American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-06-03

assured that | had finally lulled every
suspicion to rest and passed out
through the front door.
The street was deserted and rain
swept, the few lights showing mere
%pin-pricks In the darkness. l plunged
straight across the street. as though
headed for the nearest car line, and
then, In the shade OF darkness, re-
traced my steps, passing the corner.
until l attained the side entrance.
Here, assured that / was safely be-
yond observation, l paused TO gain
some conception OF my surroundings.
Across from where l stood appeared
the dim outlines OF q long, ramshackle
building, apparently n shed OF some
kind, while beyond the saloon was n
row Of one-story dwelling houses,
seemingly exnctly alike, and exhibit
ing no evidence of being occupied.
In which direction had the couple
turned after their exit through the
side door of the saloon-to right, or
left2
Jams had unconsclously pointed In
this direction when he told OF where
the girl lived, and although that was
doubtless n lie intended to deceive. 1t
was no more than natural for him to
have th~oughtlessly designated the
proper point OF the compass.
| advanced cautiously, finding the
narrow sidewalk one OF boards, In very
bad condition. II was only when l at
tained the end OF this row of houses.
and came 10 the entrance of a narrow.
dark nlley, that ! found the slightest
proof that ! was. by good fortune,
upon the right trail. II was above this
opening that the incandesccnt bulb
hickered dimly, yet, Ia spite OF wind
and rain, gave me glimpse Of the mud
underfoot. The two must have been
the only ones passing that way since
the drlzzle began, for their footprints
were yet visible In the soft mud Of the
crossing AZ they advanced beyond the
safety Of the board walk. by bending
low, and keeping my own shndow out
OF the way, I was nblc to trace their
progress for two or three yards quite
ensily, and then, 10 my surprise, the
footprints turned abruptly TO the left.
and disappeared entirely.
To MI appearances the two had pro-
ceeded down the alley. Black, unin-
wiling, as that gloomy passage D
peared. they must have turned into 10
and CROPPED their way forward. Wheref
For what purpose7 I could think OF
but one O~b1ect-the Alva iron factOry,
the mysterious meeting place at s7b
Cans street. Beyond all question this
alley would skirt along the back of
that building, and there would be an
entrance at the rear.
Dare I go on alone, unarmed as I
WIS, knowing nothing Of what I might
e%noounter1 I besItnted, my heart
beating like a ~trip-hnmmer. yet. after
all the danger seemed more Of the i'm
ngtDation than reality. BESIDES, was
sim young. md venturegome the stu
alton appealed 10 me. nnd--weli. the
memory Of that girls face remained
strangely insistoGt. Odd AZ II may
seem. her predicament yielded me a
reckless deslye 10 have nm immediate
hand IN tho garDe
I found two imprlnts Of her narrow
shoe In tho mud after the turn had
been made. Mon an trace vanished. I
crept forward, enyeloped IN gloom,
keeping as closely az possible TO the
high board fence al tho left. The way
was rough underfoot, and my progress
consequently slow, being anxious to
make as little noise as possible. The
] possngo was 10 black. I Lost all knOwl-
edge as 10 how far ! had gone, and was
only aroused 10 my position by finally
coming up against n pile Of lumber
which completely blocked the further
end OF the alley. | recalled dlmly that
the paexage swcrved here, running
along the side NJ the Aiva fnctory. I'M
III II reached Cans street. Then the
place ] sought vas to my left. behind
the protection ~ this high fence, along
which ! had been = cautiously feeling
fng Wny,
,1.n ms rTavrv.svvVay.