Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1919-06-27
CHAPTER u.



The situation had become NOR,
prep6sterous than ever. Two hour
before 1t would have been unimagin
able: one hour ago had merely beer
Offering aid to a young woman In dis
tre@; now she was occupying m!
rooms and was hurrylng along Tent
street. careless as to my destination
and feeling as though the whole world
was crumbling about my head because
she wore q wedding ring.
Az passed up the street the taxi
cab which had seen at the east end
came rapidly toward me. II passed
and ! stopped and looked after II. ]
WAS certain that II slackened speed
oatsode the door Of the old building,
but aeain II went on quickly until II
was lost to view In the distance.
Had given the pursuers Q clue by
ny reappearancef
! watched for few moments longer.
but the vehicle did not return and I
dismissed the Idea ~ folly. After all.
New York was q civilized city. and ]
could be sure Of, the girls safety be-
hind the street door lock and that of
my apartment door. SO I refused to
yield to the impulse to so back and
assure myself that she was all right.
] must find q hotel and get q good
nights sleep.
Az went on new thoughts begin
TO press on my Imagination. The tale
about the father. the assumed igno-
rance Of the conventions-how much
could be belIevedf
Had she not probably left her hus-
band In some Canadian city and come
to New York to enjoy her holiday In
her own fashion, Could she limo
Gently have adventured to Days door
and actually have succeeded In gain
ing admission!
Perhaps she was worse than I was
even now imagining!
Perhaps. II l had not left her-per
hape. II I turned back l clenched
my fists and hurried on. would not
give rein to the thoughts that were
making my heart bound like run
away horse.
I had turned up Fifth avenue and
had reached Twelfth or Thirteenth
street when I thought I heard the pat
ter Of the Eskimo dogs feet behind
me. spun around. startled. but there
was only the long stretch Of pavement.
I had resumed my course when was
sure heard the pattering again. And
again l saw nothing.
A moment later was hurrying back
toward the apartment house. Ny
nerves had suddenly become unstrung
I felt sure now that some Imminent
danger was threatening Jacqueiine. !
could not bear the suspense of wait
ing till morning.
And as I ran thought I heard the
patter of the dogs feet. pacing mine.
was rounding the corner Of Tenth
street now. and again the folly Of my
behavior struck home to me. l stopped
and tried to think. Was II some in
stinct that was taking me back. or was
II the remembrance Of JacQueline's
Was 1t not the desire TO see
her. to ask her about the ring?
! had actually swung around when |
heard the ghostly ratter Of the feet |
again close at my side. ! made my
decision In that instant and hurried |
swiftly on my course back toward the |
apartment house.
When at last I found my dor my |
hands were trembling so that I could
hardly At the key into the lock.
bounded up the stairs. But on the
top story I had TO pause to get my
breath. and then I dared not enter.
listened outside. There was no sound
lrom within.
The two rooms that I occupied were
separated only BY q curtain. which fell
shoft foot from the floor and was
dung On q woos:en pole. disclosing two
let between the top Of II and the
selling. The rooms were thus actually
Dae, and even hat might have been
'aIIed small. for the bed In. the rear