Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-12-10

monds out Of the house? To whom
could | entrust them? Not a living
soul, so far as ] could see-unless !
could get them back to Mrs. Delarlo
herself, which didn't seem likely In the
present state of the case.
You see just how the mar had me
at his mercy. If I'd been a person ac-
customed TO sneaking round and MAX
Ing quick getaways, I'd have known
what to do and how to do 1t. In the
next place, | hadn't the least idea of
the number Of people | was pltted
against-the strength of the opposing
forces. At that time. l hadn't the
dimmest suspicion that he was playing
practically Il lone hand In the game
and had only one hired detective and
he didn't know what ne was watching
Mrs. Delario and me for. But as a re-
suit of my thinking, the idea came to
me to find out If | were now watched
md followed.
Telling Mrs. JlmmsOn to wait till /
came back, and though 1t was raining
hard, | went out for an investigatory
walk around the block.
A man sat In the lower hall az |
stepped out of the elevator. His back
was toward the light of the front door.
think the devil himself must have got
Into me then; for without looking at
Mr.. Man, except the glance / gave him
as | left the car. walked straight into
him and stepped on his toe, hard.
He said: "Ouchl
said: "Oh. beg your pardon Did
| hurt you very muchy"
"No-not very much" he replied
and looked glum.
Now, l had calculated this way-to
pass him In the act of stepping on him
and make him turn when he answered
me so the light would fall on his face
| got the look at him wanted and
went out.
! walked half block and turned
sharply in my tracks. Mr.. Man was
about twenty feet In the rear. follow
ing me. lie began to limp the moment
he saw me noticing him.
| walked past my house to the end
of the block. As l turned north. saw
Mr., Man ambling along In my direc.
| ton. stepped into florists and
/ bought fresh bunch of hyacinths.
by the time had them paid for. Mr.
Man had reached the store and was
looking In the window, pretending not
to see me.
Did hurt you very much?" asked
Sweetly.
"No-not very" He touched his hat
and thought he looked annoyed.
| sprinted along ahead of him and
turned at one Hundred and Forty-fftf
street. fancy Mr.. Man had to do q
little sprinting himself on his pool
lame foot had vanished into n 70,
shop and was buying Il doll for my
niece when he discovered me-and pre-
tended he didn't see me lie walked or
ahead, hut caught up with him.
Did hurt you very much?" asked
"No-not very" lie was beginning
to look aStonished now.
spirited away and turned south OF
Amsterdam. There. | went into sta
tionery store and bought an ink eraser
Mr., Mann passed the door and glanced
in. ! motioned him 10 wait. bur he pre-
tended not TO see. He was some dis
lance ahead when l came out. RAJ
after him and caught up.
Did hurt You very badly? p asked
Monet very" he answered eyins
me narrowly, I'm afraid you're Civ
ing Yourself too much concern over ,
little accident lie was. saw. he
ginning To wonder which of US was fol
lowing which
NO" said | quietly, I'm not givin.
myself the least concern over you
Stepped-on tOe-Im simply using il Il.
an excuse 10 get good look AT you il
various lights 81 I'm know YOU agar
in any possible disguise You may as
sumo"
have always regarded thar epiSod,
and those last words-aS a stroke a
genius on my part if do say it, /
came 10 me ON the spur Of Tie momen
without thinking about it. and nearl,
howled MIR Man over Before he In,
decided what 10 say. or what to do t,
allay my suspicion Of him. holte,
across The street di8-ouaQy. ducke.
between Two trolley cars. one of whicl