Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-11-19

Steele felt q suddenly sickening sen.
sation grip at his heart Her oheeks
too. were flushed, and the color IN
them docpened still moro when he
bowed to her and poined the two
men at tho table. The colonel shook
hands with him. and Philip noticed
that one or twice after that his eyes
shifted uneasily in tho direction OF
the two before the fire, and that
whenever the low laughter of Mrs
Becker and Nome came TO them he
paid less attention to the columns OF
| figures which Breed was pointing out
to him.
When they rose to 60 into supper
Philips blood boiled as Nome offered
him arm to Mrs. Becker, who accept.
ed 1t with a swift, laughing glance
at the colonel. There was no re.
sponse in the older mans pale face,
and Philips fingers dug hard into the
palms of his hands. At the table
Nome's attentions to Mrs. Becker
were even more marked. Once, un-
der pretext of helping her to a dish,
he whispered words which brought a
deeper flush to her cheeks, and when
she looked at the colonel his eyes
were fixed upon her in stern reproof.
1t was abominable! Was Nome mad?
Was the woman
Steele did not finish the thought
in his own mind. His eyes encount-
cred those of the colonel's wife
across the table. He saw a sudden,
quick catch of breath in her throat;
even as he looked the flush faded
from her face, and she rose from her
seat, her gaze still upon him.
I'll am not feeling WE'LL" she
said. "Will you please excuse me?"
In an instant Nome was at her
side, but she turned quickly from
him to the colonel, who had risen
from his chair.
please take me to my ROOM" she
begged. "Then-then you can come
back"
Once more her face turned to
Steele. There was a pallor in it now
that startled him. For few mo-
ments he stood alone, as Breed and
Nome left the table. He listened
and heard the opening and closing of
second door. Then footstep, and
Nome reappeared.
"By Heaven, but she's a beauty!"
he exclaimed. "I tell you, Steele"
Something in his companions eyes
at@ Ht Trrr0 l,,,r, cd
in Steele's cheeks as he advanced
and gripped the other fiercely by the
arm.
Eyes, she is pretty-very pretty"
he said quietly. his fingers sinking
deeper into Nomes arm. Get your
hat and coat. Nome. want to see
you in the cabin"
Behind them the door opened and
closed again, and Steele showed past
his associate to meet Breed.
Buck and I have a little matter to
attend to over at the cabin" he ex-
planned. when they-when the
colonel returns tell him we'll be over
to smoke an after-supper with him
little later, will you? And give our
compliments to-her."
With half-sneer on his lips he
rejoined Nome. who stared hard at
him, and followed him through the
outer door.
"Now, what the devil does this
mean?" Nome demanded when they
we're outside. "If. you have anything
on your mind Steele"
81 have" interrupted Philip, land
I'm going to relieve myself of It.
Pretty? She's as beautiful as an
angel, Buck-the colonel's wife,
mean. And you" He laughed
harshly. you're always the lucky
dog. Buck Nome. You think she's
half In love with you now. Too bad
she was taken III just at the psyche
logical moment, as you might say,
Buck. Wonder what was the mat
ter?"
Don't know" growled Nome, con-
scious of something in the others
voice which darkness concealed In
his face ."-
"Of course. you don't" replied
Steele. "That's why l am bringing
you over to the cabin. am going
to tell you just what happened when
Mrs. Becker was taken ILL., and when
she turned trifie pale. II you no.
ticed sharply Buck. It's a good joke.
mighty good joke, and know you
will thoroughly appreciate it,
He drew step back when they
came near the cabin, and Nome en-
tered first. Very coolly Philip turned
and bolted the door. Then, throwing
off his coat, he pointed to the white
skull dangling under the lamp.
ALLOW me to introduce an old
friend of mine, Buck-M'sieur Jan
ette, of Nelson House."
With a sudden curse Nome leaped
toward his companion, his face fam
ing, his hands clenched to strike
only to look into the shining muzzle
OF Steele's revolver, with Steele's
oylit i,1n an ,I