The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-05-06

you're not, Noonan." And before til,
corpulent Noonan could say word
or move q muscle he was seized in u
grip of steel and thrust speeches.
against the wall.
The master looked on as though I'm
certain whether to be amused or in
dignant. While he was deciding FitE'
hugh confronted him.
"Mr. OTIS" said he, 81 want a few
minutes talk with you"
Otis smiled. 81 think you've earned
an audience with me. Nerve like yours
should not go unrewarded." They en-
tered the shadowy room, ostensibly y
library.
"What can l do for your"
"Just q moment" Fitzhugh drew
the sliding doors, which led to the
hall, together and fastened the clasp,
having first deposited his newspaper
parcel very carefully upon the floor.
He looked around the room, and, sat
isfied they were free from Interrupt
ton, picked up his parcel and took a
seat opposite his host, who watched
all these movements with q frOwn Of
suspicion and annoyance.
When Fitzhugh spoke his voice had
the deep, resonant ring it always ac-
CURED whenever he was acting a
part or exercising his oratorical gift.
"NIr OTIS" he began, leaning forward
in his chair and looking his auditor
steadily in the eye, "yOu are million
aire, are you not?"
Otis frown deepened. He glanced
impatiently at his watch. 81 can spare
said, with polite curtness. 81 must
ask that you state your business as
briefly as possible"
''But you are a millionairew
eyes, yes. What of it?"
"And / am q pauper. At this mo-
ment I could not buy-this newspa-
per-" He took from the library table
the morning paper Otis had been
reading. 1t was folded in such wise
that large tlashlight photograph in-
mediately caught his eye. He recog-
nized it nstantly-recognized the tall,
straight figure in the white sweater
standing above the blur of faces, arms
thrown upwards and outwards, head
back, eyes closed. He lived over again
that brief moment of glory, and the
exaltation he had felt returned two
fold. He cast the paper aside and
threw himself into the role he was
playing with redOubled Zest.
'NIr. Otis"-and he pointed two
rigid fingers within an inch Of his
hearers face-"you must lend me ten
thousand dollars % He seized the
newspaper parcel, which had been
resting on his knees, and stood up,
holding it high above his head. mind,
I say muSt!' His voice rang out omi-
nously. His eyes were cold, merci-
less. SIN these hands, Mr.. Otis, hold
sufficient dynamite to blow this house
and all it contains to ten million
atoms. Quick, sir" he Numbered,
and made terrible gesture with the
parcel. "Ten thousand dollars, or l
/ hurl it at your feet!'
Although Otis face had turned
deathly pale he had not grown ex-
cited or betrayed a sign of fear. He
sat quite still, his thin hands resting
lightly on the arms of his chair, his
gray eyes fixed unwaveringly upon
the black ones above him, his mind
working with the cool precision Of a
perfect mechanism. Hes either mad
or an assassin" ran his thought
"probably mad; and the only way to
deal with mailman is to humor him.
Perhaps, though, he's only bluffing. In
any event I'd best take no chances"
Otis made caressing movement
with his fingers along the arm of his
chair; his head rested on the back of
! it the better to keep his eyehold on
the supposed maniac.
"Ten thousand. Er-wOn't you
please sit down.?
81 will not. 1 could not explode the
dynamite sitting edown."
"Quite so, quite so" The caressing
movement increased. His voice was
silky. "Ten thousand-h'm. You do
not, of course, suppose 1 lave that
much money in the house?"
mo. You must write me check"
| "Very true, so I must. "But"-he
held finger beside his eye and smiled
waggishly-"might not stop pay
i H.