Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1909-12-03
CHAPTER vI.-continued.

Just then | heard the voice of my
fool raised so that all might hear:
Friends, on the dusty highway of
life, I can take none of the honor or
credit you so kindly offer me. The
money | have given you to-day l came
by honestly. | stepped into your cool
and restful house of worship this morn
ing in search of bodily ase The small
voice of conscience stirred within me.
| had not been inside a church for two
years, and l was greatly shaken. But
as | listened to your eloquent pastor
/ was aware that the green wall paper
interrupted my soul currents. That
vegetable-green tint is notorious as a
psychical interceptor. Spend the
money as you like, gentlemen. but if
|, d stranger, may suggest it, try some
less violent color scheme in your
mural decorations"
lie seemed choking with emotion as
with bowed head he pushed his way
through the circle and strobe past me
The people stared after him, mystified
and marveling. l heard an old man
calling out:
How wonderful are the ways Of
Lord
let Gillespie pass, and followed him
slowly until a turn in the road hid us
from the staring church folk. He
turned and saw me.
You have discovered me, Donovan.
Be sure your sins will find you out!
a simple people, sigularly moved at
the sight of a greenback. l nave rare
ly caused caused SO much excitement"
4 suppose are trying to ease
o conscience by giving away some
of your button meney.'
That is just it, Donovan. You have
struck the brass tack on the head. But
now that we have met again, albeit
through no fault of my own, let me
mention matters of real human inter
est"
You might tell me what you're do
ing here first"
Walking; there were no cabs, Don
wan"
You choose a queer hour of the
day for your exercise"
lone might say the same for your
ride. But let us be sensible. dare
say there's some ommon platform on
which we both stand.
Well assume it," 1 replied, dis
mounting by the roadside that | might
talk more easily. Bandages were still
visible at his wrists, and a strip of
court-plaster across the knuckles of
his right hand otherwise testified to
the edges of the glass in ST. Agatha's
garden. He held up his hands rue
fully.
Those were nasty slashes; and l
ripped them up badly in climbing out
Of your window. But l couldn't linger;
| am not without my little occupa-
lions"
You stand an excellent chance of
being shot if you don't clear out of
This. If there's any shame in you
YOU will go without making further
trouble"
1T has occurred to me-" he began,
slowly, that l know something that
you ought to know. I saw Henry Hol.
brook yesterday"
"Where?" | demanded.
-'On the lake. He's rented a sloop
yacht called the Stiletto. 1 passed it
yesterday on the Annandale steamer
and l saw him quite distinctly"
II ) All your 1duiJ JudC he = mere!
| blurted. thoroughly aroused. eff
YOU had not followed those women
hey might have spent the remainder
of their lives here and never have
been molested. But he undoubtedly
ought the trail from you"
Gillespie nodded gravely and
owned before he answered.
II am sorry to spoil your theory,
ny lear Irish brother, but put his in
your pipe: Henry was here first! He
rented the sailboat ten days ago-and
/ made my triumphal entry a week
later. Explain that, if you please, Mr..
Donovan"
! was immensely relieved by this
disclosure, for it satisfied me that
had not beer mistaken in the identity
of the canoe-maker. l had, however
no intention of taking the button king
into my confidence.
Where is Holbrook staying?"
asked casually.
I don't know-he keeps afloat. The
.Stiletto belongs to a Cincinnati man
who isn't coming here this summeI
and Holbrook has got the use of the
yacht. So much l learned from the
beat storage man at Annandale; Their
| passed the Stiletto and saw Henry OIL
board"