The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-03-20
IL shan't"-doggedly.

Il shant"-doggedly.
What do you mean to do with me,
John?"
II don't know. I haven't made up
my mind. Maybe I'll kill you-if you
drive me to it,"
The girl must have rushed toward
the door. desperately striving to win
past him, and just as certainly he
must have caught her and stayed her
steps. What followed was pretty much
confused In Van Vechten's mind. There
was sound of scuffiing; the incensed
| listener in the hall heard the girl cry
out In an agitated voice: "Oh! You
are hurting mel" which was immedi-
ately followed by a stifed shrek that
| chilled the blood in his veins.
Next instant he had grasped the
knob and thrown all his weight against
the door.
1t was unbolted and crashed open
with explosive violence. His irrup-
ton promptly quieted the disturbance.
The man-it was the sandy complex
Toned man-stood with dropped jaw.
staring blankly at the intruder
And the girl? His heart leaped. His
whole being was suffused with a warm
glow. The girl that he had despaired
OF ever seeing again, what unhappy
mischance had brought her to this
peril? And what unrecognized mes
sage had prompted him to arrive upon
the scene SO OPPORTUNITY?
After the first shock of pleased sur.
prise, Van Vechten famed. then
turned to ice. His regard travelled to
the man in a narrowed look of anger
that left him white to the lips. 1t was
hard look, an ugly, wicked look that
| spelled danger.
But his lifelong habit of repression
checked any violent display of feeling
on his part. The spell was broken
when he composedly advanced a step
farther into the room, not for an in
slant moving his steely regard from
the man. All of sudden his thin lips
twisted in an odd little smile that
was not at all pleasing to see.
"Well?" he said quietly. Save foI
the unmistakable undercurrent OF
|
fable.
So profound was the other mans
stupefaction that he mechanically re
leased the girls wrists and fell bach
a pace. Only quick anticipation Of
his act saved her from falling to the
floor; as 1t was she staggered back
ward until dust-coated library table
| II. ~ \
clinging to its edges, and, wide-eyed
stared from one to the other Of the
men. Her tormentor's brain, obvious
ly, stirred only sluggishly; but all al
once the sullen features were longest
ed with blood, the veins on his fore
head swelled, and all his fury-now re
doubled-was directed at Van Vech
ten.
Where in hell did you come from p
he snarled venomously.
anyhow, not the same neighbor
hood that bred YOU" Van Vechter
eyed him a moment longer with mex
pressible disfavor. Good Lord" he
added. What nasty brute you are!'
Nothing less than paralyzing amaze
| Iueul, dppdIeuliy, IeolIdlueu Sdlsls
from leaping upon Van Vechten ant
finishing him out of hand. And per
haps. too. there was a quality In the
young mans bearing that had some
thing to do with this unflinchinl
nerve. the mastery of his look. the in
evitable dominance OF caste and breed
ing. With a little bow. Van Vechter
turned again to the girl.
You are at perfect liberty to de
part" he said, with calm, dignifie'
Difference. And, really. l think you
had better do so at once. can holt
this ruffian-at least until you make
good your escape. Once you are II
the street, you know, and you ar
safe"
BY this time she had regained some
thing of her own composure; but thu
cool assurance Of this punctiliousl!
CARRIED young man. the obvious deter
mination and air OF authority that la.
behind his courtesy, evoked from he