The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-04-30

qella. I've got-tO tell you
"Whaty" she demanded. appalled, by
ne change In his face. If be was
0vSrdoing T.. be was OVERRIDING it real
hdeally enough.
live used Plank's check" ht
ruupbled and moistened his lips witt
\ ~ tongue
khe stared back at him, striving
oornprehenC "Plank'sr she repeated
aoyly. "Plank's check? What check
What do you mean?'
THE one he gave you last night to
nav his bridge losses and forgot to fill
THE one he But you couldn't!
How could you. 1t was not filed In
Il filed it,"
Der dawIing horror was reacting
on him, as it always did, Ike a fierce
tonic, and is own courage came back
In & sort of sullen desperation.
"You-you are trying to brighten me,
Leroy" she stammered. you are try
ing to make me do something-give
you what you want-force me to give
you what you want! You can't fright
en- me. The check was made out to
me-to my order. How could you
have used it, If had not indorsed it?'
II indorsed 1t. Do you understand
thati" he said savagely.
mo, don't. Because If you did
It's forgery "
81 don't give - what you think
IT isr' be broke In fercely. "All I'm
worried over is what PLANK VIII thin,
didn't mean to do It / didn't dream
Of doing It, When l saw that check
In my hands l thought I'd use it tel
porariy-merely as moral collateral to
fash at Notwithstanding to back
my o US. So filed 1t in"
"FOr how muchT she asked, not dar-
ing to believe him, but he ignored the
question and went on, II flied it and
hdorsed 1t and
"How could you indorse it2' she In
terupted coolly, now unconvinced |
again and suspicious.
"T'll tell you If you'll stop that fool
tongue a moment. The check was
made to Il. Mortimer wasn't it? So
wrote l. Mortimer on the back. !
Now do you known If you are L. Nor
timer, so am l. Leila begins with L;
so does Leroy, doesn't it? / didn't i'm
itate your wo-words-to-a-page auto
graph. put my own fist to check
made out to one L. Mortimer, and
don't care what you think about 1t as
long as Plank can stand It. Now put
up your nose and howl, If you like"
But under her sudden pallor he was
taking fright again, and he began to
bolster up his courage with buster
and noise as usual.
Howl all you like" he Jeered. at
won't alter matters or square ac
counts with Plank. What are you
staring at? Do you suppose I'm not
sorry? Do you fancy don't know
what a fool I've been? What are you
turning VIII. e for? What
How mt h have YOU She chok-
3D. then, resolutely, "How much have
7ou-taken?"
Taken" he broke out with an oath.
What do you mean? I've borrowed
bout $4,000. Now yelp! Eth? What?
70 yelps? Probably some weeps then.
Turn 'em on and run dry. I'll wait.
md he managed to cross one bulky
eg over the other and lean back, af-
Getting RESI-. nation, while Leila, bot
pright in her low chair, every curved
utline rigid under the flowing silkel
wrap, stared at him as though stun
ed
We'll we're good for it, aren't We?
e said threateningly. IF he's going
turn ugly about it. here's the ,
Ousef
"My-hOuseW
Yes, your house! l suppose you'd
lther raise something on the house !,
ian have the thing come out in the |.
lpers." =
DO you think SOP" she asked, star .
g into his bloodshot eyes. ;,
Yes, | do. I'm sure Of itY' =
You are wrong" =,
4ou HeaI that you are not lncllneu T
stand by me-" he demanded.
YES ! mean that"
You don intend to help me outT
! a. not intend to-not this time"
lie egal. to show his big teeth and
at uervoua snickering stick" twitch- ~
his upper lip. in
,tJ,,., 81