The Ordway new era., 1921-05-20

mie suppose you go and tap on the
door and tell the ladies' we're pulling
into Portal City"
hung around while the boss was
telling Mrs. Sheila and Maisie Ann
good-by. and l was in the baggage
room. digging up the put-off stuff. at
the good-by minute. But | guess they
didn't quarrel any-the boss and Mrs.
Sheila. She was laughing little to
herself as l helped her down from
the car. and when l asked her where
she wanted to go, she said l might
ask one of the porters to carry the
traps, and we'd walk to the hotel,
which was only n few blocks up the
main street.
She took Maisie Ann on the other
side of her and let two of the blocks
go by without saying anything more,
and then she gave that quiet little
laugh again and said. Your Mr.. Nor
cross amuses me, Jimmie. He says
| have no business to travel without
guardian. What do you think
about it?"
told her l hadn't any thinks com
ing, and she seemed to take that for
a joke and laughed some more. Then
she asked me If I'd ever been in New
York, and | felt sort of small when
l had to tell her that l had never
been east of Omaha in all my life.
With that, she told me not to worry;
that if l stayed with Mr.. Norcross
I'd probably get to go anywhere l
wanted to-
Something in the way she said it
made it sound like n little slam on
the boss, and of course l wasn't 60
ing to stand for that.
There is one thing about it: the
boss will make good wherever he
goes" / hit back. You can bet on
that"
Il like your loyalty" she flashed out.
1T is a fine thing in a day that is
much too careless of such qualities.
And l agree with you that your Mr..
Norcross is likely to succeed; more
than likely, if he will only learn to
combine little gentle cleverness with
the heavy hand"
Il don't think you have any cause
to blacklist Mr.. Norcross,' 1 said.
Hasn't he been right good and broth
erly to both of you this EVENING"
"Oh. l didn't mean that" she said
real earnestly. But in the stateroom
in Mr.. Chadwick's car: the ventilator
was open. you know, until Maisie Ann
got up and shut it, and we couldn't
very well help hearing what was said
about the kidnapping. Neither Mr..
Chadwick nor Mr.. Norcross seemed
to be able to account for it
Can you account for it?" | asked,
bluntly enough. guess.
AT this she smiled and said, "It
would be rather presumptuous for me
to try where Mr.. Norcross and Mr..
Chadwick failed, wouldn't 1t? But
maybe l can give you just wee little
hint. You saw the two men who went
over to the auto and smoked while
they were waiting for the other two
to come back? If am not mistaken.
l have seen them many times before.
and they are very well known here in
Portal City. One of them, the smaller
one with the derby hat and the short
overcoat, was either Mr.. Rufus Hatch
or his double; and the other, the
heavy-set one, might have been Mr..
Gustave Henckel, Mr.. Hatch's partner
in the Red Tower company"
This didn't help out much. but you
can bet that I made note of the two
names.
You are going back to Mr.. Chad
wick's carr" she asked, when she was
telling me good-by and thanking me
for coming up to the hotel with them.
l told her / was. and then she came
around to the kidnapping business
again of her own accord.
You may give Mr. Norcross the
hint l gave you, IL you WISH" she
said; .'only you must be good boy,
Jimmie. and not drag me into It,"
Il see." l nodded; "Pll tell the
boss, when i get good chance. and
you can bet your last dollar he won't
tangle you up in it-he isn't put to-
gether that way"
well, then. goodnight" she smiled.
giving me her hand. And with that
she sort of edged the little girl into
the elevator before we could get a
chance to shake hands, and l heard
her tell the boy to take them UP to
the mezzanine landing.
By and by. went down to the sta
tion and began to hunt for the Alexa.
The boss and Mr.. Chadwick were
facing each other across the table,
which was all Uttered up with papers
and maps and reports. and they hard
ly noticed me when blew in and
sat down a little to one side.
Just after / broke in. Mr.. Norcross
jumped up and began to pace back
and forth before the table. with his
hands In his pockets.
mo. can't see 1t. Uncle john"
he said. still sort of stubborn and de-
termined. you are trying to make
me believe that ] ought to take the