Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-23
THE BEST MAN.
a Charming Asd Wkelssoms Rsmases B, Grse. Z. n. Lstx

finally secured the coveted state-room
and started back to her, when sudden
ly I face that he knew doomed up IN
the crowd and startled him. nj was
was we'll known about Washington
but whose headquarters were in New
York.
Until that instant, 1t had not oc-
cured to him to fear watchers so far
south and west - Pittsburgh. It was
not possible that the other bride
groom would think to track him here.
and, as for the Holman contingent.
they would not be likely to make O
public disturbance about his disap-
pearance, lest they be found to have
some connection with the first theft
Of government property. They could
have watchers only through private
meAnA and they must have been Willy
move through Pittsburgh to Washing
ton. Still, 1t was the natural move
for him TO make in order to get homo
a. quickly as possible and yet escape
them. And this man in the crowd
was the very one whom they would
have been likely to pick out for their
work. He wAs a. slippery In his cal
inss az they must be, and no doubt
was in league with them. He knew
the man and his ways thoroughly, and
had no mind to fall into his hands.
Whether he had been seen by the
detective yet or not, he could not tell.
but he suspected he had, by the way
the man stood around and avoided
recognizing him. There was not an
instant to be lost. The hne state
room must 20 untenanted. He must
make a dash for liberty. Liberty!
All. East Liberty! what queer things
these brains of ours are! He knew
Pittsburgh Just a little. He rerhem-
bered having caught a train at East
Liberty station once when he had not
time to come down to the station to
take 1t. Perhaps he might get the
nearly two hours before It left.
swoopinx down upor, the baggage,
he nnurrnured in the girls . +
Can you hurry a litter We must
catch a car right away"
She followed him closely through
the crowd, he STOPPING as If to loo
down at his suit case, SO hat his
height might not attract the attention
Of the ma whose recognition he fear
ed, and in a moment more they were
out in the lighted blackness Of the
streets. One glance backward show
ed his supposed enemy stretching his
neck above the crowd, as If searching
for some one, as he walked hurriedly
just passed. Behind them Swallowed
the man in the SLOUGH hat, and with a
curious motion Of his hand signalled
another like himself, the Pittsburgh
crony, who skulked in the darkness
outside. instantly this mai gave an
other signal and out Of the gloom Of
the street a carriage drew up at the
curb before the door, the cabrnan
looking eagerly for patronage.
Gordon put both s~uit-cases in one
hand and taking Celia's arm as gent
~ as he could in his haste hurried her
toward the carriage. 1t was the very
refuge he sought. He placed her in
side ana gave the order for East Lib
erty station, drawing a long breath Of
relief at being safely out Of the sta
ton. He did not See the shabby one
who mounted the box beside the drtv-
er ana gave his directions in cultural
whisperA, nor the maj with the SLOUGH
hat who watched from the doorway
ana followed them 70 . familiar haunt
on the nearest car. He only feltehow
more where they could Talk together
without interruption.
But conversation was not easy I'M
der the circumstances. The noise Of
wagons, trains and cars was SO great
at the station that they could think If
nothing but the din, and whom they
had threaded their way out Of the
tangle and started rafting over the
pavement the driver, went at such II
furious pace that they could still only
converse by shouting ana that not at
all satisfactorily. 1t seemed a strange
thing that any cabman should drive at
such a rapid rate within the city linn
its. but Is Gordon N anxious to get
away from the station and the keen
thought nothing Of it at first. After
q shouted word or two they ceased to