The Monmouth inquirer., 1919-09-25
The Frank A. Munsey Co.

'sThere remains then butMp wait FOR
Miss Foote'S return" advised Semi.
He leaned back in his chair, closed bis
eyes and folded his hands. For the
time he seemed to slip away into
field OF unconscious relaxation which
none of us sought to disturb.
Reich, too sat hunched in padded
armchair Sheldon lighted one Of his
series Of panetelas, and sat silent.
So we waited. The noises of the
outer street came family to us: the
clang Of passing trolley, the clatk of
horses' boots. Through partly open
ed window cool damp breeze crept
in and brought with the odor of the
fog.
looked out over the night-shrowded
city, where the twin rows of lights
lined the far-fiung streets.
From the water front drifted the
mournful boot of ferry boats siren
like the voice of soul in torment-a
lost soul drifting through a world of
night and fog. Subtle it cameito me
that 1t was ike the hopeless cry of the
soul Of the woman who somewhere out
under those thinking lights was held
in a pitiless bondage.
I.turned my eyes back to the room
and the figure of Dual. He had not
moved from his position.
Only the slow rise and fall of his
chest told that he lived, and l won
dered what was passing back of his
broad brows, inside his strange bradn
Would he, questioned, heed that cry
Of the lost and follow it to bring again
the light of freedom from bondage and
danger, and even as l wondered, l child
myself for asking the question.
Footsteps passed down the hallway
outside our door. A voice spoke and
was answered; woman laughed-the
door of an elevator changed softly.
l glanced at Sheldon. The old man
sat solidly smoking, yet change had
crept into his face. The lips which
held his cigar seemed to me to have
grown thinner and firmer, with almost
tension at their corners. and the set
of his fighting chin had, too, taken on
a new angle.
Under their heavy brows his gray
eyes brooded. He looked like a griz-
zled veteran waiting the call to action
which he knew was about to come.
From him my eyes travelled to Reich
almost a feeling of pity.
After all. thought. the lad had lost
far more than any of US who judged
his cratic temper, and his protests
against whatSmust have seemed to his
youth like inaction.
And surely he seemed to have suffer
ed He was worn, his face pallid
drawn, almost haggard, and there were
darkening circles beneath his eyes.
/ noticed that the hand on the arm of
the chair in which he sat twitched
now and then as against his yolition
His brows were knit in brooding
thought, his chin sunk on his breast
Sheldon fose and walked to win
dow. standing there with his hands
cIasped behind him, gazing out over
the lights of the city. 1 crossed and
Joined him where he stood chewing
upon his cigar which had gone dead.
"Shes some city, he muttered,
nodding his grizzled head at the miles
OF lights. Some city to go cut into
an find one leesle gal tucked away to
keep folks from findin. But reckon
Dual kin do it, an if he does, he's
wizard. Ny Lord, I'll be glad to see
Lilly again."
HE will do it," I whispered assur-
ance
81 amt doubtin' it, son." he made
answer when that Lucille girl gets
back I reckon the fireworks will begin
to sizzle. reckon you an 1 know
Semi Dual"
Well. his was the faith of soldier
in the general who had sent him to
victorious action I thrilled at his
words. and laid hand on his shout
der. He turned, and his lips twitched
into slow, grim smile.
Again footsteps sounded from the
passage, The door opened and Miss
Foote entered in company WITH man.
He was a small and somewhat
shabby person in sack coat Of brown
tweeds and trousers to match. His
face was thin, nervous and incisive;
his hair, when be. took off bis derby
NM.