Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1920-12-03


II presume the police searched my
suitcase" irrelevantly observed Cln-
ton. To tell BENIN about Amy's visit
| TO his room was unthinkable.
BENIN took out cigarette before re-
| plying: "Ono can usually count on
their committing such impertinenees,
I take it. Though, IL they opened your
| case, they must have been rather clev-
| er In their work. 1t seemed to be Sc
cureIy locked"
"You left it at Miss Lowrie's2"
eyes"
"That was very kind of you"
Don't mention it / say, old man,
| I've been wanting to talk with you
about your-er-about Miss Amy"
II fail to take YOU" said Clinton.
you forget that am not your friend,
| VIII Lowrie."
"FriendP' muttered BENIN. He
forced a smile. you're the one that
has forgotten your identity. But, un-
luckily for me, you still retain an i'm
| pression-or, as Doctor kirkland
would say, subconscious memory--of
your opposition to me-"
Must I repeat"
"No. Yet you cannot deny you have
this feeling, this prejudice against me,
with regard to Amy"
"You refer to Miss Lowrie, pre-
sume."
Deuce take =" exclaimed BENIN.
Haven't l stood your friend in this
police affair? Am 1 not entitled to
some consideration from your"
"Very WE'LL" said Clinton. "Now if
you will kindly proceed to elucidate
what you are driving at"
"Right-O! We're getting down to
bedrock" replied BENIN. you're
listening to me as her brother: you
have nay word that am not so friv-
olous or-fast-as I am said to be;
and you know how I regard your SIS
ter may not be as desirable match
as some; but I am eligible, as you
know, and though I seem to be doing
nothing, I really am engaged In
serious and ambitious vocation"
zone moment" said Clinton. "YOu
insisted that 1 play the part of Miss
Lowrie's brother; but have not asked
for any condolences from you. Kindly
remember that you are speaking to
stranger"
"Indeedr Really now, you can't
fancy you can shunt me off the track
at this stage of the game" scoffed
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.
eff it is not added, you certainly
are a cool one" rejoined BENIN.
Don't you realize what a hole you
are in over those bonds? Admitting
for the sake of the argument that you
remember nothing about them, l 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-brown eyes lost their
deceptive shallowness. Clinton looked
into their depths and saw the
man behind the jester. His stee!y
glance struck flint instead of rubber.
But Bemms voice was very soft:
"YOu see, old man, it is still q 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 were irresponsible. If you have
used any of the-er-proceeds, there's
no doubt he will advance you the
amount. If that is done-the bank re-
imbursed, y'know-the bank will ac-
cept his theory of your mental Condi-
ton, and will allow the matter to be
hushed up. This is provided l forget
certain facts that, If recalled by me,
would knock the doctors hypothesis
| into a cooked hat"
"So-you remember certain facts"
| muttered Clinton.
"My dear Will, let us say that l do
not now remember them. One may
easily forget, where a friend is con-
cerned. All 1 ask is that you, in turn,
show your friendship by intimaring
the situation to Am-er-Miss Lowrie.
Nothing raw, y'know. Just hint.
She admits that she likes me, and you
know how she is A word from you
in my favor, and she would at once"
For all his quickness, BENIN was
not quick 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 a word
Clinton jerked him to his feet, whirled
him around and rushed him to the
head of the porch steps. Clinton's
shoe assisted his flight down the
steps.
The audacity even more than the
suddenness 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 at
the foot of the steps. He scrambled
to his feet, his face twitching with
| fury. He put his hand to his hip.
drop thar hand" ordered Clinton
in tone barely above whisper.