The Ordway new era., 1920-12-10
.rrnn,,y,- .nid BENIN. -what puz-

You had agreed TO stay. md we were
all trying our best to treat you we'll"
81 presume the police searched my
suitcase" irrelevantly observed Clin-
ton. To tell BENIN about Amy's visit
to his room was unthlnkablc.
BENIN took out n cigarette before re-
plying: "One can usually count on
their committing such impertinences.
| take 1t. Though. II they opened your
case. they must have been rather cIev-
| er In their work. Ii seemed to be Sc
! cureiy locked"
You left 1t at Miss Lowrie's?"
Yes"
THAT was very Kind of you
Don't mention 1t ! say. old man.
I've been wanting to talk with You
about your-er-about Miss Amy"
Il fail to take you" said Clinton.
You forget that l am not your friend,
VIII LowrIe."
''Friend!' muttered BENIN. He
forced u smile. You're the one that
hns forgotten your Identity. But. un-
luckily for me; you still retain an i'm
presslon-or. as Doctor Kirkland
would say, subconscious memOry-of
your opposition TO me.
Must repeat"
mo. Yet you cannot deny you have
this feeling. this prejudice against me.
with regard to Amy"
"You refer to Miss Lowrie. pre-
sumo"
deuce take IT." exclaimed BENIN.
Haven't I stood your friend in this
police nffair? Am | not entitled TO
some consideration from you;"
Every WE'LL" sahl Clinton. "Now If
you will kindly proceed to elucidate
what you are driving at"
"Rlght-O! We're getting down 10
bedrock" replied BENIN. You're
listening to me as her brother; you
have my word that I am not so friv.
olous or-fast-ns l am said TO be:
and you know how | regard your sis
ter. may not be as desirable match
as some; but / am eligible. as you
know, and though l seem to he doing
nothing. l really am engaged in
serious and ambitious vocation"
zone moment" said Clinton. "You
insisted thar I play the part of Miss
Lowrle's brother; but l have not asked
for any condolences from you. Kindly
remember that you are speaking to
stranger"
Indeed? Really now. you cant
fancy you can shunt me OFF the track
at this stage Of the game" scofTed
BENIN. "A man in your situation
might be expected to catch AT hints
Perhaps your head really is added.
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt"
Thanks" said Clinton.
''If 1t is not added. you certainly
are a cool one" rejoined BENIN.
Don't you realize what hole you
are in over those bonds? Admitting
for the sake of the argument that you
| remember nothing about them, | will
explain that | know enough of what
you did to-put you through"
Most kind of you to tell me, Mr..
| BENIN"
Bemm's gray-Drown eyes lost their
| deceptive shallowness. Clinton looked
into their depths and saw the
man behind the Jester. His steely
| glance struck flint instead of rubber.
| But Bemm's voice was very soft:
you see. old man. it is still mat
ter between friends. All you need do
| Is to find the bonds. or their equiva-
lent In money. if they have been dis
| posed of. Doctor Kirkland believes
you We're irresponsible. If you have
used any of the-cr-proceeds there's
no doubt he will advance you the
amount II that is done-the bank re-
lmbursed. y'know-thc bank will ac-
cept his theory of your mental condi.
ton, and will allow the matter to be
hushed up This is provided forget
certain facts that. If recalled by me.
would knock the doctors hypothesis
into Il cooked hat"
.'So-you remember certain facts? 2"
muttered Clinton.
MY dear VIII. let us say that dc
NOT now remember them. One may
easily forget. where n friend is con-
cerned. All ask is that you. In turn,
show your friendship by intlmating
the situation 10 Am-er-Miss Lowrie
Nothing raw. y'know. Just a hint.
She admits that she likes me- and you
know how she Is. \ word from you
in my favor and she would mt once"
For all his qiickness BENIN was
not qulck enough to elude the hand
that shot out to clutch his collar. He
pulled back to free himself. In the
same instant Clinton rose over him
white with anger. Without word
Clinton jerked him TO his feet, whirled
HIN around aud rushed him TO the
head of the porch steps. Clinton's
shoe assisted his flight down the
steps.
The audacity even more thun the
suddnness of the attack had para
lyzed Bemm's power OF resistance The
Spell WAS broken by the shock of his
landing ON the hard cement walk ut
the foot of the steps. lie scrambled