Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-03-08

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ners and spend money like water even
Ito get them to come here and look at
the things, You must give me time
to make settlement. need at least
a month"
I Bennington shook his head There
Twas hard, uncompromising look In
his face as he replied caustically:
They're coming for the things to-.
morrow. thought it fair to let you
know. can do no more"
/ Underwood stopped short.
Tomorrow" he echoed family.
YES" said Bennington grimly. .'You
might as well understand the situation
thoroughly, The games up. The firm
mas been watching you for some time.
When you tried to sell these things to
old Defries for one-quarter their real
value he instantly recognized where
they came from. He telephoned
straight to our place. You've been
Swallowed by detectives ever since.
There's man outside watching this
place now"
my God!" exclaimed Underwood.
why are they bounding me like
this?"
Approaching Bennington quickly. he
grasped his hand.
bennington" he said earnestly,
you and I've always been on the
square. Can't you tell them it's all
right? Can't you get them to give me
timer"
Before the manager could reply the
telephone bell rang sharply. Under
wood started. An expression Of fear
came over his face. Perhaps the firm
had already sworn out a warrant for
his arrest. He picked up the receiver
to answer the call.
What name is that?" he demanded
over the telephone. The name was re-
peated and with gesture of relief he
exclaimed:
Howard Jeffries!-what on earth
does he want? l can't see him. Tell
him I'm"
Bennington took his hat and turned
to go:
We'll, must be of"
Don't CO." exclaimed Underwood,
as he hung up the receiver mechan-
ically. tits only that Internal ass
Howard Jeffries!"
Il must" said the manager. AS he
went toward the door he made close
scrutiny of the walls as If searching
for something that was rot there.
Stopping short, he said:
Il don't see the Velasquez."
"No-no," stammered Underwood
nervously. Its out-out on proba.
ton. Oh. it's all right. can account
for everything"
Mr.. Bennington continued his in.
spection.
81 don't see the Gobelin tapestry"
he said laconically
"Oh. that's all right, too, If they'll
only give me time," he cried desper-
ately. Good God. you don't know
what it means to me, Bennington! The
position I've made for myself will be
swept away and"
Mr.. Bennington remained distant
and unsympathetic and Underwood
threw himself into a chair with ges-
ture of disgust.
Sometimes l don't think care
what happens" he exclaimed. "Things
haven't been going my way lately.
don't care hang whether school
keeps or not. If they drive me to the
wall I'll do something desperate.
I'll"
A ring at the front door bell inter-
rupted him.
Who can that be?" he exclaimed,
startled. He looked closely at his
companion, as If trying to read in his
face If he were deceiving him.
Probably your friend of the tele.
phone" suggested Bennington.
Underwood opened the door and
Howard entered jaunt:ly. =
Hello. fellers, how goes it," was
his jocular greeting.
He was plainly under the influence
OF liquor. When he left home that
evening he had sworn to Annie that
he would not touch drop, but by the