The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-06-10

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bring it upon myself" she said signifl-
cantly.
"Then a delay of a day or so will
not matter" he said, ,frowning
"Leave it to me. I will find a way"
"Be careful" De Soto came loung-
Ing up behind them.
"Forgive me for lnterrupting, but
am under command from royal head
| quarters. Peter, the king of chauf
feurs, sends in word that the car Is in
an amiable mood and champing to be
off. So seldom is it in good hunlor
that he"
"I'll be off at once" exclaimed
Barnes, arising. "By Jove, it is half
past ten. I had no idea-good night,
Miss Cameron"
He pressed her hand reassuringly
and left her.
She had arisen and was standing,
straight and slim by the corner Of the
fireplace, a confident smile on her lips.
"If you are to be long in the neigh
! borhood, Mr.. Barnes" said his hostess,
"you must let us have you again."
"My stay is short. fear. You have
only to reveal the fainteSt sign that
may come, however. and I'll hop into
nv seyen-league boots before you car
utter Jack Robinson's Christian name.
Good night, Mrs. Van Dyke. I have
YOU all to thank for most delightful
evening"
The car was waiting at the back of
the house. O'Dowd walked out with
Barnes, their arms linked--as On for
mer occasion, Barnes recalled.
''Tll ride out to the gate with you"
said the Irishman. "It's winding
devious route the road takes through
the trees"
They came in time, after many "hair
pins" and right angles, to the gate
opening upon the highway. Peter got
down from the seat to release the pad
locked chain and throw open the gate.
ODowd leaned closer to Barnes and
lowered his voice.
."See here, Barnes, I'm no fool, and
for that reason I've got sense enough
to know that you're not either. 1
don't know what's in your mind, nor
what you're trying to get into 1t II 1t
isn't already there. But I'll say this to
you, man to man: Don't let your
imagination get the better Of your
common sense. That's all. Take the
tip from me-"
II am not imagining anything,
O'Dowd," said Barnes quietly. "What
do you mean?"
ST mean just what I say. I'm giving
you the tip for selfish reasons. If you
make bally fool of yourself, I'll have
to see you through the worst Of it
and it's job I don't relish. Ponder
that, will ye, on the way home"
Barnes did ponder 1t on the way
home. There was but one construc-
tion to put upon the remark: it was
O'Dowd's way Of letting him know
that he could be depended upon for
support If the worst came to pass.
O'Dowd evidently had not been de-
ceived by the acting that masked the
conversation on the couch. He knew
that Miss Cameron had appealed to
Barnes, and that the latter had prom
ised to do everything In his power to
help her.
Suspecting that this was the situ-
alton, and doubtless sacrificing his own
private interests, he had uttered the
vague but timely warning to Barnes.
The significance Of this warning grew
under reflection. Barnes was not slow
to appreciate the position in which
O'Dowd voluntarily placed himself. A
word or q sign from him would be suf-
fcient to bring disaster upon the Irish
man who had risked his own safety In
a few; irretrievable words. The more
he thought Of it, the more fully con-
vinced was he that there was nothing
to fear from ODowd.
Peter drove slowly, carefully over
the road down the mountain. Respond
ing to q sudden impulse, Barnes low
cred one Of the side seats In the ton
neau and moved closer to the driver.
"How long have you been driving
for Mr.. Curtis?"
"Ever since he come up here, more'n
two years ago. Guess I'm going to get
the G. B. fore long, though. Seems
that he's gettln' a new car an wants
an expert machinist to take hold Of 1t
from the start. I was good enough
to fiddle around with this secondhand
pile o. junk an the one he had last
year, but I amt qualified to handle
this here machine he's expectin', so he
says. I guess they's been some influ-
ence used against me, II the truth was
known. This new sec'etary he's got
CANT stummick me-"
"Why don't you see Mr.. Curtis and
demand"
"See himT snorted Peter. might
as we'll try to see Napoleon Bonyparte.
| Didn't you know he was q sick manf'