The Tomahawk., 1916-02-24

ACCOMMODATIONS
The signature which he so conf.
IDENTIFY declared not to be forgery
was that of p. D. Davenant.
II.
Helen did not begin by overwhelm-
ing Hazard with questions. Instead
she first revealed her interest by tell
ing him about her assignment, and
wound up by asking: "Why, do you
suppose, didn't the chief inform me
of this?" She struck the check smart
ly with the knuckIes of one gloved
hand.
WELL" returned Hazard, II can't
see that there's any connection be-
tween the check and your assignment
The two just happen to fall together,
that's all. Davenant, you. know, from
time to time has a good bit of work
for the Sutherlands."
Helen was not satisfied. She noted
the checks amount-$2,200; it was
made payable to Grace E. Davenant.
Turning it over she perceived that it
had been properly endorsed by the
payee. But the instrument also bore
a second endorsement, name unfa-
miliar to her-Stanley Hall-and it
had been cashed by downtown
bank.
She returned the slip to the desk.
Grace e. Davenant,' she said; that's
Mrs. Davenant. But who is Stanley
Hall? And which of the two raised
the check?"
Don't know. But since you ask
me to express an opinion off-hand. I'd
say that an artistic job Of check-rais-
ing, like this would hardly be within
the scope Of Mrs. Davenant's abili-
ties"
Helen once more gathered up her
luggage. The mans dark eyes rested
on her fondly
Good luck, Helen" he said in a
dropped voice. If you need me
don't forget ."
Her pretty face all at once was trans
figured by one of it's rare smiles.
II shant, you goose" she said, her
tone softening. 'Ta-ta."
III.
It was some hours after nightfall
when Helen arrived at her destina-
ton. The machine climbed crushed
stone driveway-the only decent
stretch of road during the last eight
miles of her journey-to the space
Immediately surrounding the house.
Nobody appeared to greet her. In
deed, there was no sign of life at all
until, just as she was about to alight
and make her presence known, huge,
gaunt dog, Russian boar-hound, came
stalking toward her from among the
black shadows of some Outhouses at
the rear. Thirty PAGES away, per-
haps, he halted in the moonlight and
stood steadily looking at her.
OF sudden he uttered low, throaty
growl, and without warning whirled
around and went dashing toward the
rear in the direction whence he had
come.
Back beyond the outhouses, and ex-
tending up a rather steep hillside, WAS
an orchard. Dodging this way and
that, as if trying to keep to the
splotches Of tree shadows, a man was
running away from the house-run-
ming madly, as if the dog, or even
death, were right at his heels. There
was something so desperate in his
frantic scramble up the steep slope
that Helen was bit awed by the
spectacle.
There were no further demonstra-
lions from the enormous brute which.
in fancy, Helen pictured pursuing the
fugitive over hill and dale in a 81
lence more grim and ruthless than if
he had bayed his quarry; SO she mus
tered up her courage, stepped from
the machine, and, not without a qualm
of trepidation, sped toward the nearest
door, one at the side of the house.
Barely had she lifted her hand to
rap when she heard scuffling of
the gravel close beside her. She jerked
her head around and her heart sank.
The dog was not a dozen feet away,
walking with a dignified tread directly
toward her. A fence, doubtless, had
baked his pursuit of the fleeing man.
Helen shrank against the door and
for one awful moment was paralyzed
to inaction.
Straight On came the brute. He
shifted at the hem Of her skirt. He
raised his head and for a moment
met her terrified look. His head low
cred; he edged a trlfle nearer and
slowly wagged his tail!
In swift revulsion of feeling the
girl nearly collapsed. She laughed
nervously and stopped and scratched
the dogs head.
Just then she heard a window open