After Mary Louise’s wedding when Hortense Markle had tripped away and disappeared off the face of the earth, as far as Dorfield could ascertain (all of which is told in our last book concerning the fortunes and misfortunes of Mary Louise), she had donned male attire, had cut off her pretty hair and changed her appearance by the many artifices known to the underworld. She had eked out a miserable existence, picking up a living where she could find it. But she had been able to keep in touch with her dearly beloved Felix and he knew all about how his Pet was faring. Finally, when he escaped from the penitentiary, he had joined her and disguised himself as a blind gentleman. She, continuing in her role of fifteen-year-old boy, had posed as his son. Wink Lee, whose real name was George Parker, was a confederate, old in crime. Having a peculiarly oriental face, he could disguise himself as a Chinaman and pass muster anywhere as one of that nation.

Of course, having an ear ever to the ground for chances to acquire wealth, they had heard of the rumor of Colonel Hathaway’s having concealed piles of gold or securities somewhere about his home. After having made repeated unsuccessful attempts to enter the house and search for the treasure they had finally rented the place.

When Danny clamored for admittance, Hortense had no idea of its being a person whom she had known. She had heard Danny was dead and thought, when the persistent person continued to ring the bell after Wink Lee shut the door in his face, that he was, of course, intoxicated. Her Felix had not been well since his stay in the penitentiary and she was anxious not to have his rest broken. Hence her peremptory dismissal of the intruder. Something told her a moment afterwards that she had made a mistake. She had suddenly recognized Danny’s voice. Perhaps he had recognized hers.

The Hathaway house was no longer safe for them. She roused Felix, called Wink Lee and, even more quietly than they made their entrance, the tenants made their exit. The poor blind gentleman could see now and Wink Lee left his Chinaman’s wig hanging behind the kitchen door. He went off in a perfectly good suit of Danny’s he had found packed away in the attic and Hortense once more was a woman, but this time she made herself look quite middle-aged by a judicious use of padding to her charmingly slender figure. She found a dress that had belonged to Mary Louise’s mother also packed away in the attic. It was of black bombazine. A thick black veil helped the disguise wonderfully. Swiftly and silently the trio dressed and made ready to depart.

While Danny and Slater were interviewing the chief, the tenants of the Hathaway house were already on their way to the next town. They had stopped just long enough to borrow an automobile which was to convey them thither. They borrowed without asking, a detail they must have overlooked. They regretted exceedingly that the old rattle trap in the garage was too far gone to take.

All during the early morning the detectives watched the house, back and front. There was no sign of life in the mansion, but they understood from the neighbors that the inmates were seldom seen. Finally, word came from the chief to go in and arrest the occupants. The bell was rung even harder than Danny had rung it. The back door was beaten on violently. They decided to force an entrance.

The birds had flown. When the flitting had occurred no man could say. Josie was sure it was almost immediately after Danny’s talk with Mrs. Markle.

“Of course that idiot Slater should have stayed when you told him to, but these male detectives are the limit for stupidity and pigheadedness,” she declared.

Mary Louise was happy that they had escaped and Danny was glad because she was glad. If any of the ones interested could have seen a middle aged couple in rather old fashioned clothes on a train that was headed for the west on the afternoon following the getaway, he would have been sorry enough for the woman. She was reading a Chicago paper and came upon a glaring headline:

GOLD MINE FOUND IN
OLD AUTO TIRES
AT DORFIELD