The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-07-17
CHAPTER V-continued.

-
l remembered now that, after send
ing Jacqueline to the clerks desk
alone. she had gone to a side entrance
and l had Joined her there and left
the hotel with her in that fashion.
I gathered from what he had said
that the possession of Jacqueline was
vitality important both to Leroux and
to Tom Carson and that they had en-
deavored to kidnap her and hold ner
till the man Louis arrived to advise
them.
How much do you know?" Kissed
Simon at me.
"Leroux," l said, ''Pm not going to
tell you anything. You will remember
that was employed by Mr.. Carson"
by -" he swOre, 'ain't l as
good as Carson? What are you going
. TO do with herr"
You'd better go back to the office
and wait, unless you want TO spoil the
game by letting her see YOU" 1 said.
Il don't know whether Toms run
ming straight or not" he said huskily :;
."but let me tell you, young man. it'll
pay you to keep in with me. and if
you've got any price name it !"
He shook his heavy fist over mel
believe the clerks thought he was go
ing to strike me. for they came bur-
Tying toward US. But I saw Jaeque-
line approaching, and, without another
word, Leroux turned away.
JacqueIine caught sight of his re-
treating figure and her eyes widened
I thought 1 saw q shadow of fear in
them. Then the memory was effaced
and she was smiling again.
instructed the store to call a mes
senger and have the suitcase taken at
once to the baggage room in the Grand
Central station.
Now JacqueIine, I'm going to take
you to lunch,' said "And afterward
we will start for home"
} Outside the store 1 looked carefully
around and espied Leroux almost i'm
mediately, lighting a cigar in the door
way of shop. l hit upon a rather
daring plan to escape him.
CarSon's offices were in large mod
ern building, with many elevators and
entrances. / walked toward it with
Jacqueline, being satisfied that Leroux
was following US; entered about
twenty-five yards before him, and
assembled to the elevator. getting off.
however, on the floor above that on
which the offices were.
1 I was satisfied that Leroux would
follow me a minute later, under the
impression that we had gone to Car
sons Office, and so, after waiting
7
In another elevator, and we escaped
through the front entrance and jumped
into taxicab.
1 was satisfied that I had thrown
Leroux of the scent, but I took the
precaution to stop at a gunsmitf's
shop and purchase pair of automatic
pistols and a hundred cartridges.
But I was very uneasy until we
found ourselves in the train. At last
everything was accOmplished-our bag
gage upon the seats beside US and our
berths secured. And then. at the very
moment when the wheels began to re-
volve. Leroux stepped down from a
neighboring train. As he passed our
window he espied us.
He started and glared. and then he
came racing back toward us, shaking
his fists and yelling vile expIetives.
He tried to swing himself aboard in
his fury, despite the fact that the doors
were all shut. A porter pushed him
back, and the last I saw of him he
was still pursuing US, screaming with
rage.
/ knew that he would follow on the
next train, reaching Quebec about five
the following afternoon. That gave US
five hours grace.
1 turned toward Jacquelfne. fearful
that she had recognized the man and
realized the situation. But she was
smiling happily at my side, and 1 was
confident then that, by virtue of that
same mental inhibition, she had nef-
Their seen nor heard the fellow.
New York was slipping away. All
my old life was slipping away like
this-and evil following US. I slipped
one Of the automatics out of my suit
case into my pocket and swore that ]
would guard Jacqueline from any
shadow of harm.
/ opened one of the newspapers
that I had bought at the station book
stand, dreading to find in flaring let
tiers the headlines announcing the dis
covery of the body.
found the anRouncement-bu in
small type. The murder was ascribed
to a gang battIe-the man could not be
identified. and apparently both police
and public considered the affair mere
IL one of those daily slayings thai
occur in that city.
Another newspaper devoted about
the same amount of space to the &C
count. but It published photograph
az the dead man. taken ia the alley