CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1902-03-27
EQUAL PARTNERS ]
By HOWARD FIELDING {!
Copyright. 1901. by Charles W. Hooke. /;
By HOWARD FIELDING


that Interview" And the big forefnger
captain added. How much did you
getY'
Blair's lean and deeply lined face
was suddenly moistehed with perspira-
ton lie sprang up sIdewise from the
trunk and walked around the far end
Of the table.
This In getting personal" he said at
ksst. with n nervous laugh that scarce
H passed beyond a contortion of the
lips.
.'Tll make 1t personal for you. my
friend" he said. In fact. III land
you behind the bars before I'm done
with you. This is blackmail"
Blair laughed aloud.
'.Blackinall IL a dreadful sim" be
said. "and nobody knows II better than
you do"
Neale did not see lit 10 reply. lie
watched Blair carefully as the latter
paced up and down gnawlng his lips
Captain" said the doctor. pausing
suddenly and facing about. how much
money eau you raisey''
Neale's eyebrows took the shape OF
eyes looked like dots because of the
contraction In the corners
what are you trying TO get atty he
demanded. You mean something.
What Is itr'
A sudden shiyering seized Blair. 20
that his jaws could be seen TO shake.
Indeed they could be heard. He cross
ed to a locker on the wall from which
he took small both. containing n
thick and dark fiuid. This be raised
10 his lips. shuddcrinE at the taste Of
Il. But he SEEMED To h. benefited In
the matter OF self command.
Nerve medicineT-- said Neaie. Il
don't think you need it,
You told me-" replied Blair slowly.
-'thnt ought TO quilt or let you In. rye
decided 10 do the latter
Right said ia" cnpfaln. with rtn-
phasls. How much did you gcty'
THE little money thnt ! got from
Maciane doesn't amount to anything
responded Blair. - got something
better
YSrssl- stretched gu, his hand with q
quick motion aud laid II upon Blalr's
shoulder. to that individuals great sur
prise. for he thought himself far out
Of reach. They stared at each other
with equal intensity.
'-Can you bc square, said Blair ss II
he were consulting an oracle and ~,
The man at whom he was looking. III
there any way 10 make your I believe
their IT, And you've got the money
too
eve always got plenty OF money for
"A.
Up. Did Alden tell Macianer'
Blair shook OF the hand upon his
shoulder by the exercise OF great arilI.
". and then be strode across the room
TO a desk. from which he took n small
biankbook and n stylogrnphic pen. lie
opened the book upon the table and
wrote his name on the first page. with
Q word or two after Il: then he looked
at Ncal.. holding the pen toward him.
The captain nodded. and hc also wrote
In the book. Upon the page there then
appeared this:
ss.,,~ s.ss,1 ss.,s s..,,'' "l'''' Equal r.r,prr.
''My frlcndF said the captaiu. "you
ask me II | can be square. Well.
there amt nobody that cnn I've squarcr
than what can. aud you'll iind that
out II you stick TO me and don't try to
get funny nor play no tricks'
II Blair's acquaintance with Neale
had been more intimate. he would
have recognized sincerity In this RE-
dundnncy OF negatives. The reporters
who have followed Neaic's career as
scrt that he once put seven into one
short sentence while engaged In de-
4
former As rule. however his Ian
guagc was not grossly inaccurate. In
this Instance II was the ring OF the
words that appealed TO Blair lie took
up the book and wrote upon the page
that bore the names. his position being
such that the captain could not see
what was set down.
''Now. my esteemed business asso-
ciatc." snid Blair laying down the
book. this Is the English OF the mat
ter Alden has told Mnclanc where
he was that afternoon aud Maclane
has told me. didn't go up there TO
get the secret. ! went for little cold
money. Circumstances had made II
agreeable to me to put Miss Maclane
out OF this ease. and ms was going
to do Il anyhow II occurred TO me
that | might as well be paid for IL"
'.It's pleasure TO be In business
with n man like YOU" said Nealc. with
n grin. "How much was the touchY'
''Only 5000" replied Blair. ut Is n
loan. ! told him pitiful story OF mis-
fortune aud mentioned that ! was
being bounded by the police. Well,
he's had little of that himself, He
sympathized with me. aud when | said
l wanted TO move. take better otllee
and nil that he very kindly consented