The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-06-02
CHAPTER n-continued.

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, / paused to gain
conception Of my surroundings.
Across from where l stood appeared
the dim outlines of a long, ramshackle
building, apparently a shed Of some
kind, while beyond the saloon was q
row of one-stoV 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 a lie intended to deceive. 1t
was no more than natural for him to
have thoughtlessly designated the
proper point OF the compass.
advanced cautiously, finding the
narrow sidewalk one OF boards. in very
bad condition. 1t was only when I at
talned the end Of this row Of houses,
and came to the entrance of a narrow,
dark alley, that l found the slightest
proof that l was, by good fortune,
upon the right trail. It was above this
opening that the incandescent bulb
fickered dimly, vet, in spite of wind
and rain, gave me glimpse Of the mud
~underfoot. The two must have been
the only one 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. / 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-
viting, as that gloomy passage APP
peared. they must have turned into 1t
and CROPPED their way forward. Where?
For what purpose? I could think of
but one ohiect-the Alva iron factory.
the mysterious meeting place at S76
Cans street. Beyond all question this
alley would skirt along the hack OF
that building. and there would be an
entrance at the rear.
Dare / 20 on alone, unarmed as I
was, knowing nothing OF what | might
encounter? / hesitated, my heart
beating like a t~rip-hammer. yet. after
all the danger seemed more of the I'm
agination than reality. Besides. / was
still young. and venturesome ; the situ-
alton appealed to me. and-well, the
memory OF that girls face remained
strangely iusiStent. Odd as It may
seem, her predivAment yielded me q
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, developed 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 80 black, n lost all knowl-
edge as to how far / lad gone, and was
only aroused to my position by finally
coming up against q pile of lumber
which completely blocked the further
end Of the alley. ! recalled dimly that
the passage swerved here, running
along the side of the Alva factofy, IN.
I'll It reached Cans street. Then the
place Il sought was To my left, behind
The protection nf this high fence. along
which 4 had been u cautiously feeling
my way.
The silence was profound. stupefy.
Ing, uncanny. Against the lighter lead
SSOf the upper sky 4 WINS barely able Ia
trace the upper story of the building
but u was All black, gloomy. desert.
ga hole. Any faith / might have had
that the two 4 had attempted To follow
had come there vanished us I strained
my eyes sfor some CLEAN y Hight. d
any other SIGN To denote their presenct
within. I sttII believed they hal
turned down the alley, but this was 40
their goal beyond doubt they had IA
tered some gate along TIC Hay mi
thus escaped me entirelly.
hardly know what aiitmllpp<alIled no G
gropes nv way back along he renee
sSdh1ind1y feeling f0rMaNxafe. CurfoSifE