The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1920-06-03
"Yell. NoonanY z"

"wem, NoonanT
"Thls man, sir, IS trying to force his
way in. ! am just about to eject him,
sir"
Fitzhugn laughed merrily. "Oh, no,
you're not, NoOnan." And before the
corpuent Noonnn could say a word
or move a muscle he was seized In
grip Of steel and thrust speechless
against the wall.
The master looked on as though un-
certain whether to be amused or in
dignant. While he was deciding Fitz-
hugh confronted him.
"Mr. Otis" said be, 81 want few
minutes talk with you"
Otis smiled. 81 think you've earned
an audience with me. Nerve like yours
should not 90 unrewarded." They en-
tered the shudowy room, ostensibly
library.
"Nvhat can l do for your
"Just 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
isfed they were free from Interrupt
/ ton, picked up his parcel and took
seat opposite his host, who watched
/ all these movements with frOwn OF
/ suspicion and annoyance.
When Fitzhugh spoke his voice had
the deep, resonant ring it always ac-
/ quired whenever be was "acting" a
/ part or exercising his oratoriCal gift.
Mr. Otis" he began, leaning forward
in his chair and looking his auditor
steadily in the eye, ''you are million.
aire, are you notY
Otis frown deepened He glanced
impatiently at his watch. 81 can spare
you but little time this morning" he
said, with polite curtness. 81 must
ask that you state your business as
briefly as possible"
"But you are a milliOnalre"
"Yes, yes. What of it?"
"And l am pauper. At this mo-
ment l could not buy-this newspa-
per" He took from the library table
the morning paper Otis had been
reading. 1t folded in such wise
that a large fashlight photograph i'm
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
e. lltatiOn he had felt returned two
fCld. He cast the paper aside and
threw himself into the role he was
playing with redOubled zest.
Mr.. 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
t 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, mercl-
5 less. "In these hands Mr.. Otis, l hold
e sufficient dynamite to blow this house
and all it contains to ten million
e atoms Quick, sir" he Numbered,
2 and made a terrible gesture with the
= parcel. "Ten thousand dollars or
= hurl it at your feet"
= Although Otis face had turned
S deathly pale he had not grown ex
y cited or betrayed a sign of fear. HI
y sat quite still, his thin hands resting
+ lightly on the arms of his chair, hi!
: gray eyes fixed unwaveringly upoI
g the black ones above him, his minC
:, working with the cool precision Of {
q perfect mechanism. He's either mat
n or an assassin" ran his thought
: "probably mad; and the only way t.
2. deal with a madman is to humor him
S Perhaps, though, he's only blufting. II
l. any event I'd best take no chances"
2, Otis made a Caressing mOvemGn
It with his fingers along the arm of hi
o chair; his head rested on the back o
d it the better to keep his eyehold oI
the supposed maniac.
# "Ten thousand. Er-won't yo
d please sit down"
e 81 will not. l could not explode tn
l. dynamite sitting down."
quite so, quite so !" The caressin
# movement increased. His voice wa
e silky. Ten thousand-h'm. You d
e not, of course, suppose l have tina
much money in the house"
"No. You must write me a check.
z Every true, so l must. "But'-h
If held a finger beside his eye and smile
l. aggishly-"might l not stop pay
C ment on the check"