The Tupelo journal., 1912-09-27
cHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
Look here, Handyside . /.
voorhis give o any message for
me?"
Blackstock stood with his back to
the stove In the farmhouse kitchen;
hands in pockets, his heavy shoulders
lifted, he swayed all but imperceptibly
on the balls of his feet. IL the dull
saffron illumination of two common
kerosene lamps, he doomed hugely in
the room, overshadowing and dwarf
ing the two mute, placid Chinese who
battered about, preparing a meal
having been routed out of bed for that
purpose.
Coast. fitting back in a kitchen
chair on the far side of the table from
Blackstock, considered quickly and
lied deliberately and intellectually.
with full knowledge of the conse-
quences of a misstep. Sooner or later
the unmasking was bound to come,
whether he will 1t or no. He was not
eager for 1t yet, but prepared against
1t at any time. Sooner or
later that word would fall from his
lips-or from Katherine's-or some
untoward happening would precipitate
the Notwithstanding him, an inn
postor. The hour like the outcome
was on the knees of the gods. The
sense of fatality was strong upon his
soul.
y There wasn't time" he said. Il
was off-duty and they rounded me up
just in time to catch the midnight
train"
"And Voorhis sem no word?" Black
stock demanded incredulously.
"He said you'd be advised by WIRE
less.
mo more than that?"
"Only I'd find this job after my own
heart, to do as / was told and mind
my own business and see nothing ex-
cept what you showed under my nose;
it would be worth my while, and he
knew he could depend on me. l guess
he did, too. / guess he knows what
kind OF a man you need, MI. Black,
and Mr.. Voorhis isn't the sort to pick
an operator out Of the grab-bag for q
special purpose. Isn't that so?"
IF / know Voorhis, it Is" Black
stock rocked back and forth on his
feet, pursuing his full, loose-lipped
mouth. Il can tell more about you
in the morning" he said; well have
a talk and come to an understanding"
Why not now?"
Morning will do" said Blackstock
decidedly.
For some minutes Blackstock did
not speak. Coast glanced up at him
and as If he were aware of that fact
the man shook himself out of whas
had seemed profound abstraction.
How about Mr.. Handyside's sup
per, John?" he asked.
"Leady vely soon," replied n OF
the Chinese meekly.
Hurry it up, then; he's tired.
Guess I'll step upstairs and have a
look at Chang" said Blackstock.
That's the fellow Power knocked
out, you know" he added superfluous,
ly as he left the room. moving lightly
with quick steps noiseless in his rub.
ber-soled shoes.
Left alone, Coast fell to the food
which one of the Cinnamon presently
set before him. Although up to that
time excitement had numbed him to
the fact, he had tasted nothing since
midday, and was now excessively hun
CRY. The meal, plain but well-cooked'
proved a great relief from the some
what monotonous diet Of bacon and
eggs to which he had been restricted
since the previous morning. He o
his time over it, however, and toward
the conclusion began to wonder what
Blackstock found to keep him so LONG
a~bovestafrs.
The dishes were removed and the
Cinnamon set about washing up, chat
tering to one another In low, express
sionless tones. Still Blackstock did
not come down. Coast lighted his
pipe. His thoughts reverting &c
Katherine, in natural course swung
i back to the slip of paper reposing at
the bottom of his pocket.
He looked cautiously round; the serv'
ants were intent upon their work
stolidly injurious as to himself, to all
appearances; from the upper floor
came reiterations Of the high-pitched
and querulous accents Of the wounded
mana sound to which he had be
come accustomed since Blackstock
had left him. He felt, consequently,
fairly safe.
Producing the scrap of paper, he
stealthily smoothed It out across his
knee. It bore q single sentence hur-
riadlv and u1hfly In mcneil: