Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-09-27
CHAPTER Nv.

lOr from which no pocket retuiheu AZ
tact.
"Come, now, my good fellow" SAID
his normal voice, "what the deuce Is
all this? You have treated me very
cavalierly and / you very obligingly,
think. for the elder man. What Is 1t
you want, Mr.
"My f35."
"Your f35? Yours? Look here, l
begin to remember you. Your name Is
Eric-Eric something or other. And l
was fool enough to play with you,
Eric. remember that too. You were
going off to the Cape or somewhere.
You begin to take shape in my mind.
But f35, l recall nothing of the kind.
My impression was that we settled up
and parted friends"
'You settled with a check not worth
the paper it was written On. Your
name was unknown at the bank! 1t
was q check for 49,"
al should like to see it. At least, you
won't mind telling me whether it was
drawn on Stuckey's bankT'
at was"
"Exactlyw cried the captain. tits as
plain as a pikestaff now. My dear
young fellow, / apologize from the
very bottom of my heart, for 1t has
been my mistake after all. What do
YOU think did? Wrote out my check
in Dick Wales check book. You recol-
Iect Dick Vale? He banks at Stuckey's.
Pom my soul, Pm sorry. Here's my
handw
81 prefer your money"
"Well. YOU shall see 1t tomorrow. l
don't carry f35 about in my evening
Clothes"
"Then suppose we turn back to your
rooms and you pay me there and now"
"And where are my rooms, prayT
ain the village of West End"
Blaydes swore puzzled oath and
thumped his cane upon the ground.
"You know q lotr' he snarled.
81 know where you're going, and I'm
coming too. / don't lose sight of you
tonight"
And they stepped out with no more
words. though Blaydes ground his
teeth and gripped his cane and tried
his best to drop foot or two behind
But Toms eye was ON him. So he
stopped at stile, whereupon Tom
stopped, too, and as they stood there
passed q laborer, who stared and wish
ed them good night.
"See here, Erichsen," exclaimed the
captain, 81 object to discussing private
matters on a turnpike road. Here's a
path that's a short cut back into town.
Suppose / come part of the way with
you and talk this thing over without
fear Of being heard. What do you
say%
"As you like. Your way is mine"
Blaydes shrugged his broad shout
ders, tucked his cane under one arm
and laboriously crossed the stile. Tom
then followed him into sloping field,
with q beaten right Of way running
uphill through the dewy grass. They
climbed this path with the young moon
In their eyes, but not word upon their
lips, and Toms thick stick grasped
tight by the knob. The ascent brought
them to second hedge, backed by a
row of horse chestnuts all hazy with
tiny leaves, and to hollow beech be-
side the second stile. Here the captain
dropped his cane in the grass and,
limping pitiably, begged the other to
pick 1t up. But Tom merely shifted it
with his foot, keeping strange eye OIL
Blaydes as he did SO. The cane in the
grass had no gold knob, and the cap
tain's right hand was tucked inside his
cloak.
Every prettily planned" said Tom,
with a sheer, "but should like to see
the rest Of that sword stick!'
The other laughed.
81 only drew it In case Of need. You
are such a violent young blood! All,
you will have it, will you? There, then
and there-and there!
The yard of thin, tempered steel had
been casually produced, and Tom had
instantly struck at it with his stick
Next moment the point was within an
inch of his body. but Tom retreated
nimbly, hitting high up the blade with
all his might 1t snapped at the third
blow. whiZzed In the air and came
down sticking in the grass. Only the
gold head and three inches Of blade
were left in the captains tingline
hand.
"Chuck it away" said Tom, "and
drop my stick. That's better. Now
about that money. You didn't bring
me up here to run me through the
body, of course! What was your OBJ
ject?'
ITO settle with you-fairly," said
Blaydes, with lurch in his low voice
81 am overdue elsewhere, as you have
found out-the Lord knows how! II
1 had the money on me, 1t should be
yours this minute. AS / haven't 1t
propose this compromise-wait till to-
morrow and I'll make it fifty and give
you an l. o. u. on the spot"
mo, no, Blaydes. Once bit-once
bit! Very sorry, but 1t can't be DONE
Blaydes muttered an oath as he took
out his watch, pressed the spring, and
It struck 10 and then the three-quar
ters, like fairy bells. He. did not put
the watch away again, but stood with
it in his hands and presently detached
the chain from his waistcoat He had
already turned his face to the moon
and he now glanced over his shoulder
. and beckoned to Tom.
Gust have look at this" ne said
mo; take 1t in your hands and exam
ine it properly"
The watch was repeater of type