The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-11-26
CHAPTER lIl.-Continued,

=
LITIGATION. He was splendidly put uI
the best-muscled man had ever seel
who was not professional athlete
His fOrearmS and clean-shaven fac
were brown from prolonged tanning
by the sun, but otherwise his skin wa
the pink and white of a healthy baby
His short light hair was combe(
smoothly away from a broad fore
head; his blue eyes were perfect.
steady-they even invited and helt
scrutiny; when he was not speaking
he closed his lips tightly.
l half believed the fellow to BIZ
amusing himself at my expense; bu
he met my eyes calmly. If l had mo-
caught a lunatic | had certainly cap
tured an odd specimen of humanity
He was the picture of wholesome liv
ing and sound health; but he talked
Ikea fool. The idea of young woman
like Helen Holbrook giving two
thoughts to silly youngster like this
was preposterous, and my heart hard
ened against him.
You are fippant, Mr.. Gillespie, and
my errand with you is serious. There
are places in this house where could
lock you up and you would never see
your button factory again. You seem
to have had some education"
1.-THE word does me great honor,
Donovan. They chucked me frsm
Yale in my junior year. Why, you
may ask? Well, it happened this way:
You know Rooney, the Bellefontaine
Cyclone? He struck New Haven
with a vaudeville outfit, giving exhi-
billions, poking the bag and that sort
of fake. At every town they invited
the local sports to dig up their bright
est amateur middle weight and put
him against the Cyclone for five
rounds. | brushed my hair the wrong
way for disguise and went against
him."
And got smashed for your trouble,
hope" l interrupted.
mo. The boys in the gallery
cheered SO that they fused him. and
he thought | was fruit. We shook
hands, and he turned his head to snarl
at the applause, and, seeing IN open
Ing, | smashed him hot clip In the
chin, and he tumbled backward and
broke the ring rope. I vaulted the
orchestra and bolted, and when the
boys finally found me was over near
Waterbury under a barn. Eli wouldn't
stand for it, and back l went to the
button factory; and here l am, sir, by
the grace of God, an ignorant man."
How did you find your way here,
Gillespie?" demanded.
Il suppose ought to explain that"
he replied. l waited while he re.
Elected for moment. He seemed to
be quite serious, and his brows wrin.
killed. as he pondered
Il guessed it about half and for the
rest, | followed the heaven-kissing
stack of trunks"
He glanced at me quickly, ais
though anxious to see how l received
his words.
Have you seen anything of Henry
Holbrook in your travels? Be careful
now; | want the truth"
i certainly have not I hope YOU
don't think Gillespie hesitated.
Its not matter for thinking or
guessing; I've got to know"
"On my honor l have not seen him,
and | have no idea where he is"
l had thrown myself into a chair
beside the couch and lighted my pipe.
My captive troubled me. It seemed
'dd that he had found the abiding
'lace of the two women; and if he
lad succeeded so quickly, why might
lot Henry Holbrook have equal luck?
You probably know this trouble.
ome brother WELL" l ventured.
Yes; as well as a man of nv age
an know an older man. My fathers
'lace at Stamford adjoined the Hol-
rook estate. Henry and Arthur Hol-
rook married sisters; both women
led long ago. believe; but the
rothers had business row and went
0 smash. Arthur embezzled, forged
no so on, and took to the altitudinous
imber, and Henry has been busv
yer since trying to pluck his sister.
les wild on the subject of his wrongs
by his own brother, deprived
l MS inheritance by his sister and
Oahdoned by his only child. There
ASH I much to Arthur Holbrook.
lenry was the genius, but after the
ank went to the bad he sought the
onsolatlons of rum. He and Henry
larrled the Hartridge twins who were
lie relgning Baltimore bellies in the
airy eOs-so runneth the chronicle,
Ut L gossip, my dear, sir; l gossip.
nlch Is against my principles. Even
le humble button king of Strawberry
i'll must draw the line"