Blindfolded | Page 2

he said, more to
himself than to me, I thought; and he glanced through the cabin as
though he looked for some peril.
"We were used to that long ago," I said, as we found a seat. "Is the
business ready for me? You wrote that you thought it would be in hand
by the time I got here."
"We can't talk about it here," he said in a low tone. "There is plenty of
work to be done. It's not hard, but, as I wrote you, it needs a man of
pluck and discretion. It's delicate business, you understand, and
dangerous if you can't keep your head. But the danger won't be yours.
I've got that end of it."
"Of course you're not trying to do anything against the law?" I said.

"Oh, it has nothing to do with the law," he replied with an odd smile.
"In fact, it's a little matter in which we are--well, you might say--
outside the law."
I gave a gasp at this disturbing suggestion, and Henry chuckled as he
saw the consternation written on my face. Then he rose and said:
"Come, the boat is getting in."
"But I want to know--" I began.
"Oh, bother your 'want-to-knows.' It's not against the law--just outside
it, you understand. I'll tell you more of it when we get to my room.
Give me that valise. Come along now." And as the boat entered the slip
we found ourselves at the front of the pressing crowd that is always
surging in and out of San Francisco by the gateway of the
Market-Street ferry.
As we pushed our way through the clamoring hack-drivers and hotel-
runners who blocked the entrance to the city, I was roused by a sudden
thrill of the instinct of danger that warns one when he meets the eye of
a snake. It was gone in an instant, but I had time to trace effect to cause.
The warning came this time from the eyes of a man, a lithe, keen-faced
man who flashed a look of triumphant malice on us as he disappeared
in the waiting-room of the ferry-shed. But the keen face, and the
basilisk glance were burned into my mind in that moment as deeply as
though I had known then what evil was behind them.
My companion swore softly to himself.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"Don't look around," he said. "We are watched."
"The snake-eyed man?"
"Did you see him, too?" His manner was careless, but his tone was
troubled. "I thought I had given him the slip," he continued. "Well,

there's no help for it now."
"Are we to hunt for a hiding-place?" I asked doubtfully.
"Oh, no; not now. I was going to take you direct to my room. Now we
are going to a hotel with all the publicity we can get. Here we are."
"Internaytional! Internaytional!" shouted a runner by our side. "Yes, sir;
here you are, sir. Free 'bus, sir." And in another moment we were in the
lumbering coach, and as soon as the last lingering passenger had come
from the boat we were whirling over the rough pavement, through a
confusing maze of streets, past long rows of dingy, ugly buildings, to
the hotel.
Though the sun had but just set, the lights were glimmering in the
windows along Kearny Street as we stepped from the 'bus, and the
twilight was rapidly fading into darkness.
"A room for the night," ordered Henry, as we entered the hotel office
and saluted the clerk.
"Your brother will sleep with you?" inquired the clerk.
"Yes."
"That's right--if you are sure you can tell which is which in the
morning," said the clerk, with a smile at his poor joke.
Henry smiled in return, paid the bill, took the key, and we were shown
to our room. After removing the travel-stains, I declared myself quite
ready to dine.
"We won't need this again," said Henry, tossing the key on the bureau
as we left. "Or no, on second thought," he continued, "it's just as well to
leave the door locked. There might be some inquisitive callers." And
we betook ourselves to a hasty meal that was not of a nature to raise my
opinion of San Francisco.
"Are you through?" asked my companion, as I shook my head over a

melancholy piece of pie, and laid down my fork. "Well, take your bag.
This door--look pleasant and say nothing."
He led the way to the bar and then through a back room or two, until
with a turn we were in a blind alley. With a few more steps we found
ourselves in a back hall which led into another building. I became
confused after a little, and lost all idea of the direction in which we