The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1920-06-25

for words. "He was found dead in his
apartments. apparently killed by a
burglar who had rified his safer
She sat with her chin in the palm
of one hand waIrhing him from be
meath the shadow of lowered lashes.
but his eyes were bent downward at
his plate.
Are you through" he questioned
suddenly.
eyes; fhis-this awful news has
robbed me of all appetite
Neither had noticed Westcott as he
entered the room. but his first glance
about revealed their presence, and
without an instant of hesitancy the big
miner crossed the room and ap-
preached the table where the two
were sitting.
II hope 1 do not interrupt" he said
pleasantly :" had reason to suppose
you were unacquainted with Mr.. Bea-
ton here"
"What reasou?7 her surprised tone
slightly indignant.
Il believe the gentleman so in
formed me. 1t CHANGED that we had
a slight controversy last night"
"Over me?"
"Over his curiosity regarding you
who YOU we're; your presence here.
I Informed him that it was none of
his business, and that if he mentioned
your name in my presence again there
was liable to be trouble. We scrapped
1t out"
"You-you scrapped it out? You
mean there was Il fight over me-a
bar, Dom squabble over me?"
mot in a harroom; in the hotel Of
fee. Beaton drew gun. and had TO
slug him.
But the affair originated over me-
my name was brought into it?" she in
sisted. You actually threatened him
because he asked about me?"
Il reckon that was about how it
started" he admitted slowly. You
see. I rather thought I was sorter
friend of yours. and that 1 ought to
stand up for you
Her eyes were scornful, angry.
Indeed! Wei, permit me to say,
Mr.. Westcott, that choose my own
friends. and am perfectly competent
to defend my own character. This
closes our acquaintanceShip."
She moved about the end of the
table and touched Beaton's sleeve
with her fingers.
would you escort me to the foot of
the stairs?" she asked, her voice
softening. 1--WE will leave this bellig-
~,,..,,+ i,,,4i,-;,7,,,I 20 bic C,,-,, oor,vopvs
Neither of them glanced back. the
girl still speaking as they disappeared.
but Westcott turned in his chair TO
watch them cross the room. He had
no sense of anger. no desire to retail
ate, but he felt dazed and as though
the whole world was suddenly turned
upside down. SO she really belonged
with that outfit did she? Well. it
was good joke on him.
Before he finished his meal his mood
had changed to tolerant amusement
That the girl had deliberately deceived
him was plain enough, revealed now
in both her manner and words. 1t
was clear she really belonged to the
Lacy crowd, and had no more use for
him.
He could scarcely comprehend the
situation how a girl of her apparent
refinement and gentility could ever be
attracted by a rough. brutal type such
as Ned Beaton so evidently was. There
surely must be some other cause draw
ing them together. Yet, whatever it
was, there was no doubt but that he
had been very properly snubbed. Her
words stung; yet it was the manner
in which she had looked at him and
swept past a BeatOn's side which hurt
the most. Oh, well, an enemy more
or less made small difference in his
life; he would laugh at it and forget.
She had made her choice of compan
iOnship, and it was just as well, prob
ably. that the affair had gone no fur
Their before he discovered the sort of
girl she really was.
Westcott reached this decision and
the outer office at the same time. ex-
careless word or two with
fimmOns, and finally purchased a CT |
gar and retired to one corner to pc
ruse an old newspaper. It was not so
easy to read, however, for the news
failed to interest or keep his mind |
from wandering widely.
Who was this Beaton, and what |
could be have with Bill |
Lacy's gang? The row last night had !
revealed a mutual interest between |
the men, but what was its nature? /