon those
abstruse calculations which had so
often served to point the way for sus-
picion to follow in the past.
He rose and presented Dayton.
Without delay Connie and l fol-
lowed the Englishman back to the