Chapter XX: Showing Them

When Owen Sheridan arrived at Chicago, the following day, he proceeded at once to the address given in the telegram. He guessed that this was the boarding house in which Chester Worthington, Dallas’ brother, resided, and as it was Sunday, there would be, of course, no use in looking up that young man at his place of business.

No. 89 Dulwich Street proved to be a nice-looking house on a quiet street. Owen hoped to find Dallas there, for it seemed probable that the girl while in Chicago would stay under the same roof as her brother. But as he drew near he suddenly stopped short, and, uttering an exclamation of astonishment, darted into a convenient doorway to avoid being seen by a man who was ascending the stoop.

This man was stout, red-faced, flashily dressed, and wore a gaudy necktie, from the center of which flashed a huge diamond. It was the sight of him which had caused Owen such agitation, for he recognized the fellow immediately as Jake Hines, fugitive from justice, and his unsuccessful rival in love.

“Good heavens!” gasped Owen. “What can this mean? Is it possible that the rascal can have anything to do with Dallas’ coming to Chicago? It’s a lucky thing I’m here.”

He waited until the door of No. 89 had closed behind Hines, then he came out of his place of concealment, and hurried toward the house. A pleasant-looking woman responded to his ring at the doorbell, and he questioned her abruptly: “That man who just came in here--where did he go?”

“You mean Mr. Fitzgerald, I presume?”

“That’s probably the name he goes under,” said Owen, realizing that it was not unlikely that Mr. Hines, being a fugitive from justice, had assumed an alias. “Does he reside here?”

The woman regarded her excited visitor with cold suspicion. “Before I answer any questions, sir, I must know who you are and what business----”

Owen, without waiting for her to finish, displayed his badge, at sight of which her manner changed.

“Oh, is that the kind of a man Mr. Fitzgerald is?” she exclaimed. “Well, I’m not surprised to hear it. I took a dislike to him the first time I saw him.”

“Oh, then he does live here?”

“No; but he comes here quite often to visit one of our boarders, sir--a Mr. Worthington--and it’s up to his room that he’s gone now.”

“And is Miss---- Is anybody else up there with them?” inquired Owen, with great eagerness.

“Yes, sir; Mr. Worthington’s sister from New York. She arrived here yesterday, and has the room next to her brother’s. She’s up in her room now--the second-floor rear--and----”

Without waiting to hear any more Owen rushed up the stairway, and paused before a closed door, from behind which the deep voice of Jake Hines could be plainly heard.