The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1916-08-04

mo, you didn't come down for that
reason" Brouillard amended gravely.
You came to meet me-"
Did II" she asked. What makes
you think that?"
I know what happened" said Brou.
Hard, speaking as soberly as If he
were stating a mathematical certainty.
You left that room upstairs and came
to me. | didn't see you, but | heard
you as plainly as can hear you now.
YOU spoke TO me and called me by
name"
She shook her head, laughing lightly.
You have been overweight about
something, or maybe you are just plain
tired"
You are standing me off," he de-
clared. You are in trouble of some
sort, and you are trying to hide it from
me-"
NO, not exactly trouble; only a lit.
tie worry"
All right, call it worry II you like
and share 1t with me. What Is it?'
Il think you know without being
told. am afraid we have finally lost
the Little Susan That is one of the
worries and the other I've been trying
to call silly. / don't know what has
become Of father-as If he weren't old
enough to go and come without telling
me every move he makes!"
Your father isn't at homer" gasped
Brouillard.
No; he hasn't been here since nine
o'clock this morning. Murray Grislow
saw him going into the Metropole
about one o'clock, but nobody that /
have been able to reach by phone
seems to have seen him after that"
Il can bring the record down to two
o'clock" was the quick reply. "He ate
with me at Bongras', and afterward |
walked with him as far as the bank.
And can cure part of the first worry
all OF it, in fact; he had the money
to take up the Cartwright notes, and
when left him he was on his way to
Hardwick's window to do It,"
He had the money? Where did he
get it,"
Brouillard put his back against q
porch post, change of position which
kept the light of the street electric
from shining squarely upon his face.
1T has been another of the get-rlcn-
quick days in Mirapolis," he said
evasively. Somebody told me that the
corner opposite Poodles' was bought
and sold three times within a single
hour and that each time the price was
doubled"
And you are trying to tell me that
father made hundred thousand dol
lars just in those few hours by buying
and selling Mirapolis lots? You don't
know him, Victor. He Is totally lack
ing the trading gift. He has often said
that he couldn't stand on a street cor
ner and sell twenty.dollar gold pieces
at nineteen dollars apiece-nobody
would buy Of him."
Nevertheless, am telling you that
he had the money to take up those
notes." Brouillard insisted. Il saw It
In his hands"
She stood fairly in the beam Of the
street light. The violet eyes wert
misty, and in the low voice there was
note Of deeper trouble.
you say you saw the money In ia.
theirs hands; tell me, Victor, did you
see him pay it into the bank?"
why, no; not the final detail. But,
as say, when left him he was on his
way to Hardwick's window"
Again she turned away, but this time
it was to dart into the house. A min
ute later she had rejoined him, and the
minute had sufficed for the donning OF
a coat and the plnning on Of the quaint
cowboy riding hat.
Il must go and find him." she said
with quiet resolution. "Will you go
with me, Victor? Perhaps that is why
1.-The subconscious I-called you a lit
tie while ago. Let's not wait for the
Quadjenai car. I'd rather walk. and
we'll save time"
From the moment Of outsetting the
young woman's purpose seemed clear
ly defined. BY the shortest way she
indicated the course to the avenue,
and at the Metropole corner she turned
unhesitatingly to the northward-to-
ward the region Of degradation.
As was to be expected after the day
Of frantic speculation and quick money
changing, the lower avenue was ablaze
with light, the sidewalks were passes
OF peril and the saloons and dives
were reaping rich harvest. Luckily,
Brouillard was well known, and his
position as chief of the great army of
government workmen purchased some.
thing like immunity for himself and
his companion. But more than once he
was on the point of begging the young
woman to turn back for her own sake.
The quest ended unerringly at the
door of Haley's place, and when David
Massingale's daughter made as If she
would go In, Brouillard protested
quickly.