The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-10-03
CHAPTER TX

kr-T UAREZ Charlie was beginning
II to fell oppressed and uneasy.
- Three days had passed since
the hat was taken out of the Rangers
car, and there had. been no succeeding
developments. Again and again he
had explored the struggling neighbor-
hood where he lived, searching each
Esfence-post and boarding for another
of those cabalistie Communications.
but without results. a Il h@-4a
On the fourth morning as, after
another fruitless hunt. he brought
out the motorcycle which Ranger
had insisted on his accepting in order
to facilitate his movements, and pre-
pared to start for town, he had the
cir of a discredited prophet who has
lest honor even with himself.
| AS he drew UP before the entrance
| to- Loring's Office the outer guard TO
whom he was now a familiar figure
| waved him along toward the office
/ with the jocular announcement that
| the boss had been just on the point
| of sending out a general alarm for
| him fos1 aa'HEn
I
| and opened the Office door, then
! stopped short on the threshold and
began awkwardly to back away. ID j.
Inside, Ranger and Eustace Highly,
| the attorney were in earnest discus
sion over a letter which Highly held
in his hand; while over by the win
dow stood Mrs. Ranger intently
studying a photograph. 9.73
The slight noise made by Charles
I Intrusion and his mumbled apologies
| for laundering into a family group
reused the three from their preoc-
cupation;. and Ranger stepping
quickly over, caught the retreatihg
Juarez by the arm and drew him into
the room. .---. .-la0a- - 9s
ITS come. Charlie!" His eyes were
shining. Just as you said it would.
old boy. A photograph and the de-
mand for money. Found them on
my desk when we came back from
| lunch"
30 his wife.
Mary Lou, this is Charlie"
She dragged her gaze from the
snapshot, and held the picture I'D
for him to see.
Its the hat all right" He tried
to throw some ENTHUSIASM into his
voice; but this atmosphere of jubi-
lation left him feeling dry and
meager. 1t was, as he told himself.
too darned premature. Charlie had
his, superstitions
|
declared. I'VE couldn't be fooled on
that point
''Oh, yes; it is certainly Hope"
Mrs. Rangers voice trembled with
emotion. How can we ever thank
you, Mr.-?" She hesitated. flushing
family. She felt that she ought to
know his name, and yet she could
not remember ever having heard her
husband use it. She compromised
hastily on, Mr.. Juarez."
I'm mighty glad to have. the
chance of meeting you, too, Mr.
Juarez Highly held out his hand.
you've been the sole person to
throw any light on the puzzle"
THAT absurd hatP' Mrs. Ranger
smiled deprecatingly. And yet you
were right about 1t, Mr.. Juarez 1t
does prove conclusively that the pic
ture was taken within a day or two,
doesn't it?"
They snapped her when she
wasn't expecting it, 1 guess" Charlie
explained: land she's laughing at
herself in that sky-piece."
To Charles relief Ranger re-
minded him just then that he had not
yet read the letter.
He took it. ran over it perfunctori-
ly, and laid it back on the desk with
out comment.
well, what do you >think?' Ran
ger was growing a little impatient at
this indirectness
Charlie picked his we at the cell