The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-06-12
AnILLION Ah1ll5i|tEIJF

...''"'S ''|'|IlllAlMIlDI[l0I|
have you done by coming? Answer
me that IL you can"
He was so thoroughly convinced
OF the correctness Of his own view.
point that Arendsen was somewhat
staggered. 1t was impossible to
cohtrovert his argument to the eff
feet that distrust of his honesty
and motives had cost them days
hrredeemable. And Seager's OBJ
vious belief in his own blameless-
ness had also disconnected him. A
thousand dollars was certainly a
small sum in comparison with the
prize they aspired to. 1t was no
time for profitless dispute. Arend.
sen recognized that fact and acted
on it, sinking all his own pent up
lnimosiey in favor of a final effort
toward success.
Tell me what you found out
about the girl" he ordered briefly
BUY me brandy and soda
first" Seager snapped. 1--WE been
living on husks since my money
went, and that was a good many
days ago-though 1 don't suppose
you care about that. You must give
me square deal from now on.
wards, Arendsen, and don't you
forget, my friend, that I'm king pin
in this game. You needn't suppose
that you can treat me like a dog
because you've got a few dollars"
Arendsen patiently complied
with his requirement, and Seager,
having first drunk off the liquor,
told him in few words what he had
been able to learn from the two
old maids in the Avenue Marceau.
t"And now comes the sore point"
I'D said Indignantly, "the point
where you ought to have backed
nle up to your last penny. The
girls in New York, as told you.
whatever she's doing there. And l
mite her, without knowing who she
WIS, the night before 1 called on
ydu in Duane street"
B IArendsen stared at him half
infredulously. ''
h f"No, I'm not making any mis-
take. I know what I'm talking
about. I spent half an hour in her
eompany-and she'll know me
again, too, think.
81 met rer on my way In to Man.
haitian from Long Beach. l went
to stop when l landed from Africa
in case you should run across me
before I had made up my mind"
! while you were trying the San
Francisco lawyers for money, so
that you might leave me out"
Arendsen corrected him, but he
took no notice.
"She was alone In a runabout
which had broken down, late at
night, too, and l helped her to start
it again. I'd swear to her any
where, and one of those Winters
women gave me her photograph.
Look at her. Don't you think I'd
remember = face like that? l tell
you, Arendsen, I'll owe you the
grudge of my life if ] miss this
marriage and all it means, through
you. And I'll make point of pay
ing it, too"
Ell see that you pay what you
owe me-" said Arendsen with re-
turning Ill humor. He had grown
gradually calmer as Seager became
excited, but the others insistence
on that particular point was begin
ming to stir his temper again. He
glanced contemptuously at the
photograph offered for his inspec-
ton. Then he started forward in
his arm chair with a quick exclam-
alton:
"Will you swear that this is the
girl?" he demanded eagerly.
1--WE told you already I'll swear
to her anywhere. There aren't so
many of that brand about that I'd
ever make mistake as to her.
That's the girl I met in the motor,
Miles Qua.ntance's adopted daugh-
ter, and nv future wife. And she's
worth ten millions to us when we
find her."
Arendsen's anger had all evap-
Grated. He sat back and slapped
his knee, chuckling in his beard,
eyes still fixed on the photograph,
and, when he at length caught
Seassr's glance of incensed aston
ishment, that seemed but to add
to his mirth.
What the devils the matter
with you?' asked that irate con
spir<kpr with a most acid inflec'
tion,
"T&ere's nothing the matter with
me,nanswered Arendsen. mot
with Nme, anyway. It's you that's
on the wrong scent, Dominic, my
boy. and what I'm here for is to
put you right"
isn't that the girl?" Seager
questioned explosively. Are you
going to tell me that you know her
better than do? You may as well