ont of him.

"Is this the finish?" inquired the alley officer. "This fellow,"
pointing to Carlin, "came out of the back door rather hurriedly and
began searching in a pile of junk. I thought that was a part of that
play. What's it all about anyway?"

"This is the finish, my friends, and I am very much obliged for your
presence," said Shirley as he prepared to leave. "But there's a couple
in there that may need first aid. Go right in; give what assistance
you can, and call me if I'm needed."

Shirley watched the perplexed officers as they went into the front
office. Then he walked leisurely up the alley to Oak Street. Nearing
the railroad, he heard a freight train slowing down at the water-tank.
Now he hurried to pass down the train to a boxcar with an open door.
He crawled in. As the train pulled out, he went to a front corner, sat
down to pull off his shoe and place a neatly folded twenty-dollar bill
on the inner sole.

Whatever his future was to be, Shirley Wells was on his way.

PART THREE

21

David Lannarck arrived in Chicago in the late afternoon. Wanting to
see Bransford in the daylight hours, he stayed the night with a friend
at the Miami Patio to take a morning train to his destination. He had
never been in Bransford and he preferred to take an open cab to the
Grand Union so that he might look around. At the hotel he was assigned
the parlor suite with telephone and bath, probably because the clerk
had never before registered a three-footer with the face and voice of
an adult.

Davy was not yet ready to announce his plans for rehearsals. He wanted
to know more of local conditions. He phoned the Fred Townsend office.
"Mr. Townsend is in court this morning," the secretary reported, "but
he will be available this afternoon."

"Save me the first hour," said Davy. "It's important to both of us."

After luncheon Davy tipped the bellhop to accompany him. "I could
probably find the place," he explained, "but I go better if I am
haltered and led to the spot." As the caller hoped, Townsend was in.
The secretary ushered Davy into the private office.

"I was sent here by a Mister Sam Welborn," Davy explained. "He wants
to learn of the legal status and community standing of a former
resident by the name of Shirley Wells."

"Shirley Wells! Do you know Shirley Wells?" Townsend sprang to his
feet and walked around the desk. "Is Shirley Wells alive? Available?
Can I get in touch with him right away?