The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-07-03
CHAPTER II.
Back in the Room.

The situation had become more
teposterous than ever. Two hours
yefore 1t would have been unimagin-
able; one hour ago had merely been
offering aid to d young woman in dis
tress; now she was occupying my
rooms and was hurrying along Tenth
street. careless as to my destination
and feeling as though the whole world
was crumbling about my head because
she wore a wedding ring.
AS I passed up the street the taxi
cab which 1 had seen at the east end
came rapidly toward me. It passed,
and I stopped and looked after it. I
was certain that it slackened speed
outside the door of the old building,
but again it went on quickly until it
was lost to view in the distance.
Had I given the pursuers q clue by
my temperance?
watched for a few moments longer,
but the vehicle did not return and I
dismissed the idea as folly. After all.
New York was a civilized city, and I
could be sure of the girls safety be
hind the street door lock and that of
any apartment door. So I refused to
yield to the impulse to go back and
assure myself that she was all right.
] must find a MOTEL and get a good
nights sleep.
AS went on new thoughts began
to press on my Imagination. The tale
about the father, the assumed ignO-
rance of the conventions-how much
could be believed?
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 innO-
Gently have adventured to Days door
and actually have succeeded in gain
ing admission?
Perhaps she was worse than was
even now imagining!
Perhaps, if I had not left her-per-
hape. If 1 turned back I c1enched
my fists and hurried on. I would not
give rein to the thoughts that were
making my heart bound like run
away horse.
/ had turned up Fifth avenue and
had reached Twelfth or Thirteenth
street when I thought heard the pat
ter of the Eskimo dogs feet behind
me. I 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 saw nothing.
A moment later was hurrying back
toward the apartment house. My
nerves had suddenly become unstrung.
felt sure now that some imminent
Tor
could not bear the suspense of wait
ing till morning.
And as I ran 1 thought I heard the
patter of the dogs feet, pacing mine.
l was rounding the corner of Tenth
street now, and again the folly of my
behavior struck home to me. stopped
and tried to think. Was 1t some In
stfnct that was taking me back, or was
1t the remembrance of Jacqueline's
beauty? Was it not the desire to see
her, to ask her about the ring?
had actually swung around when
heard the ghostly patter 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 ut last I found my door my
hands were trembling so that I could
hardly fit 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
from within.
The two rooms that occupied were
separated only by a curtain, which fel
short a foot from the floor and wa.
slung on wooden pole, disclosing tive
feet between the top of it and thu
ceiling. The rooms were thus actually
one, and even that might have beer
called small. for the bed in the real