The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-11-04
<Cepyrishs. 1910. by Louis Joseph vanee.l

<Copyrisht. 1910. by Louis Joseph vanee)
1t was all but insufferable Coast
was conscious that the blood burned
In his face like fire, that his heart was
pounding-so loud, ii seemed, that the
other must be aware Of it. Revolted,
he almost choked at this familiarity
Of contact which he must needs en-
dure, from the man of all men he had
the greatest cause to hate, loathe and
despise. He dug his nails into his
palms in an effort TO enforce submits
sion. Blackstocks face was within
two feet Of his own; a satiric smile
Che fancied) rested upon those crude
ly modelled, animal features; he real
lied suddenly that it was the face of
a Satyr, simply, naively sensual. as
soulless as its lightless eyes And
vinuous breath offended his nostrils;
his own breath he held, clenching his
teeth.
Now L know you
He could think of nothing to say
but: "Oh?" It was with difficulty
that he succeeded in enunciating that
The hands moved on, down over his
shoulders, and felt Of his arms.
Hard" commented Blackstock
you've got strength, haven't you?
Not as great as mine, though; you'd
hardly realize how immensely strong
am See now!" His hands moved
swiftly back to Coasts throat and
girdled 1t with a collar of iron DO
you realize l could easily squeeze your
breath out of your body I could"
Coasts face explored the face above
him. Its smile was gone. Something
ran cold along his spine, and of sud
den he was without emotion, quite
calm and collected.
"But you won't, you know" he said
easily: that is. you wouldn't If you
knew my right hand in my pocket was
pointing pistol directly at your heart.
Would you?"
Perhaps the fact that he had merely
stated the truth was responsible for
his GOODNESS. :. He noted the
instructive movement Of the blind
eyes. as If they sought to see if it
was true; and he thought: Habit is
strong.
Raising his left hand, he grasped
Blackstock's right by the wrist and
removed 1t with a certain f1rmness.
The other hand released him an in
slant later, and the man stood back
with a short laugh.
But you wouldn't have fired ?"
mot any sooner than you'd have
tried to strangle me-
"Of course I'd no such idea"
"Of course not; but you shouldn't
have suggested it. You made me
nervous"
For moment it was as if the mask
had been dropped, as if they openly
acknowledged one another as implaca-
BILE enemies And again Coast re-
marked that Blackstock quivered as
he had when surprised, an hour be-
fore; ripple of tensed muscles, hard
ly to be detected, seemed to shake
him from head to foot-and was gone
in a twinkling, while the hard smile
reappeared on the Satyr's features.
do you really tote a gun, Handy
side?"
Always" Coast rejoined briefly.
"Why-up here"
you never can tell what's going to
happen"
Perhaps you're right" Blackstock
conceded the point graciously. Il
don't mind, but you really ought not
to take joke 80 seriously. However,
|. I'm full Of sleep and you
must be. John-hat, cane"
One Of the servants brought them in
stantly. "G'd-night, Handyside."
Blackstock hesitated an instant,
then got his bearings and found the
back door with unerring accuracy.
On the stoop he paused long enough
to say: Well get together after
breakfast and talk business" and the
blackness received him.
Mystifed, Coast waited, staring at
the spot where he had last seen the
man. until one of the Cinnamon mild
~ suggested that his room was ready.
He followed the fellow stupidity, pre-
occupied, his mind ranging far In fu-
tile speculation as to the riddle Of
Blackstock's conduct. Long after he
was left alone in the room that had
been Powers he sat on the edge Of the
| dingy bed, his gaze fixed upon
the reflection Of the lamps fame in
the window panel-absorbed in the
| enigma
He could not rid himself of the i'm
preston that an inarticulate menace
| lurked beneath Blackstock's apparent
ly unsuspicious reception of him.
Was insanity the explanation? Was
the man in reality a homicidal maniac,
at whose intellect the lust to slay ate
| like cancer? But in such
case, would he have delegated to an
other the assassination Of Power?
Did he or did he not suspect? Did
that sudden slip Of the mask signify
that he had merely allowed himself
| to appear 10 be deceived and was but
| waiting to deliver some telling stroke
in retaliation?
How much has Coast TO apprehend,
| what to guard against?
To this latter question his every in.
sttnct answered in chorus: Every
| thing. He dared leave no stone I'M
. turned to safeguard himself-that he
| might remain able to protect kath-
crime.
! It came TO him that it was not IN
| likely he had been left in that lonely
! cottage with the three Chinese that
~ s-A