The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-04-09

library and would come down
Directly indeed he followed almost
90 the heels Of the messenger.
''Why. hello, billiard" he said. rarh-
er stiltedly. did you want to see me1
That's too bad-rve got to leave here
in just a couple OF seconds to catch
my train Tm going West tonight"
"Tu take you over" said billiard,
shortly ~That'lI save you a minute or
twO--and give us time to chat. My
cur's outside
"Why-under the circumstances
=" Armstrong; glance was divert
Ell II don't think can let You DO
that-tate NE over. + mean. I'm
going West on a business trip and I
don't think 1T would be very appropri-
are for you to-"
~Oh.-you areT' billiard felt streaIrs
Of ice cOursing along his spine. "Et0w
far wesE%
Armstrong consulted his watch nerv-
ously.
"HuIilrd,' he said. Il Like to DO
things out in the open. There are
just cwo reasons why don't think you
really want to invite me to ride down
To 5he station with you Ii I'm wrDdS.
it's up to you to say SO. Que ot EN-
is that Eufus Warning has asked me To
stop off at Butte-Tm going a good
deal further than that-and hook up
some matters for him. guess y0G
know as we'll as I DO what they are.
billiard fumbIed his hat. Il see.
And-the other reason%
Armstrong suddenly Strengthened;
and his VOICE had curious ring to 10
"a ring which electrified billiard and
awolse the most petrifying alarms
Within him.
But does one ordinarily menhior--
certain kinds Of people-in u mems
club? I don't know how it IS where
you come from-but here. we don't.'
billiard smiled vapidly it was the
utmost perversity OF emotion, for he
knew now why Carol had been SO e3-
pIicit in her sympathy why she
had been so meticul0us to lee him
reaIize that she wanted him as u
friend only as friend and here
was Armstrong, e0neeaIing with diff
Guilty the triumph be was limiting at.
No" be said harshly "One doesn't
but there isn't anything to keep ua
from mentioning anybody we Like ont
side the club. is thereY'
''Why-nCt that l."
"fThen I'll take you down anyway"
said HilIiard. "And let's see if wa
can't try TO understand each other"
1t took brave man to accept the
offer, for ELIiliard's eyes held little to
recommend their owner rs prudent
driver, or rs a very pleasant compan-
ion. Armstrong. however, was already
putting on his hat.
They bad driven over TO the station
in silence billiard, parking the rum
about carefully, turned to his passena
ger.
We've gBt ten good minutes" ha
said 'Your train isn't even in yet
20 ahead and talk
Armstrong. after a ulomeurary de-
lay, put out a eoncillating hand. 'OIG
MAN" be said, ~let's play the rest Of
This out like two sensible people. Wa
won't get anywhere by pickering, and
[ suppose it won't DO any harm tor us
to PUT an the cards on the table, and
know exactly where we stand OF
course, Won haven't known me very
long, and I haven't known you
but suppose, just to help along the I'M
derstanding. We take each other at
face value"
HnLiard WINGED
''yTell-suDDose we Do. Then what9"
Then you can't hold it up against
NE for stopping off at Butte on nay
way OUT [ haven't any motive in if
I promised to 10 il IS a favor to Rufa
Warning. ct isn't personal issue at
all [ know exactly how it must aD.
pear to y0u but {. I'm not that sort
Of man. billiard I wouldn't have
dreamed of IT myself. That's straight =
The masquerader regartied him
earnestly -and yielded to his evident
sincerity.
''Way down deep be said ut length,
II know you're not. but WHAT'S
that focT He referred to Arm,
str0ug's outstretched hand "Oh
an right" They shooE hands solemn
Iy. "AE the same time il would hava
been 50 perfectly natural for Yoq to
feel Like getting whatever leverage
You could
There's no need of that-u0w,"
said Armstrong. Ills smile was proud
and brilliant, and billiard withered
under it.
.'WeI, [ wasn't sure
ITO BE CONTLNUED.l
Evidence. Stark Fad Travelled