Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1918-12-06

up several astrological figures. after
had left, had acted suddenly at the end
of his calculations, and had left word
| for me to await a message from him.
On top of that he had sent back the
suit he had worn when he left. The
! thing then was plain. Save for the
surprise, would have seen 1t before,
as he doubtless intended that should.
! That pile of neatly folded apparel
was a message to me-that Dual was
moving, because necessity urged-that
he was following what he deemed
most important clue-and that he was
gone somewhere-in disguise.
turned to Sheldon and smiled.
Sheldon" said /. after last night,
when he stopped that mob of yellow
fiends in the tunnel by the mere words
he spoke, is he likely to walk out OF
here in daylight and be picked up and
carted away? Something must have
shown him that he could do more in
the matter himself than he could ac-
cOmplish by waiting"
Showed him, how?" Sheldon in
quired.
Through the figures he set up after
Lucille and left"
Them pictures he drew?" said Col
onel Mac. Honest, Glace, 1t gets my
goat to see him set down and draw a
few pinwheels an then get up an
hand out the dope that something is
due to come off. Holy smoke! He
sort of makes a problem in figures Of
life.
Il asked him this morning what two
funny things he set down stood for.
mercury and Venus says he.
"And what about them?' says l.
"'They are in conjunction he said
"'And what does that mean?
asked him.
He looked up and smiled and said:
"'That means that McKabe has an
astral life insurance. colonel says he,
an just after that he goes out. Now,
what do you reckon he meant by
that?"
/ laughed. I felt like laughing l
wondered If Semi had meant for the
old mine owner to tell me that.
"Mean?" l mimicked. Lord don't
you see it, colonel? He meant that
McKabe would come back safe and
sound, and because there was some
need of rapid action he went out to
take hold himself"
A smile rippled the colonePs face.
"Sure!" he agreed softly. That's
what | hoped he meant"
Colonel" explained, "the Mercury
and Venus Dual spoke Of are stars
planets. Roughly. Mercury stands
for mind, intellect-or a person whose
qualities are good. Venus stands for
woman, or for womanly attributes. In
conjunction they would mean that a
woman would play a big part in Nc
Kabe's destiny, / think"
"Oh" said Sheldon. He lapsed into
silence, which after time he broke.
Just the same l wish we knew where
he went to. Waitin' always did get
me all fused up"
He slammed his cigar down on the
thin curl of smoke.
Where Lily?" l asked for the
first time.
"In the next room. / made her lie
down. Guess she's asleep" returned
the colonel. AN that reminds me.
Where'd you say Lucille was going?"
ITO see a man named Kim Lee"
"Chink, of course?"
Eyes,"
II don't like it," he grunted. AN
don't see as Lily needs two able
bodied men to stand guard over her.
while that other girl goes it alone. !
got to stretch leg or go.batty. What's
the matter with your watching out
here while take hike around. kin
try an see If l can light on Lucille
while I'm out. You got to wait for Dual
anyway, son."
Dual told you to watch Miss Law
aon," / reminded.
But you're here" He got up and
reached for his soft Stetson hat.
And may be called away at any
time at all" said l.
well, if you are, tell her to lock
all the doors an not let any one in"
said the colonel. Il simply got to get
out or bust"
How do you expect to find Miss
Foote?" / inquired.
He paused with a hand on the knob.
"Pll just go up where you said. and
scout about a Bit" he explained. I'll
find it all right, an if can't I'll ask a
policeman"
He opened the door and was gone.
crossed to the little writing table
and looked down at the circle marked
sheets of paper Dual had left. wished
could read them as be did and know
on what thread of meaning his action
hung.
looked out at the busy streets OF
the city, and all at once / thought of
Connie. This was our honeymoon.
smiled bit ruefully at the
thought. A fine honeymoon indeed,
with my bride in Goldfield, Nevada,
and myself standing here twiddling
my thumbs.
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