Charlevoix county herald., 1920-03-12

confidence I'm her that did In Barbara.
But what / relied on most OF all to
convince German of the truth of my
preposterous tale was his own knowl-
edge of who the telephone girl was
Just when | had reached the deduc.
ton that the band plotting against
us must have coadjutor In the build.
ing. he had come forward with the
knowledge that pointed toward the
person most apt to be involved.
was bordering II all over In my
mind as / left the house TO meet Bar
bara. | was out on the street and
Just turning the corner when | remem'
bered that | had spent most OF the
money In my pocket the night before.
Retracing my steps, ! returned to my
apartment and took some bills from
their hiding-place in the bookcase. AS
l emerged into the street again, | be-
came aware that across the street was
a man whose appearance seemed
vaguely familiar. AS / once more
turned the corner, walking brlskly. ]
glanced back for second look at
him and was SURPRISED to see him com
ing in my direction.
Then all at once my subcOnscious
mind came to my rescue. ] realized
when IL was that | had seen him be
fore and what made his appearance
so familiar AS / left the house not
ten minutes ago that very same mar
had been standing across the street
AS l had turned back at the corner
he had been coming in my direction
Just as he was now.
He must be following me, trailing
me, shadowing me. l determined to
test out my theory. At the next cor
ner turned sharply, glancing quickly
back as 1 did so. He was still follow
ing me, though on the other side OF
the street and perhaps half a block
away. I went few steps out OF
sight and then stopped as If to look
in q shop window. He came hurryina
around the corner an instant later
slowing down as soon as he spotted
me again and walked on slowly past
me as II not noticing me. waited
until he was some distance beyond
and retracing my steps quickly to the
avenue again stopped in the shelter Of
building to light a cigar, purposely
wasting a number Of matches. In
hardly ten seconds he was back, covert
ly watching me from the other side Of
the street. p Q
There was no question about II. He
was trailing me. But who could be
having me shadowed3 Certainly he
was not in the employ Of the Brad
fords or Of Detective German. Either
he must be one Of the band Of plot
tiers, orr hated to voice my suspi-
cion, but somehow the thought Of my
great-uncle Rufus kept obtruding IT.
self. 1t would be just like the sus-
picious old miser, If 1t was he who
had planned all this devilment, to put
me in a position of trust and then 10
have me watched night and day.
Whoever 1t was that inspired this
pursuit, I determined to lead my
shadow merry chase. Jumping into
taxi l babe the driver take me to
department store. Looking back /
saw the shadow hastily entering an
other cat > Arrived at my destination
l thrust fare and tip into the drivers
hand and hurrying inside managed to
catch an elevator just ascending. One
flight up got out and redescended to
the main floor by staircase at the
rear, emerging thence on to a side
streei~ A second taxi took me to
the Twentyeighth street subway sta
ton, and there, with no sign Of my
pursuer, | took train to Times
square and went to the Astor to meet
Barbara Bradford, arriving on the dot
of one. She was there awaiting me
and we quickly found a secluded table
in one of the less conspicuous rooms.
"Pve told Claire everything" she
said as soon as we were seated. 81
hope you're not angry with me-"
"Of course not You had to tell
her. I am sorry to have frightened
her."
"She shouldn't >have gone to your
room. That's JUS like her, though.