Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1920-04-15
swell. Noonanr


4
way In. AIN just about to eject him
SIR"
Fitzhugn laughed merrily. "Oll. no
you're not. Noonan." Ana before ths
corpulent Noonan could shy u worI
or move muscle he was seized in >
grip of steel and thrust speeehless
against the wall.
The master looked on as though un
certain whether TO be amused or In
diepmnt. While he was deciding Fitz
hugh confronted him.
"Mr. Otis" said he. Il want few
minutes talk with you"
/ Otis smiled. Il think you've earned
an audience with me. Nerve like yours
should not go unrewarded" They en-
tered the shadowy room. ostensibly n
library.
"What can do for your"
"Just d moment" I'itzhugh drew
the sliding doors. which led 10 the
hall. together and fastened the clasp
having first deposited his newspaper
parcel very carefully upon the floor
| He looked around the room. and SIT.
isted they were free from interrup
tion. picked up his parcel and took q
seat opposite his host. who watched
all these movements with a frown OF
suspicion and annoyance.
| When Fitzhugh spoke his voice had
the deep, resonant ring II always &C.
| m uFhAnnUef hG yuC
part or exerci.Ing his orhtoricai gift.
| mir. Otis. he began leaning forward
In his chair and hooking his auditor
steadily IN The eye, you are u million
are, are you not"
Otis frown deepened He glanced
! impatientiy M his watch. II can spare
you hut little time this morning." he
said, with polite guinness II must
ask that you state your business us
briefly as possible
"But you are Il mllonaireY
"Yes yes What of it?"
"And | am q muper At this-ifo.
ment 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 nashlight photograph inn
mediately caught his eye. He recog-
nzed II inStantly-recOgniz the tall.
straight figure in the white sweater
standing above the blur of faces. arms
thrown upwards and outwartls. 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.
mir. 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 1t high above his head mind.
| ! say must I" His voice rang out oini-
nousIy. His eyes were cold. merci-
less "ln these hands. Mr.. Otis. hold
sufficient dynamite to blow this house
and alnit contains to ten million
atoms. Quick. sir!" he numbered
and made terrible gesture with the
parcel. "Ten thousand dollars. or
hurl it at your feet T.
Although Otis face had turne,
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 unwaverlngly upon
the black ones above him, his mind
working with the cool precision OF
perfect mechanism. Hes either mad
or an assassin" ran his thought
probably mad; and the only way to
deal with a mailman is to humor him
Perhaps. though, he's only buiiing. In
any event I'd best take no chances
Otis made a caressing movement
with his fingers along the arm of his
chair; his head rested on the back OF
II the better to keep his eyehold on
the supposed maniac
"ren thousand. Er--won't you
please sit down?"
II will not. | could not explode the
dynamite sitting down."
Quite so, quite sol" The caressing
movement Increased. His voice WAS
silky. "Ten thousand--h'm. You do
not. OF course. suppose have thar
much money in the house?"
mo. You must write me check.
very true. so must. "But"-he
held finger beside his eye and smiled
waggishly-"might not stop pay.
mpnt on the chect. ."