Part 3 (2/2)

She had rehearsed in the theater on the previous Thursday afternoon, and had then seeement No one connected with the theater had seen her since that tione smoothly; they had had no reason to fear such a contretemps as her nonappearance

They had sent to her hotel; she was gone, bag and baggage She had departed on Friday, leaving no word as to her destination They had asked the police, the hotels, the railroads, the steamshi+p coer only hoped--he hoped with all his heart--that his frank and unreserved explanation would appease his kind patrons and prevent their resentment; that they would understand--

I made my way out of the theater as rapidly as possible, with Billy Du Mont at my side, and started north on Broadway

My co unrestrainedly

”What a joke!” he exclaiad, what a woman! She comes in and turns the town upside down and then leaves it standing on its head

What wouldn't I give to know her!”

I nodded, but said nothing At Forty-Second Street we turned east to Fifth Avenue, and a few minutes later were at the club I took Du Mont to a secluded corner of the grill, and there, with a bottle of wine between us, I spoke

”Billy,” said I, ”there's the deuce to pay You're an old friend of ot to help one I must find her”

”Find Le Mire?” He stared at me in amazement ”What for?”

”Because my brother Harry is with her”

Then I explained in as feords as possible, and I ended, I think, with so like this:

”You know, Billy, there are very few things in the world I consider of any value She can have the lad's ain But the name of Lamar must reer Whoever that woman touches she kills And Harry is only a boy”

Billy helped me, as I kneould; nor did he insist on unnecessary details I didn't need his assistance in the search, for I felt that I could accomplish that as well alone

But it was certainly known that Harry had been calling on Le Mire at her hotel; conjectures were sure to be ues; and it was the part of ossip This he pro Harry, it was too late to do anything that night, and I went ho at her hotel But though the otten no infor

I dared not go to the police, and probably they would have been unable to give ht it The only other possible source of infor my brain for the better part of the day I decided that there was nothing else for it, and started on a round of the ticket offices of the railroads and steamshi+p companies

I had immediate success My first call was at the office where Harry and I were accustoe our transportation As I entered the head clerk--or whatever they call hireet me with a smile

”Yes,” said he in response to ot his tickets froht--Friday”

”Tickets!” I lected to listen to him Then aloud: ”Where were the--tickets for?”

”Denver”

”For Friday's train?”

”Yes The Western Express”

That was all I wanted to know I hurried hos, and took the afternoon train for the West