Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-12-27
The Palace
of Darkened
Windows

felt swamped by the number of
things to be found out immedi-
ately He must find where that big
gray motor went so early on Sunday
surely there were people who had
remarked it if they could only be
found and induced to talk! And he
must find where the Captain had
other homes or palaces where he
would be likely to hide a girl. And
he must find out where the Captain
was every instant of the day and
night.
That was the most important thing
of all. For the Captain unless de-
layed ny extreme illness, or held back
by caution which Billy judged was
foreign to his nature, would not wait
long before he joined Arlee. He had
evidently stayed behind for some re-
view of his troops and also to be au
courant Of whatever stir would result
from FRITZ Baroff's temperance In
the world, and be on hand to disarm
whatever further suspicions would
result from it The lights in the rose
room that last night and the used
look of the room, puzzled Billy, but
he Concluded that the Captain liked
the room and there was good deal
in that palace that had better be left
to no imagination whatever.
+ So back to the hotel went Billy to
enter upon period of waiting that
frayed his nerves to an utter FRAGILE.
Inaction was horrible to him. and
In Yof
for word from that agile web of little
spies which the one-eyed man was
weaving about the Captains palace,
and be ready to start whenever the
word came.
He slept with his clothes on that
Monday night, but lie slept heavily
for he was tired and his arm was no
longer painful. The tear of-wound
he called scratch was healing
swiftly.
Tuesday morning passed In the
came maddening suspense. Captain
I8sr.ssen rode out that morning but
only TO the parade ground. where he
K TX part in review with his troops.
1T was noticed that his rl.''t hand
Was bandaged, but fne injury could
re- lave been severe for his thumb
was free from the bandage and he
occasionally used that hand upon the
Imp that were sure of that.
In the Afternoon the Captain went
again to the barracks and then to the
palace of one of the colonies in his
regiment. Then he went home,
Utterly disguised with this walt
ing game Billy began to dress for
dinner. All lathered for a shave he
stood testing his razor on hair
when his unlocked door was violent
.ly opened and a painting little figure
darted across to him. 1t was the
Imp.
Sir. he goes, he goes upon the
minute" he painted out. HE is in the
station. Quick"
Like a streak Of lathered tightening
Billy went for his clothes. A cent?
pede could have been no more active.
He jerked up his suspenders; he jerk
ed on a shirt; he jerked on a coat:
he was wiping his face as he darted
thru the halls and down the stairs,
No lift had speed enough for his de-
SCI ut. At the desk he flung some gold
pieces at the clerk cried something
about being called out of the city,
and asked to have his room kept;
then he was down the steps and into
the carriage that the Imp had mag
ically summoned.
The drive to the station was
serie., Of escapes. Between jolts the
Imp gasped ont the rest of the story.
The Captain had ridden out in the
automobile. The Imp had given chase
and so had the one-eyed man, also
on guard, and by dint of running for
dear life they had kept the motor in
sight until the crowded city streets
were reached and u series of delays
soon as they saw the motor STOP be-
fore the station the boy had rushed
70, billy while the Arab remained to
sf;.e oN the Captain and learn his
destination.
They themselves were at the sta
ton nowe and BILLY was still tying
his cravat. Now they jumped down
and pressed thru the confusion,
lodging dragomans, porters, drivers
orous way past hurrying travellers
and thru bewildered bloclxades of
tourist parties. Suddenly over the
bobbing heads they saw the face they
sought. A single eye glared signifi-
canoe upon them. An uplifted hand
beckoned furiously.
'.Assiout," whispered the one-eyed
man as Billy reached, him. "Assiout.
'lllat one goes to Assiout on the
night express"
Upturned palms bespoke the alb
sence of ticket and the Arabs deep
regret. "The price was much. /
waited"
Billy was off, There was no chance
of his getting past that stolid guard
without a ticket and he charged tow
ard the sellers window, where line
of natives was forming for, another
train.
\"Siut!" he shouted over their
heads, and scattering silver and
smiles and apologies he crowded past
the motley line to the window and
fairly snatched the miles Of green
ticket from the ,Copts quick fingers.
He was the last man thru the gate,
and as he darted thru the clicking OF
compartment doors was heard with
the parting cries of the guards and
the shouts of dragomans and porters.
1t was a train de luxe where the
sleeping sections had long been re-
served, but to accommodate the
crowded travel ordinary compart-
ment cars had been added at the last
minute, and it was at one of these
that Billy grasped, as the wheels were