The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-07-24

|
| had been very properly snubbed. Her
| words stung; Yet it was the manner
| in which She had looked at him and
| swept past at Hcaton'S side which hurt
| the most. oh, well. an enemy more
| or less made small difference in his
life; he would laugh at it and forget
| She had made her choice of cOmpan-
| ionship, and ii WAS just as well, prob
| ably, that the affair had gone no fur
| Their before he discovered the sort of
! girl she really was.
Westcott reached this decision and
| the outer office at the same time, ex-
| changed a careless word or two with
| Timmons and finally purchased ci-
gar and retired TO one corner TO pc
| ruSe an old newspaper 1t was not so
easy to read. however, for the news
| failed to interest or keep his mind
| from wandering widely.
Who was this Beaton, and what
| connection could be have with Bill
| Lacy'S gang? The row last night had
revealed a mutual interest between
| the men, but what was its nature?
Lacy's purpose he believed he under
stood to some eXtent-a claim that 1t
! was an extension of the La ROSita
! vein which Westcott had tapped in his
| recent discovery. But he had no per
Sonal fear of Lacy; not, at leat if
| he could once get the backing of Cav
cndiSh'S money. But these other
| people-Beaton. Miss Donovan, and
| still another expected to arrive soon
| from the East-how were they con-
ncCted with the deal?
He was so deeply engroSsed in these
| thoughts that he remained unaware
| that Timmons had left the office, or
| that the Chinese man-Of-all-Work had
silently tiptoed down the stairs and
was cautiously peering in through the
| open doorway TO make Jure the coast
| wac clear Assured as to this, the willy
| oriental sidled nOiSeessly across the
floor and paused beside him.
'Zis Meester Vest-c-ott?" he asked
softly.
That's my name. John; what is it,"
The messenger shook folded paper
out of his sleeve, thrust it into the
others hand hastily, and, with a hur-
| ripd glance about started to glide
| away as silently as he had come. He
vanished into the dark hall, and there
was the faint cIatter of his shoes on
| the stairs.
Westcott. fully aroused, cast his
glance about the deserted room, and
unfolded the paper which had been
| left in his fingers. His eyes took in
| the few penciled words instantly.
do not be angry. had the best
| bridge at three O'Clock. Very impor
| iant. 5. ID.
He read the lines over again, his
lips emitting a low whistle, his eyes
darkenng with sudden appreciation.
| Ii had been a trick, then, a bit of play
acting! But had it? Was not this
| rather the real fraud-this sudden
| change of heart This note might
| have q sinister purpose; be intended
to deceive. No, He would not be-
lieve this. All his old lurking faith
| in her came back in flash of revela-
ton. He would continue to believe in
| her. trust her, feel that some worthy
purpose had Influenced her strange
| action And, above all, he would be
| at the lower bridge on the hour set.
| He was back at the desk when Tim
mons returned.
what do l owe you, old man?
He paid the bill jokingly and in
| the best of humor, careful to tell the
proprietor that he was leaving for
his mine and might not return for sew
| cral DAYS. He possessed confidence
| that TimmOns would make no secret
| of this in Haskell after his departure.
| He was glad TO notice that Beaton
| observed him as he passed the Good
Luck saloon and went tramping down
the dusty road.
| The only carriage belonging to the
| town livery passed soon after his ar
rival, evidently bound for the station,
| and from his covert he recognized
| Reaton lollinE carelessly in the back
| seat. This must mean that the man
| expected arrivals on the afternoon
train, important arrivals whom he de-
| sired to honor. There was no sign,
however. of Miss Donovan; the time
was up. yet with no evidence of her
approach.
WeStcott waited patiently. arguing
| to himself that her delay might be
| caused by her wish to get BeatOn well
out of the way before she ventured to
| leave the hotel AT last he strobe
down the path to the bridge, and saw
her leaning over the rail. staring at
the ripples below.
"Why." he exclaimed In surprise,
! chow long have you been hereY'
| Several minutes" and she turned
to face him. II waited until the car
riage passed before coming onto the
bridge. took the foot path from the
| hotel"
You sent for me; there is some ex-
| PLANTATION. no doubt"
! The lady smiled. lifting her eyes to
| his face.
There is" she answered. "A per-
| fectly satisfactory one, | believe; but
| this place is too prominent, as have
rather long story TO tell