Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-11-09
enAPrER

An hour later Dace and shottie re
turned 10 their hotel after a cere
moniOus visit with Colonel Josh. The
Colonel knew Of Stepho. had indeed
met him once. and he promised to
make discreet Inquiries that should
without fan disclose the creole's
whereabouts
Hardly had Drace reached his room,
however, before q visitor vas shown
ina visitor who introduced himself
as an agent Of the New Orleans po-
lice department and who had a most
distressing communication to make:
1t was known that Mr.. Draee and
his friend had taken part In a recent
riot Mr.. Drace was me OF the lead
ers, had severely wounded more than
one man, and without cause, being
from the North, just arrived. and hav-
ing no possible interest In the city.
However, he was to be treated with
more Of lenlty than would rhyme with
his crime, for instead Of punishment
he was only to be banished, along with
his friend. A steamboat. the Bum
blebee, bound northward, would leave
next morning. The chief Of police
would grieye II Mr.. Drace and his
friend failed to register among the
passengers.
With scarcely twelve hours left In
which to find Stepho la Vitte, Drace
paced the streets In an akony Of anx-
Iety, making a hundred 'plans to find
Stepho or to outwIt the New Orleans
officials and prolong his stay, but all
In vain.
Colonel Josh did not appear, but he
seemed to have embarked upon the
quest, Cor when the distracted Drace
called at his quarters about midnight
the old fellow was still absent. Dawn
brought Draee back again, for all his
other endeavors had been unsuccess-
full, and but two hours remained before
the Bumblebee's departure.
Routed out of bed, the Colonel kept
BRACE waiting a full half hour before
he put IN an appearance. Then, how
ever, he offered a faint ray Of hope.
He had discovered that a certain
F~renchman, q wine dealer, living at
an address he produced scrawled on
paper, was reported to be an intimate
Of Stepho. Possibly from him MIR.
Drace might
Drace hurriedly explained the de-
cree which had banished him; then he
presented" the Colonel with a check
on account, asked him to convey his
respects to Miss Lucy and took his
departure.
On his way to the Frenchman's he
stopped at the hotel, where he found
Shottle strapping up their baggage
and q police official paying an informal
but suggestive call. An hours grace
remained. Drace paid his score at the
desk, sent his baggage to the boat and
then, summoning a cab, drove off with
Shottle to the house Of the French
man. 1t proved to be a mean abode,
both w1neshop and dwelling. Drace
knocked eagerly. A small man, his
mustache dyed, anne to the door,
blinking.
II beg your pardon, sir, but I am a
friend of Mr.. la vitte, and"
pardon, monsieur, but you do not
look like him, re friend"
"But / am. And 1 came with word
that will be Of advantage to him. The
police are after him"
saw, he know Eat. Monsieur would
trouble himself for nothing. Good
morning." sHa1
"Just a msmahtpipFease. You have
no need to look, on me with suspicion.
I am his fnend--and--" ra m
"If you his friend" interrupted the
man, "you know he gone-to Europe,
on steamer to France"
BRACE was about to abandon the man
in despair when Shottle, who had been
staring at a case Of wine which stood
by the door ticketed and sealed for
shipment, suddenly interrupted.
"Ah," he cried, "can this be the