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In spite of these adverse conditions Charlie Mershone decided to go out for a walk. He felt much like a prisoner, and his only recreation was in getting out of the hotel for a daily stroll. Moreover, he had an object in going abroad to-day. So he buttoned his overcoat up to his chin and fearlessly braved the storm.
"I suppose money counts with you, though, as it does with everyone else in the world?" "Of course, sir. Every business is undertaken to make money." Mershone drew his chair a little nearer. "I need a clever detective myself," he announced, confidentially. "I'm anxious to discover what enemy is persecuting me in this way.
I'll take a nap on that bench. Got to keep the fellow in sight, Billy." "Go into my room. There's a cot there." "Thanks, old man; I will. I'm dead tired." Then Fogerty took Arthur aside. "Go home and try to sleep," he advised. "Don't worry. The young lady's safe enough till Mershone goes to her hiding place. When he does, I'll be there, too, and I'll try to have you with me."
Then by degrees she told them her story, and how, hearing the voice of her persecutor Mershone in the hall below she had become frantic with fear and resolved to trust herself to the mercies of the storm rather than submit to an interview with him. Before this she had decided that she could climb down the trellis, and that part of her flight she accomplished easily.
In addition to all this the little dance that concluded the evening's entertainment had been quite delightful, and all things conspired to put Louise in a very contented frame of mind. Still fluttering with the innocent excitements of the hour the girl went to join Arthur without a fear of impending misfortune. She did not think of Charlie Mershone at all.
Charlie Mershone had no difficulty in securing his release when Parker came on duty at six o'clock. He called up a cab and went at once to his rooms at the Bruxtelle; and Fogerty followed him. While he discarded his dress-coat, took a bath and donned his walking suit Mershone was in a brown study.
"What d'ye mean by that talk, Fogerty?" demanded Big Bill. "Of course it was Mershone who stole the girl," explained the detective, calmly; "we know that. But Mershone is a clever chap. He knew he was watched, and so he has never made a movement to go to his prisoner. But he grew restless in time, and when he met you, yesterday, fixed up a deal with you to carry me away, so he could escape."
You're a novice in society just yet, my dear, and it won't do you any good to encourage Charlie Mershone, whom everyone else avoids." "He's very nice," returned Louise, lightly. "Yes; he must be nicer than I am," admitted the young man, glumly, and thereupon he became silent and morose and Louise found her evening spoiled. The warning did not fall on barren ground, however.
Diana was at that moment in a highly nervous state. She had at times during her career been calculating and unscrupulous, but never before had she deserved the accusation of being malicious and wicked. She had come to reproach herself bitterly for having weakly connived at the desperate act of Charlie Mershone, and her good sense assured her the result would be disastrous to all concerned in it.
I'll hear from him again in a minute: hold the wire." Fogerty waited. Soon he learned that Mershone had purchased a ticket for East Orange. The train would leave in fifteen minutes. Fogerty decided quickly. After looking at his watch he rushed out and arrested a passing taxicab. "Ready for a quick run perhaps a long one?" he asked. "Ready for anything," declared the man.
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