The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-24

70 answer the call.
What name is that?" he demanded
over the telephone. The name was re.
peated and with a 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:
Well, must be off,
Don't CO." exclaimed Underwood.
as he hung up the receiver mechan-
ically. IT'S only that Internal ass
Howard Jefirles!"
Il must" said the manager. AS he
went toward the door he made a close
scrutiny Of the walls as If searching
for something that was not there.
Stopping short, he said:
Il don't see the Velasquez."
No-no," stammered Underwood
herVously It's Out-out on proba.
ton. Oh, it's all right. can account
for everything"
Mr.. Bennington continued his in.
spection.
II don't see the Gobelin tapestry"
he said laconically.
"Oh, that's all right, too II they'll
only give me time," he cried desper.
ately. Good God. you don't know
what 1t 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 chair with a pes.
ture of disgust.
Sometimes l don't think I care
what happens" he exclaimed Things
haven't been going my way lately.
don't care a 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.
VINO can that be?" he exclaimed.
started. He looked closely at his
companion, as if trying to read in his
race IL ne were deceiving him.
probably your friend of the tele.
pnone, suggested Bennington.
underwood opened the door and
Howard entered jauntily.
Hello. fellers. how goes it," was
his jocular greeting.
lie was plainly under the influence
OF liquor. When he left home that
evening he had sworn to Annie that
ne would not touch drop. but by the
time he reached the Astruria his cour.
age tailed him. He rather feared I'm.
derwood, and he felt the need of
sumuiant to brace him up for the
strike he was about to make. The
back door Of saloon was convenient.
~ open and while he was refreshing
nlmself two other men he knew
dropped IN. Before he knew it. half
dozen drinks had been absorbed
and ne had spent the whole of IS
which his wife had intrusted to him
out OF her carefully boarded savings
When he sobered up he would real.
lie that he had acted like a coward
and cur, but just now he was feel
Ing rather jolly. Addressing Under.
wood with impudent familiarity, he
went on:
The ID boy didn't seem to know
II you were in or not, so I came I'M
anyhow" Glancing at Bennington.
he added: Sorry, If I'm butting in {"
Underwood was not in the humor
70 be very gracious. Long ago Young
Howard Jeffries had outgrown his use.
fulness as far as he was concerned
He was at loss to guess why he had
come to see him unlimited. ON this
particular Sunday night, too. 1t was
| with studied coldness, therefore. that
he said:
Sit down-Im glad to see you"
You don't look it," grinned How.
ard, as he advanced further into the
room with shambling, uncertain steps
Concealing his ill humor and prom.
ising himself to get rid O. his unwel.
come visitor at the first oprc..unitv
Underwood introduced the two men
Mr.. Bennington-Mr. Howard Jeff.
| ries, Jr"
ITO BE CONTINULO.)