Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-01-17
CHAPTER VIII (continued.

ShepDdF4 rose and when the NaH returned ushered him with some cprc- mony to the table aA eham Tor Mir Hood" he said .Wberc wiu you sit Mir. Hood-by the taptaia. That's right Please make yourself eamf9rt1= ble. We nave iust enjoyed all excellent dinner very well served, Mr. Hood =Bu5 I fear you are t0o late. Montgomery. q glass ef vine for Alr Hood Bust ness k business. and never conduct piece without the usual sherry
 If this elaborate irony disturbed Ser= eombe, IS it seemed ID do it=had ne effect upon Hood.
 Thank you. sir will stand. sir No wine thank voa. s5r. Such WAS his brief reception of the oourtesics
 He assumed I place It the back of the captain, commanding q view of the table. Sereombe spread his hands up- on the table.
 "Gentlemen, let IS show our cards he saiQ
 There was q momentary silence and then l was conscious of q slight bus tie of excitement that stirred the room into sound. Sheppard looked 1t me. and Montgomery's gaze WIS rjveted upon the captain, sheppard coughed gently and slipped his wine.
 That Is q very proper demand. Cap tain SercomBe. said, seeing that it is what we are here for but 1 hardly yet see my way clear to table all my tricks. Let us understand one another better
 The captain did not color as he might well have col0red under this Im- plicit distrust. AS 1 have said, he was singular in the partial hold he kept upon his gentiIity Instead he laughed, but somewhat awkwardly.
 T see," he answered and looked down at his hands. appearing to con sider. He lifted a big and somewhat clumsy hand and scratched his swol- en cheek. smoothing q long wisp of red hair across his naked crown. T can not pretend to misunderstood you" he declared at last and shot l glance aside at Hood who had fallen slightly away from the table and stood n- tently watching the scene. But I think it is somewhat unnecessary, Mr GreatoreX,' he said, again very awk- wardly, and he laughed shortly, and again his eyes flew 10 Hood, directing at him, as 1t seemed to me in that light, q glance of warning, of appeal even of fear.
 No doubt said in return, but you must remember that 1 have al ready had experience of your possi- bilities. But come; We shall get no further unless we can strike d compro- mise. If you will produce your frag ment of the doeumento-
 You assume that have il" he broke in, with his discordant laugh. You are taking q good deal for granted.
 T assume nothing. said 1. Do not let us bandy words.
 Sereombe lifted the decanter which stood at his elbow and filled hs glass with a hand that shook. He drained it at a draft and turned to Hood. The innkeeper glided to his chair, and something passed from hand to hand. Sercombe put the torn fragment upon the table before him. He looked at me, as if inviting me 10 a similar dem onstration. We were to proceed by moves, then.
 T have no evidence that this is the document" l objected.
 Nor l. in your ease" he retorted.
 Very well" 1 assented. We will take 1t point by point, but I fear we shall find 1t a tedious job"
 I drew the paper from my pocket and laid 1t before me At the other end of the table 1 could see Sercombe's green eyes bulglns in his head as they fasten- ed upon lhe white thing under my hand. His mouth dropped, and q DOT ton of the glow receded from bis face. Montgomery stared \ tense feeling stifIened the attention ot all I felt my heart fhr0b 9 he silence and then suddenly tAere WIS sharp eXclama- ton from sheppard, and the next mo ment l W4S 20a 5e,ols ot q chatter aud two figures struggling beside me. The aliaJ ,4,teI bai ' few seconds and then Hood was hurled dettly back a.anst the window, and Sheppard tyte El9R f. R2or win crash long Spanish aagsea
 \ hush fell on the room Serc0mbe turned pale, and his eyes shifted un-
 
 mtond~lE If SO, 1 could have sworn that Serc9tabe was no party 10 it.
 if appears that We can't do quite without the law" said sheppard, piac. ing his heel upon the weapon Hood breathing deerly, remained in the shadows of the window
 What does this mean?' I asked
 Hood black and lean, but immovabe as to feature. stepped from bis corner "I beg your pardon, sir" he explained but I suppose the gentleman objects 10 my wearing it It isn't d pretty weapon. sir. exactly, but I have found it useful. sir I thought there would be nc objection Mir Greatorex. sir more especially as the gentleman here carries revolver" He indicated Montgomery, who grew red and staiA- mered
 'I beg v0ur pardon AWfullv sorry.