The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1921-06-16
CHAPTER ll-continued.

3
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 l was safely be-
yond observation, l paused to gain
some conception of my surroundings.
Across from where l stood appeared
the dim outlines of'n long, ramshackle
building, apparently a shed Of some
kind, while beyond the saloon was
row Of one-story Dwelling houses,
seemingly exactly 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
left?
JAMS had unconsciously pointed In
this direction when he told Of where
the girl lived, and, although that was
doubtless q lie intended to deceive, 1t
was no more than natural for him to
have thoughtlessly designated the
proper point Of the compass.
l advanced cautiously, finding the
narrow sidewalk one Of boards, in very
bad condition. 1t was only when at
tained the end of this row of houses,
and came to the entrance Of q narrow,
dark, alley, that l found the slightest
proof that l was, by good fortune,
upon the right trail. II was above this
opening that the incandescent bulb
fiickered dimly, yet, IN 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 drizzle began, for their footprints
were yet visible in the soft mud of the
crossing as they advanced beyond the
safety Of the board walk. BY bending
low, and keeping my own shadow out
of the way, I was able to trace their
progress for two or three yards quite
easily and then, to my surprise, the
footprints turned abruptly to the left,
and disappeared entirely.
To all appearances the two had pro-
ceeded down the alley. Black, unin-
vlting, as that gloomy passage ap-
peared they must have turned into It
and CROPPED their way forward. Where7
For what purpose? l could think Of
but one objeCt-the Alva iron factory,
the mysterious meeting place at S76
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 60 on alone, unarmed as I
was, knowing nothing Of what I might
encounter? l hesitated, my heart
beating like n trip-hammer, yet, after
all the danger seemed more Of the I'M
aginatiOn than reality. Besides, I was
still young, and venturesome; the sItu-
alton appealed to me, and-well the
memory of that girls face remained
strangely insistent Odd as It may
seem, her predicament yielded me a
reckless desire TO have an immediate
hand in the game.
/ found two imprints Of her narrow
shoe IN the mud after the turn had
been made, then all trace vanished. !
Crept forward, envelOpcd in gloom,
keeping as closely as possible to the
high board fence at the left. The way
was rough underfOot, and my progress
consequently slow, being anxious to
make as little noise as possible. The
passage was so black, l lost all knOwl,
edge as to how far l had gone, and was
only aroused TO my position by finally
coming up against a pile of lumber
which completely blocked the further
end of the alley. / recalled dlmly that
the passage swerved here, running
along the side of the Alva factory. un
IL II reached Cans street. Then the
place l sought was to my left, behind
the protection Of this high fence, along
which had been so cautiously feeling
my way.
The silence was profound. stupefy
ing, uncanny. Against the lighter leat