San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-09

By Arthur Somers Roche

in a week he would kill Pelham with
his own hands. Twice motor cars had
barely missed running over Pelham.
Three times shots had been fired at
him. One of them clipped his hat.
Jerry Tryon, his partner, and Slim
Dickinson, bis ok-valet-friend, were
both equally anxious during this espe-
cially trying week. They were con-
WINGED that if Pelham remained indoors
the Gray Ghost would come to him.
And when the criminal should come a
score of Tryon operators would be
awaiting him.
But their pleas had been uhheeded
by Pelham.
"Slim," said Pelham, I'm going out
to dinner"
Il got swell steak in the ice box"
said Slim. But his voice was hopeless.
"Then eat it, snapped Pelham.
whats the big idea?" demanded
Slim. you're not going out without
me, are you?"
II am" declared Pelham, EVERY
where I've, gone I've had a group of
people with me, and our friend has
made only long-range attempts. If
I'm alone, he'll come close. And
that's what 1 want" He laughed.
'But because that's what want, he'll
not make any effort tonight"
The Tryon Agency held title to the
whole block in which Pelham's apart
ment was situated. This was not mere
ly an Investment calculated to bring in
a certain percentage of return; it was
also in the nature of a precautionary
measure.
So Pelham had been able to con-
struct various doors and passages
which made it possible for him, walk
ing into his bedroom, to appear five
minutes later in the doorway of
building fifty yards away.
1t was dusk when he slipped quietly
into the street. He was recognized at
once by an operative of the agency.
The. man would have followed, but
Pelham peremptorily ordered him to
remain where he was and darted down
a side street.
West of Broadway he picked up a
taxi and drove to Edgemont, that gay
roadhouse which, well within the city's
limits, yet makes one feel that the
city has been left behind.
As he progressed peacefully through
an excellent dinner, he began to feel
something ridiculous in his precau-
tons. This was New York; not Cor
sica, or Sicily, or some other land of
the vendetta.
Looking across the river at the
twinkling lights of Jersey, watching
the moonlight turn the river into dane
ing silver, hearing the orchestra play
the latest waltz, seeing the smiling
faces of girls-he managed to bring a
temporary sense of security to his
strained nerves.
Deliberately he forced himself to re-
gard the past months of the Gray
Ghosts renaissance, the past few days
Of strain, as unrealistic, and the
present, with its calm and joyous Sc
curity, as the true reality.
There is in the makeup of every
man who may lay claim to being an
artist-and if Pelham's profession was
lot artistic, his methods entitled him to
be considered at least more magma
tive than his fellow craftsmen-some-
thing which enables him to disre-
gard the immediate past and the i'm
mediate future, and live only in the
moment. Pelham could do this. He
was quite forgetful of the Gray Ghost,
as, his hunger satisfied, he lighted
a cigarette, stirred the sugar in his
q coffee, and looked about the room.
Presently he realized that the pretty
blonde who sat alone, two tables away
from him, was eying him.
He had idly noticed her when she
first came in, and had seen her insist
upon being shown to the table where
she now sat. A card, with the word
Reserved printed upon it, had dis
appeared from the table almost stimuli
taneously with the transfer of some
thing from the girls hand to that of
the head waiter.
She held up her hand and furtively
beckoned to him. He hesitated mo-
ment. Then it seemed to him that it
was to him as an individual to whom
she wished to speak and not merely to
well-dressed stranger. So he rose and
approached the table at which she sat.
Her face lighted up as he stopped be-
side her. won't you sit DOWN.? she
invited him.
THANK you," said Pelham.
He pulled out chair, sat down, and
looked inquiringly at her. She was even
prettier than she had seemed at long
er range. For the rest she seemed a
wellbred girl whose air of sophistica-
ton might well be due to nothing more
than the contacts required By the
necessities of earning a living. Pei
ham set her down as connected in
some capacity with the theater.
II suppose you must have terrible
opinion of me-" she said.
II am reserving judgment" smiled
Pelham.
Convinced that the mute invitation
TO joip her had not been born of an
inclination to filtration, but had been
inspired by some real need he gave
her time TO approach the matter. what