Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1919-06-05
forv bocItated apain ia "

for"-I hesitated again IA two
weeks Journey"
Bermuda or Niagara Falls?' asked
the young woman.
81 beg your pardon7" I inquired. con-
sclOus that my face was insufferably
hot.
"If you are taking madame to Ber-
muda she will naturally require cooler
clothing than If you are taking her to
Niagara Falls" the young woman ex-
planned, looking at me with benevolent
patience. And seeing that I was wholly
disconnected, she added:
Perhaps madame might prefer to
make her own selection
AS stood in the center Of the store
apparently stumbling block to every
shopper, Jacqueline fitted here and
there, until q comfortable assortment
of parcels was accumulated upon the
counter.
I bought q neat sole-leather suit
case, which, at Jacqueline's practical
suggestion, was changed for lighter
one Of plated straw.
1t was while Jacqueline was exam
lining the suitcases that my attention
was drawn to q tall, elderly man with
hard, drawn and deeply lined
weather-beaten face and wearing 8
massive fur overcoat, open in 'front.'
who was standing In the division be-
tween the trunk department and that
adjoining It, Immediately behind
Jacqueline. He was looking at me
with an unmistakable glance Of rec.
ognition.
| knew that had seen him several
times before, but, though his features
were familiar, I had forgotten his
name. / stared at him and he stared
back at me, and made an urgent sign
to me.
Keeping an eye on Jacqueline and
not losing sight Of her at any time. |
followed the tall man. AS I neared
him my remembrance of him grew
stronger. When he turned round l
had his name on my lips.
1t was Simon Leroux.
"Diable! So you've got her!" he
began in a hoarse, forcible whisper.
where did you pick her up?"
made no answer, but waited for
him 10 lead again-and was thinking
hard.
There's the devil to pay!" he went
on In his e1ecrable accent. Louis
came on post-haste. as you know, and
he hasn't turned up this morning yet.
All, mon Dieu, I always knew Tom was
close, but / never dreamed you knew
anything. You know what happened
last night?"
ut was an unfortunate affair."" ]
SAIL guardedly. -
"Unfortunate" (" he repeated, staring
at me out of his bloodshot eyes. "It
was the devil, by -! Who was her
His face was fiery red, and he cast
so keen a look at me that almost
thought he had discovered he was be-
traying himself.
ut was lucky I was In New York
when Louis wired us she had flown"
he cOntinued-I omit the oathS which
punctuated his phrases. Lucky I had
my men with me, too. / didn't think
I'd need them here, but I'd promised
them trip to New York-and then
come Louis wire. I put them on the
track. I guessed she'd go to Daly's-
old Duchaine was mad about that
crazy system Of his, and had been
writing 10 him.
81 tell you it was ticklish. There
was millions of dollars worth Of prop
erty walking up Broadway, and they'd
got her, with taxi waiting near by.
when that DEVILS fool strolls up and
draws a crowd. If I'd been there I'd
have"
A string of vile expletives followed
his last remark.
"They got on his track again ant
followed them to the Merrimac," HI
continued. "And they never came out
They waited all night till nine this
morning, and they never came out. ]
thought her q good girl-it's awful!
Who was he? Say, how much do yos
know?"
His face was dripping with sweat,
and he shot an awful Took at Jacque-
line as she bent over the suitcase.
could hardly keep my hands of him.
but JacQueline's need was too great
for me to give vent to my passion.