The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-04-15
CHAPTER iI.-continued.

'fYOu might, but you won't. You will
accompany me to the bank; you will
stand at my elbow while 1 cash it !;
you will then enter a mOtOrcar with
me and drive to some deserted spot
outside Chicago; you will leave the
auto, and thus give me chance TO
escape. All this while I shall have
the dynamite; one false move and TIL
blow us to kingdom come. Your life
is worth ten thousand dollars. l take
1t. Mines not. Do 1 make myself
clear?"
Excessively. And now for the
check" Without moving his head
from the back of the chair Otis pro-
duced a private check book and
fountain pen, and, feeling the way
with his fingers. filled out a check
for ten thousand dollars. "What
manner" he asked.
"A1ake it payable to bearer"
VERY we'll"
"Father!"
A pair of portieres at the rear of
che room were held far apart, and in
the aperture stood girl. Without
turning-his back was toward her
|
heard her voice before. AS she spoke
his uplifted hands dropped swiftly
and concealed the newspaper package
beneath his coat. Then he turned.
and. even as he knew he would, looked
into the pansy-blue eyes of the girl
with the Titan hair.
There was a dramatic tabieau. FitZ-
hugh, every nerve and muscle tense
stood looking at the girl. Otis. who
had not moved. watched him. The
girl looked from one to the other in
quiringly. She seemed to know intu-
itively that something very unusual
had occurred.
Otis was first to speak.
"Will you excuse US, Kathleen? This
gentleman and I have a little business
to transact"
81 did not intend to interrupt, ia
Their. l thought you were alone"
She went out. closing the pOrtiereS
behind her. Otis wrote bearer on
the check, shipped it from the book
and stood up. He held out the check
without saying word
FitZhugh took the slip of paper
studied it refiectively. There was no
!
for ten thousand dollars. and the call
was as authoritative as govern
! ment bond. Suddenly he drew a
deep breath. folded the check. and de-
liberately :Ore it twice across. He
dropped the pieces on the table.
picked up his hat. and without a fur
Their word walked from fine room.
In the hall he found Kathleen Otis.
''This is not the first time" said he
In his best dramatic manner. "you
have saved me from myself. Thought
I'd tell you"
She stepped back. looking at him
curiously. "I-Fm afraid don't IN
derstund you. don't think l even
know you"
Its hardly possible"
''V hat were you doing in there?
she interrupted. 81 know something
was wrong! and" She broke off.
pnd with impulSive courage fairly
hot a question at him. "Were you try
ng to bIackmail my father?"
"Some people might have Called ii
something worse" he replied easily
and he was thinking: She's beauti.
fuI-beautifuI This must be the, sort
things fOr."
"What were you duing?" she In
sisted.
why so inQuiSitive?" he cOuntered
She looked annoyed "W-wOuId you
mind telling me your manner sil<
asked. and dug her nails into her
palms upon feeling her cheeks burn
Ing.
He asked pointedly: "Can you recall
the 'dirtiest young man you ever s,lw?'
She bit her lip and stepped back
from him. Sue was scarlet to- hel
temples. "Yes-yes. remember you
now. You are the one I gave Il dollar
to yesterday. I believe you said youl
name was Fitz--Fitz something oil
other7"
"Fitzhugh."
"Oh. yes-DanieI Fitzhughi l re
member perfectly now"
I'm glad you do
Then he became aware that Syning
ton O:!s was StAnding In the do0rVya,
Of the library. At sight of the naT
whnm he half belic-ed II tlunger0u'
Iunatic taking the unthinkabIe iibt,rry
of addressing his daugAter Otis cool
ness had vanished his reStruIH
snapped.
Fitzhugh took tIle girls hand. an,
In vibrani voice pregnant with ia
more significance than the words I
uttered. ss,iti. Il will MAJ say guosil,.
nut Hu revOir." Then he turned AN,
left the house. The frnnI dsHIr -Ilu'
'=IrceIy clnSesl behind hiIR before Oti
hreIed upon his slaughter
What did that man say to you?' "a
sInandest
Ma s-ns .'nae at i'pI','riHn.--