Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-20
l 4

who, though not to fencing little himself,
set great by plain direct from other peo
pie 1t almost with snar that he answered Johns
question sst!on .. .,o.. so,o- In go,
John nodded. "The serial number on Miss Harris's
piece, he said, us C1425' He didn't consult the bill
itself in offering that bit of information. look his
way to the sofa had been enough.
Hiram said nothing, and the expression of his face
didn't change much But the very absence OF express
sion was enough. He wouldn't have tried to keep
his face blank like that unless the ends matched.
"Of course" said Hiram Williams after moment,
@the fragment of the bill that Miss Harris has is worth
less in itself, because it is less than half
"Do you mean to suggest by that inquired John
blandly, "that Miss Harris may well give you this
fragment, since it is worthless to herself
mot at ALL" said Hiram Williams Indignantly. Il
willing to pay for it literally, if you are entitled to
act for her-and you have omitted SO far to tell me
what your standing in the is.
al have official standing, said John; "but | am
quite that If it to question OF terms Miss
Harris will take my advice"
at has come to that it seems to me- said Hiram. II
know the number and denomination of your fragment
of bill, and willing to pay for it, provided that
when the two pieces put together the bill is redeem
able at its full value. In that I'd pay thousand
dollars for it.
"You have furnished with valuable hint, said
John al shall advise Miss Harris in case she wants to
deal with YOU to offer you that for your fragment
You yourself have less than half the bill. Your rag-
ment is intrinsicaly worthless.
allow do you make that out!"
because" said John, IF you had half the bill you'd
have redeemed it."
Hiram rose @Since by your admission, you
have no standing in the matter he said Il! discuss
the question with Miss Harris herself; and you will
please consider that the offer made through you is
withdrawn.
with that sort of offer. And here she isl"
FOR the bedroom door had clicked brisky just then,
and by the time the two had got to their feet
in anticipation of her coming Pamela in the room.
For good seconds the sight of her there framed
by the polished panel of the door, drove all thoughts of
Hiram Williams and the bargain they had talked about
out of John Stanieds mind. What brought it back to
present realities the fact that Pamela, after word
of inquiry and greeting, was looking at the stranger
with oddly puzzled frown.
When John realized that, he took a look at Hiram
himself.
He was staring at Pamela with all his eyes, And the
look wasn't recognition. One wouldn't look like
that at person he thought he knew, unless, indeed
the person one he couldn't in any human ;'robab
ity expect There fear in the look we'll
incredulity. He might have been staring specter
instead of at extraordinarily pretty young girl.
@Perhaps we'd better all sit down. said Pamela.
Then, she found chair, she shot look of inquiry
at John He answered it in words.
@The ends match, Pamela, he said. "Mr. Williams
and were just discussing the terms of the bargain
3Thats rather simple, isn't it," said Pamela a am
willing to pay Mr.. Williams five thousand dollars for his
half Of the BILL Then she turned to Williams, who
seemed to be trying to say something.
@But before I'd be willing to do that she went on,
I'D like to find out all you tell me about where the
bill came from and how it happened to be divided
Hiram getting his breath back again. But when
he spoke his voice very different from the sharp
sured twang John had heard before. Il can't how
that is of any possible Importance" he said "They
won't ask questions of that at the subteasury
II know said Pamela. "But the Importance of
these questions is much to than the impor-
lance of getting share of the value of the bill that
afraid | II have to make condition. shouldn't be
willing to give up my half for redemption any terms
until was satisfied that you had told all you could
about it."
Pamela wasn't looking at him. John was and thought
he paed little at her question: and that when he be-
that her eyes occupied idly with the
little bag that she had picked up from the table when
he stole a
He didn't speak Immediately. Really he said at
last Il don't know how can satisfy except By