The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-09-30


| from bewilderment to perplexity. from
psrplexity to hysterical alarm and an
ser.
"Youi What-what do you meanr
she screamed.
Before he could realize what she
was about she had darted at him and
plucked frantically at his mustache.
"Jove" he calculated. and he
clapped his hand to his lip.
"Oh oh oh T. she painted, shrinking
away from him, her dilating eyes fixed
In Mortified stare upon the few stiff
hairs In her clutched fingers. ITS
real! Obi"
MY word should say II Isl" he
mumbled, pressing hard on his lip.
"But-but how then-oh, dearl oh
dear! Take me In to doctor I must
be crazyl You had 1t; then you didnt
have 1t; now you do have It'll"
"Have it2"
"Your mus-mustache! thought
you had shaved. 1t was gone-rm sure
II was gone-yet now
"Gonel When?"
"In therein the library-not five
minutes ago! Oh, dearl I must be
raving crazyi II wasn't there then
you've grown IT again In five min
utes 7"
He STAGED at her wildly, infected
with the .rror in her look and voice.
Insane-insane That face In the mir
ror She, too, had seen 1t
They glared ut one another, over
come with dread and horror.
II say" remarked O 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, eh?" 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
| fabbergasted."
In fash 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: 81 had no intention,
none whatever-only In self-defense.
Can't you understand? II he Is vio-
| lent-attempts to resist But IL you
persuade him to submit 1 am sorry
| to have to use handouts"
Handouts? Oh, shamel shame on
| you !-pretending to be his friend all
this timel 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-
81 offered to prove myself his friend.
1 stood ready TO save him, even at the
cost of my professional honor"
"Your professional honor" she re-
preached.
"He is your brother. / thought you
would understand. / am willing to
| give a great deal to clear him, IL you
| will-er-accept my
But IL 1 cannotT"
'Then I shall do my duty. Do you
escape Of an embezzler, unless you are
considerate enough to"
"Oh, you won't-you can'tl Surely
you'll not be so meanT"
II can send him to the penitentiarN
| what's more, will, unless"
"No-n-nol do not!" cried the ago.
nized girl. LET him go, please let him
goi I will do what-what you wish !"
"You will? You will marry me?" he
demanded, and he stepped forward In
eager elation.
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 a 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.
CTO BE CONTTNUEDJ