Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-09-13
o0pgFisas b D0dd. Mead ana Company. Ino

on. so seldom ~ IL II goOd humof
that he"
"Pn be of at eno@" exclaimed
Barnes, arising. by JovN, It is half
past ten. / had no idea-gOOd night,
Miss Cameron"
He pressed her AaRG reassurinsly
and left her.
She had arisen and was standing,
straight and slim by the corner Of the
fireplace, a confident smile on her lips.
EFF 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 TIL hop into
my seven-league boots before you can
utter Jack RobInson's Christian name.
Good night, Mrs. Van Dyke. have
you all to thank for a 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.
''Tn ride out to the gate with you"
said the Irishman. "It's a 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.
O'Dowd 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.
don't know what's In your mind, nor
what you're trying to get into it If it
isn't already there. But III 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. 'WhGt
do you meanT'
II 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 a Job I don't relish. Ponder
that, viii We, on the way homer
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 II the worst came to pass.
oDowd evidently had not been de-
celved 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.
SuspectinR that this was the stu
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
ODowd voluntarily placed himself. A
word or a sign from him would be suf-
ficient to bring disaster upon the Irish
man who had risked his own safety in
a few irretrievable words. The more
he thought Of 1t, the more fully CON
WINGED was he that there was nothing
to fear from O'Dowd.
Peter drove slowly, carefully over
the road down the mountain. Respond
ing to a 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.. CurtisP'
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 gettin' new car an wants
an expert machinlst to take hold Of II
from the start. was good enough
to fiddle around with this secondhand
pile O. junk an the one he had last
year, but amt qualified to handle
this here machine he's expectin', so he
says. guess they's been some infiu-
enee used against me, II the truth was
known. This new SECRETARY he's got
CANT stummick me"
"Why don't you see Mr.. Curtis ant
demand"
"See himr' snorted Peter. 'Rlighr
as well try to see Napoleon Bonyparte
Didn't you know he was a sick man3'
Certainly. But he isn't so III tina
he can't attend to business is heT"
'sHe sure Is. Parylised, they say"
"What has Mr.. Loeb against you, 4
/ may askT
well, it's like this. amt in thu
habit O. beln' ordered aroun' as If
was jest nobody at all, so when hi
starts in to cuss me about sOmethln
a week or so ago, ups and tells hin
IN smash his head Il he don't take 1
back. He takes It back all right, bu
the first thing I know / get cali
down from Mrs. Collier. Course
couldn't tell her what told tn
sheeny, seem as she's a female, so
took Il IKE lamb. Then they gifts