Charlevoix county herald., 1920-10-15
CHAPTER XIV.
The Man Himself.

FOR Ellen.
SO lost was she In the dependency
of her mood that she failed to heed
the hurried footsteps In the path be-
hind her until they were very close.
vexed at the intrusion, she started to
move forward across a small opening
From behind her came low, vibrant
call: Amy"
She stopped, trembling. 1t was his
voice-yet so different. That deep, ar
dent note Ibis voice as he had spo-
ken to her In the night. Bewildered,
quivering with mingled JOY and fear.
she timidly looked about. He stood
before her TRANSPORTED, no longer pale
and haggard, but as he had been until
there In the library-erect, ruddy-
checked, and In his eyes that look!
Swiftly the girls expression changed
from bewilderment to perplexity, from
perplexity to hysterical alarm and an
ger.
."Youl What-what do you meanY
she screamed.
Before he could realize what she
was about she had darted at him and
plucked frantically at his mustache.
"Jovew he calculated, and he
clapped his hand to his lip.
"Oh oh oh !" she painted, shrinking
away from him, her dilating eyes fixed
In Mortified stare upon the few stiff
hairs In her clutched fingers. "Its
real! OH"
my word l should say II Isl" he
mumbled, pressing hard on his lip.
"But-but how then-Oh. dear! oh
dear! Take me In to doctor must
be crazy! You had 1t; then you didn't
have 1t; now you do have It'll"
"Have it?"
"Your mus-mustache thought
you had shaved. 1t was gone-Tm sure
1t was gone-yet now"
"Gone! When2'
"In therein the library-not five
minutes agol Oh, dear! / must be
raving crazyl 1t wasn't there then
you've grown 1t again In five min
utesw
He stared at her wildly, infected
with the terror In her look and voice.
Insane-insane That face In the mir
ror! She. too, had seen 1t!
They glared at one another, over
come with dread and horror.
II say" remarked voice behind
him.
He wheeled about and found him.
self looking into the muzZle Of an au-
tomato pistol In the hand Of BENIN.
"Caught you mapping, ehf" jeered
the detective. 81 learned that Kirk
land was tracing In this direction.
did not rush up to the front door.
Quietly slipped In from the rear.
y'knOw; and-here we are. Quite
clever, call it. No wonder you look
flabbergasted."
In flash Amy flung herself between
the two. Don't you shoot him Don't
you dare!" she. cried.
Hastily he lowered the pistol and
sought to explain: IL had no intention,
| none whatever-Only In self-defense.
Can't you understand? If he is vio-
lent-attempts to resist But If you
persuade him to submit am sorry
to have to use handouts"
Handouts? Oh, shame shame on
you pretending to be his friend all
this time Shame on you'll"
BENIN bit his lip. His bright, shall
low eyes deepened and darkened with
profound emotion. But he stood firm.
II made no pretense," he rejoined.
~ offered to prove myself his friend.
l stood ready to save him, even at the
cost of my professional honor"
"Your professional honorl" she re-
preached.
"He is your brother. / thought you
would understand. l am willing to
give q great deal to clear him, If you
will-er-accept my"
but If / cannotf"
"Then / shall do my duty. Do you
take me for fool, to connive at the
escape Of an embezzler, unless you are
considerable enough to"
"Oh, you won't-you can't! Surely
you'll not be so meant"
81 can send him to the penitentiary.
What's more, l Will, unless"
"No-n-no! do not! cried the ago
gill Lct uliu ~, picuSc itt hin
go! / will do what-what you wish ~
"You Wilt You will marry me?" he
demanded, and he stepped forward in
eager citation.
She shrank back with her hands
over her averted face. The prisoner
slipped protective arm about her
shoulders and quietly remarked to
BENIN: Better step aside II you are
nervous. You might accidentally dis
charge your pistol. There are people
coming along the path behind YOU"
Suspicious of q ruse, BENIN edged
around to the side of the opening and
glanced swiftly over his shoulder. A
few feet away two hats were visible
over the shrubs, moving down the
twisting path.
Here they are. Hurry up" doomed
the voice of Doctor Kirkland.
He came nimbly around the turn In
the narrow path, with another man
and Ellen and Mrs. Kirkland In line
close behind him. BENIN uttered q
stifled exclamation and staggered back