El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-12-08

back 70 7 don't know what pagan old
Celtic swashbuckleri Well we made
! a good team. you and I SWore
eternal friendship. Meant 70. too, /
I reckon
Then came manhood We drifted
apart I 10 Harvard law school and.
when my dear old dad stuck TO plant
I ing cotton in spite OF fire. high water.
low prices, and the advice Of govern
ment experts, and / couldn't make a
{ lVing as lawyer, into detective
I work; you, to believe the New York
I sunday supplements, into a mad. &c
/ centric whirl Of travel and adven-
I lures"
/ Il meet you here in Paris by mere
ehaneei atter u years We renew our
/ friendship. We take this apartment
together. and"
"Andc'
Tenant sat down across from
I Menzies-Kerr.
you don't call this friendship.
he asked. do your
WHAT"
You know exactly what I mean.
Last heard OF you-again through
the newspapers and some mutual
Iriends-Tou were in French Ind0-
F. China, bound for the Interior. on one
p. OF your usual mysterious errands.
That was a little over two years ago.
Then I meet you, and you are
changed man. Just take a good look
al yourself Look at your complex
ion; see your hmpw he continued
with an access TO American direct
ness. And when ask you-and
goodness knows Il isn't curiosity
you give evasive answers: you hedge
like a pacifist on the stump as II I
were, a stranger-or a policeman
But, you are a detective, aren't
YOU came the drawing rejoinder.
Not 20 you-unless can help you.
Allistair. I don't want TO be senti-
mental, Il isn't my line But-damn
it.-Wheu the best friend Z have IN
the world treats me as you do"
what DO you mean-treats your"
lust thisi When I speak 20 you
suddenly you glare at me as II were
about 70 bite YOU or as II you were
about TO bite me. When ask you a
question, you weigh your reply before
giving I-or course, ] know you're
Scotch. But il isn't right 70 be
Scotch between friends. There's a
limit even to being canny."
rs that aIlTf
NO, have TO go through a con
founded lengthy rigmarole before I
am allowed 20 enter your bedroom,
like last night. when I wanted to
borrow match. You told me you
couldn't let me IN Told me you
weren't dressed Opened the door an
inch and handed me a match. as II
You we're a coy young girl And"
and. There was faint hostility
in the Scotchman's accents.
Tenant stepped up close.
You are afraid OF something,
How do you know The words
came sharp. challenging, staccato.
i am a detective"
That's no answer"
ITS all the answer I'm eoing to I
give you Something else Why do I
you. lord AIllstair Menzies-Kerr. only Z
son OF the duke OF Shetland. choose /
your friends among the apaches OF 1
the Quarter des Halles, the rottenest !
part Of PariE2 Why do you 60 on /
errands two or three I
nights a WeekE
How do you know that I doe-
Because I have seen you 7 have 4
recognized you; your pale complex
on" ne continued brutuary. your
way OF dragging your right foot in 4
spite or the 1Gct that you wore a
bose coat and a battered old felt har
pulled over your eyes. Why. man."
he added, half grim, half testing. IF
you were a criminal I'd tell you that
you needed another disguise. Your ;
and your limp are dead
siveaWayst"
He added On a lower voice. quite
'uddenly. speaking before he thought.
md sorry for it moment later. since
he did not wish TO be considered /
curious:
what were you doing this after
loon in the Quarter OF Saint-Sulpice. {
ogether with Mile. LantaiEneZ'
Menzies-Kerr gave a start. Then
.e controlled himself ,
Jealous be asked.
Z don't know her"
Again the other smiled.
That's the worst OF being a de- !
ectiVe," he remarked seutenuOusly.