Evening star., 1924-03-09


ham with his own hands. Twice
motor cars had barely missed run
ming over Pelham. Three times
shots had been fred at him. One OF
them had clipped his hat.
Jerry Tryon, his partner. and Slim
Dickinson, his cook-valet-friend,
were both equally anxious during
this especially trying week. They
were convinced that if Pelham re-
manned indoors the Gray Ghost would
come to him. And when the GRIM
inal should come score of Tryon
operators would be aw Aiting him.
But their pleas had been unheeded
BY Pelham.
Slim" said Pelham. I'm going out
to dinner"
Il got a swell steak in the ice
box" said Slim. But his voice was
hopeless.
Then eat it, snapped Pelham.
What's the big idea?" demanded
Slim. You're not going out without
me. are you?" -e-
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. II
I'm alone he'll come close. And
that's what I want He laughed
But because that's what I 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
merely an investment calculated to
bring in certain percentage OF re-
turn-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 a
building fifty yards away.
1t was dusk when he slipped
quietly into the street. He was rec
ognized 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. we'll 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
precautions. This was New York,
not Corsica. 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
dancing silver, hearing the orchestra
play the latest waltz, seeing the
smiling faces Of girls-he managed
to bring a temporary sense Of secur-
ity to his strained nerves
Deliberately he forced himself to
regard the past months of the Gray
Ghosts renaissance, the past few
days Of strain, as unrealities. 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 IL Pelham's profession
was not artistic, his methods entitled
him to be considered at least more
Imaginative than his fellow crafts
men-something which enables him
to disregard the immediate past and
the immediate 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 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
appeared from the table almost 81
multaneously with the transfer OF
something 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 1t seemed to him that
1t was to him as an individual to
whom she wished to speak, and not
merely to wel1-dressed stranger.
So he rose and approached the table
at which she sat.
Her face lighted up as he stopped
beside her. Wont you sit down?"
she invited him.
THANK you," said Pelham.
He pulled out q chair, sat down,
ana looked inquiriugly at her. She
wa even prettier than she had
seemed at longer range. For the
rest she seemed a well-bred girl
whose air Of sophistication might
we'll be due to nothing more than
the contacts required by the necessi-
ties Of earning q living. Pelham set
her down as connected in some capac-
ity with the theater.
IT suppose you must have 4 ter
rible opinion Of me-" she said.
'I am reserving Judgment" smiled
Pelham.
Convinced that her mute invitation
to Join her had not been born Of an
inclination to Irritation. but had been
inspired by some real need. he gave
her time to approach the matter.
whatever 1t was. In her own way.
It was rather delightful to sit at
table with this girl, drinking In
through the open windows the soft
air Of the spring evening.
He suddenly wished to whispes