Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-23
CHAPTER CCLXXX

Copyright 1913, King Feature Syndi-
cate, Inc.
Grinning unpleasantly, with his
dark mouth twisted even more than
was natural, Dick West advanced upon
me with jeering, scornful bow.
isn't it pleasant and friendly of
me to follow you home for a cosy little
visit like this, Mrs. Jimmie?' he asked.
Aren't you going to ask me in?"
'Nhy did you follow me?" l asked,
controlling "A voice that wanted to
tremble and leaning heavily against
the door to take the weight off my
my throbbng ankle.
ITO talk 10 you, fair lady. Who
wouldn't?" he replied smoothly - too
smoothly. Aren't you going to ask me
in for a pleasant tete-a-tete? l think
We can come TO terms while hubby and
his new chum Tom Mason are dining
at the hotel and waiting for Richard
to show up
II am most certainly not going to
ask you in," l said steadily, hoping
that Dick West wouldn't find out that
I had no way of getting into my apart
ment even if 1 wanted to- And if Jim
and Mr.. Mason are waiting for you at
the hotel, my friendly advice to you is
beat it. Hurry down there before
they begin to get annoyed"
Are you trying to get rid of me?"
he frowned. That's foolish. The ele-
vator isn't running and I'm not in the
mood to walk down all those flights.
No, you DON'T" he concluded roughly,
anticipating my intention as l started
toward the elevator shaft.
The hammering and pounding that
was already going on made it hopeless
for me to shout, but if once l could get
my finger on the bell and ring insist
eEtly enough perhaps l would be able
to arouse suspicion, and someone
might come up the stairs to see what
l wanted.
Now be a little more friendly -
you can afford to be-" said Dick West
in a voice at once wheedling and
threatening. You haven't been a bit
nice to me heretofore. but l think I'm
going to be able to persuade you to
treat me little better from now on.
Say, why don't we go in and talk this
over? Ring the bell"
"I don't care to-" I said evenly.
NO? Then l will"
Dick West pressed his finger to the
button. l could hear the bell peal
through the apartment, but, as 1 had
known there was no answer.
"Oho-maids out?" he said at last.
We'll, that's all right. Give US the
key. We can talk more sociably with
out anyone butting in on us"
IT haven't my key" I said, with
something very like a prayer of
thanksgiving.
"Oh - haven't you, now?" he
taunted. Here. give us your purse
and let's see. You may like standing
out in this blooming little entry way
but could do very we'll with a nice
chair and you opposite me. little Anne.
He snatched my bag as he spoke and
went through it with fumbling fingers
that missed nothing. Standing there
in cold fury, with my ankle sending
twinges of agony through my whole
body, felt as IL I'd like to throttle
Dick West for the insolent indecency
with which he handled everything in
my bag. 1 forgot to be afraid, but
fear stirred again as he flung the bag
at me with a muttered curse.
His manner was so uncontrolled so
full of furious menace that 1 hardly
recognized in this wild-eyed creature
the once suave man I had known. I
wondered what had come over him -
and then with terrifying certainty my
bTain supplied the clue. Drugs The
man was under the Grazing influence