Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-12-13
CHAPTER xV.-(continued.)

"But Judge Butler has already
Vouched for that man." she said quick
ly, so he must be ali right"
Kerr inclined his head to her with
q smile.
Butler is easily taken in," said
Harry calmly. Under the direct, the
insolent meaning of his look Flora
felt her face grow hot-her hands
cold. Harry could sit there haunting
this man, hitting him over another
mans back, and Kerr could not resent
1t. He could only sit-his head lit
tie canted forward-lookiIg at Harry
with the traces of a dry smile upon
his lips.
She thought the next moment every
thing would be declared. She sprang
up, and. with an impulse for rescue,
went to the door of the smoking-room.
Judge Butler" she called.
There was a sudden cessation of
talk: a movement of forms dimly seen
In the thick blue element; and then
through wreaths of smoke, the judges
face dawned upon her like sun
through fog.
We'll, well, Miss Flora" he wanted
to know, ito what bad action of mine
do / owe this good fortune?"
She retreated, beckoning him to the
middle of the room. You owe 1t to
the bad action of another" she said
gayly Your friends are being SLAM
dered"
Harry made a movement as If he
would have stopped her, and the ex-
preston of his face, in it's alarm, was
comic. But she paid no heed. She
laid her hand on Harry's arm. "Mr.
Kerr is just about to accuse us of be
ing impostors," she announced. She
had robbed the situation of its peril
by gayly turning it exactly inside out.
The Judge blinked, puzzled at this
extraordinary statement. Harry was
disconnected; but Kerr showed an as
constituent that amazed her-a con-
Germ that she could not understand.
He turned at her. Then he laughed
rather shakily as he turned to her
with mock gallant bow.
"An women impose upon us, ma
dam And as for Mr.. Cressy"-he
fixed Harry with look-'T could not
accuse him of being an impostor since
we have met in the sacred limits OF
st. James"
The two glances that crossed be
fore Flora's watchful eyes were keen
as thrust and parry OF rapiers. Harry
bowed stiffly.
IL believe, for a fact, we did not
meet, but l think I saw you there
once-at some embassy ball"
The words rang, to Floras ears, as
II they had been shouted frora the
housetops. In the speaking pause that
followed there was audible an un.
known hortatory voice from the smo-
king room.
Il tell you it's a damn-fool way to
manage it, What's the good of TWEEN
ty thousand dollars reward?" Flora
clutched nervously at the back of her
chair. She seemed to see the danger
OF discovery piling up above Kerr like
a mountain.
The Judge chuckled. you see what
you saved me from. They've been at
1t hammer and tongs all the even.
ing Every man in town has his idea
on that subject"
For instance, what is that one?'
Kerr's casual voice was in contrast to
his guarded eyes.
The Judge looked pleased. THAT
one? Why, that's my own-was, at
least. half an hour ago. You see,
about that twenty-thousand-do dollar
proposition" They moved nearer to
him. They stood, the four, around the
red velvet-covered table, like people
waiting to be served. The trouble is
right here" said the judge emphasiz-
ing with blunt forefinger THE crook
has a pal That's probable, isn't it?''
Harry nodded. Flora felt Kerrs
eyes upon her. but she could not look
at him.
And we see the thing is at a dead.
lock. don't We? Well. now" the judge
went on triumphantly. 1--WE know ii
any one person had the whole ring
it would be turned in by this time
That Is the weak spot in the reward
policy. They didn't reckon on the
things being split"
Split? No. really, do you think that
possible?" Kerr inquired. and Flora
caught a glimmer of irony in his
voice.
We'll. can you see one of the chaps
trusting the other with more than half
Of it?" The Judge was scornful And
a fellow needs a whole ring If he is
after a reward" He rolled his head
waggishly. "Oh, l could have been a
crook myself" he chuckled. but his
was the only smiling face in the
party.
For Kerr's was pale, schooled to a
rigid self-control