Charlevoix county herald., 1914-06-06
CHAPTER Xxx.
Three of a Kind.

Shannon's Jess got there. Being the
sixth of August, the day was hot and
ne had removed hi. coat, waitscoat,
collar and tie, and rolled up his
sleeves. She was surprised to find
him there and did not hesitate to tell
him so.
You're gettin' daffy, Shaugn.
You know better than to come here
in the daytime" she said sharply.
Maybe / won't come again day or
night-maybe there won't be need
to-" he retorted, meaningly. 81
want to know what that dude artist
is chasing you for, ana what's the
meaning of all this play about your
going there to pose for him. There's
a niger in the fence somewhere, and
that's a cinch."
"And you're seven different kinds
of fool, and that's a cinch, too"
She started across the room to-
ward door, but he left his chair and
stood in front of her, barring her
way. She stopped and took a step
backward, farthei away from him,
but not the least sign of fear
showed upon her countenance.
"None of that, Brian. I've got
singer, and it's been dipped in poi
son. You'd better not try to draw
it," she told him, and drew back
ward another step. He stood his
ground, but he did not advance.
"I've been thinking about that
brass-weight puzzle, Jess. l be-
lieved, before | made that call upon
MoreauX, that Crewe got them from
here, carried them to his place, and
dropped them through the grating
into his cellar when he found Holdy
and Mari and Baxter there. But I'm
reading it differently now. was all
wrong about Crewe. 1t was Moreaux
who was here, and you gave him the
brass weights, and the posing as
Juno was blind, and you went there
today to divvy and you both thought
you could get away with it and fool
me!
Il understand tina, p. m. post
mark now. understand a lot of
things that ! didn't guess before.
You always were struck on drawing
pictures and on artists who could do
it better than you, and you found
what you wanted when you found
him, and his handsome face and ele-
giant manners; and / guess he found
what he wanted when he picked you
for his Juno. Well-he can have
you. And you can have him. But
you've got to cough up that dough
first"
as that ALP" she asked him
calmly.
Nearly. He's got enough without
that. When he gets you he'll have
more than enough, as he'll find out.
I'll be we'll rid of you, Jess. You've
been a milestone around my neck for
a good while. Wei break even.
You go your way along with Mo-
reaux and I'll go mine-only, | want
that dough. All of it. Every last
dollar of it."
Suppose you don't get it?
"Then I'll get you. And him."
They spoke in ordinary tones.
There was no sign of excitement
about either of them save in the
light in their eyes that held each
others gaze without wavering on
either part.
For a moment she was silent. She
appeared to be considering all that
he had said to her. He thought that
was what she was doing. Men know
women least when they think they
understand them best. When she did
speak, she surprised him.
~ 81 guess you're right about break
ing away" she said in the same even
tone. 81 don't think ever under
stood until today what a low-dOwn,
despicable, cowardly double-crosser
and sneak-thief you are, Shaugn.
"But we're not sticklers for little
things when we're crooks, are we?
I've been afraid of you ever since
you let Terry die the way you did
Maybe you killed him-l don't
know. 1t would be like you. You'd
let me die the same way, or help it
along in the same way if you weren't
just little bit afraid of me-and if
you didn't know that I'm not even a
little bit afraid of you. AS for the
brass weights, and what you sa was
in them, you're talking through your
nat. | don't know anything about
the dough you're talking about. but
il ! had it, you wouldn't let it.
She spoke rapidly, although her
voice was not raised. The contempt
Of her manner and tone and attitude
cut him like lash. But he did not
move while the words flowed from
her. The pupils of his eyes dilated;
the lids narrowed. The myers OF MS
hands crooked rigidly. When she
finished he moved one foot in a half
step toward her, but she thrust her
right hand through the side placket
of her walking skirt, and he stop
ped. -,
YOU'D better not try it," she said
coolly, and without finching. He did
not take his eyes from her or change
his attitude. When she came into
the fiat she had slammed the door
after her, but the latch had been inn
perfectly repaired since Faber had
;immed it, and did not catch: Neither
of them knew that. You'd better
not try It." she repeated, seeing him
moisten his lips with the tip of his
tongue. 1t was a sign that she I'M
derstood.
His muscles f1exed in the motion
of making a spring. Her hand was
half withdrawn from beneath her
skirt. Neither moved more thanI
It. A voice, cool and determined
y. ~lDted both acts.
- Shaughnessy. And