The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-03-20
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tHc SOHuuSIOF. MS nUmOr was none
too good. He opened the door with
. bang and let Jimmy out.
The fog had closed SO densely that
Divis rapidly walking figure was an
indistinguishablc blur up the street.
sparsely settled district. Houses
those that could be seen in the foggy'
murk-werc few and far between.
No paved streets. cinder maths
instead of sidewalks.
Ahead Of him. just barely discern
lille, was Divis, still walking. Then,
keeping q safe distance between
them. Jimmy followed the dim figure
up the street.
II the car ride had seemed to Jim
my TO last for hours, the walk
seemed like ages. Stretches between
houses grew longer and longer.
The damp air was raw. He shiy-
cred, and buttoned his overcoat tight.
~ around his throat. But he was
cold not alone from the chill atmos.
pherc but from his surroundings. J. :
To be trailing Divis down this lonely
path. -. What was to be the out
Gomez"
He walked noiselcssly. on rubber
heels. but unconsciously he length
ened his stride. A minute or two
later he checked himself. seeing that
the distance between him and the
man he was following had narrowed,
n. He was afraid that Divis might
suddenly turn around and wait.
Then what ? He felt sure that Divis
was armed.
Barry Colvin had told him that
Mary had broken off with Sam
Church. He revolved it in his mind
and found the thought pleasant
But Mary had said she had written
him letter. What could have hap
pened to it,. And Barry said
she still cared for him. /. He felt
singularly Tuplifted---andl then he
came down to earth again.
He shook his head. muttered:
Must keep my mind on what I'm
doing. That can all wait. Won
der where in the devil this Divis is
going. He's taking me way out in
the country
The disconcerting thought struck
him that perhaps Divis might have
recognized him. after all. and was
merely leading him on Ito some
trap.
He said, trying to allay that sud
den fear: That's a CRAZY idea.
Mustn't lose my nerve. This fellow
would be scaredcr than l am If he
knew was following him.
And still Divis walked on.
The fog grew thicker. Jimmy al
lowed himself to approach great
deal nearer. Once Divis stopped, and
Jimmy had h0rrifying moment. He
dropped suddenly to the ground, flat
tened himself out on the cinder path.
But Divis did not turn around. He
had only stopped to shift a bundle
from one arm to the other.
Jimmy noted with relief that he was
striking out ahead once more.
Along parallel street a block
away Jimmy could see dimly an auto
mobile shooting along at a furious
rate and humping crafty over the
uneven road. lie wondered what
mission its passenger >Qv passengers
could be on to warrant such reck-
less speed.
Divis observed the auto, too. The
roar of it's motor seemed strangely
far away in the fog, although only
short block separated them. Jimmy
saw Divis stop again. his head NOV
ing slowly as he followed the car
with his eyes
Jimmy thought: Wonder what
Mary thought, seeing me run Always
like that? Looked as il was trying
to avoid her. Must clear that
up soon's get hack. Wonder
what Barry thought? Good old
Barry. Wish he were here"
He felt the need of someone near
him. Not help, SO much, rs
cOVpanionship. He debated briefly
on the ACCESSIBILITY Of entering one
of the houses that he. passed so in
frequently, explaining his plight and
asking for someone to come with him
with gun.
But he put the thought aside.
might lose him." he said. "Only
thing to dos to stick to him to see
to one now he's going to see Jensen. I
what lonely place! Hide anybody
here. Nobody within hailing dis.
lance all day long"
Again Divis stopped and again
Jimmy flattened himself on the
ground, but again it was only to
shift . bundle.
.Must be heavy" Jimmy said.
wonder what's in it? Lord. II only
somebody were here--Barry, O'Day.
anybody"
Straight ahead, and some distance
back from the street, light glowed
dimly. As he drew nearer, Jimmy
could see that it came from the base
ment Of house whose outlines he
could barely make out in the screen
like fQg.
There was no CLINT to the light, as
there had been to those in some Of
the houses he had passed. Jimmy
concluded it must be shining from
behind drawn shade, iau
And then he saw his man turn
sharply to the left. Dropping down
to the ground once more. he saw
Divis, head still straight ahead, walk
toward the house with the, dim light.
Growing little bolder. he got to
his feet and trOtted, sure that he was
unobserved.
1t was long walk from the cinder-
path to the front door of the house
an interminably long walk, he
thought as he watched Divis.
Then he saw Divis descend the
steps that led to the basement en-.
trance. He was out Of sight now,
but Jimmy, listening intcntly, heard
two distinct raps on the door.
Silence followed.
Then cautiously, his heart pound.
ing thundersus tattoo against his
ribs, he slowly made his way up tho
walk to the house.
What lay ahead?
Ito BE Continued)