Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-11-13
CHAPTER llI-Continued.

as the whole town pack of luna
tics?" exclaimed Clinton, his blue eyes
flashing, Il shall not 90 to a hotel.
will take my train tonight as | intend
ed, and"
oh, no. no." implored Ellen. Sure
ly yOu'Il not desert u.s.
81 will go on to California" he in
sisted. There | shall send for proofs
Of my identity, and when | have fin
ished my visit to the coast, | shall re-
turn here To convince you of your mis-
take"
on sha'n gO," declared Amy.
81 must" he replied. IF I stay
here. you and Miss Kirkland will per
sist in this deiusiOn. Probably you'll
soon hear that your brother is in the
East or abroad. Imagine your anger
at me when you learn that | am nor
he"
"Mr.-CIinton," said Mrs. Kirkland,
do you not realize that it will cause
us much spprehension-anguish-if
you go away while we still believe you
TO be WHIP"
ut would be dIshonorable Of me to
stay" he rejoined, and he started to-
ward the door.
II shall go and not return until l
have the positive proofs of my identity
10 show YOU"
proofs of what you think you are?
Oh! that means you'll never come
back !" cried Ellen.
Amy slipped away and glided out
into the room behind the parlOr as
Clinton took another step toward the
hall door. BENIN set himself directly
in the way.
Hold on, old man." he advised.
AS your friend, y'knOw, | really can't
let you go"
Clinton put out his hand to push
him away. BENIN caught him by the
wrist in viselike grasp. ClintOn's
face went white; his eyes shODe like
sunlit Ice. He spoke in very low and
quiet tone: You fool. There are
ladies present Let GO"
Not unless you give me your word
10 stay and clear up about those
bonds" replied BENIN.
Clinton made an attempt to wrest
himself free. BENIN held him fast
with unexpected strength. But he
made the mistake of permitting a
shade Of irony TO appear In his suavc
smile The look In his prisoners eyes
warned him to guard himself He
flung M his right arm with the quick
ness of an expert boxer. Clinton was
a fraction of a second quicker. His
clenched left hand drove in over the
upSwinging arm and encountered
BemmS chin. Stunned by the blow.
BENIN swayed backward and would
have fallen heavily had not Clinton
eaSed him To the floor.
Ellen uttered stihed shrek. Gin
Ton Strengthened up from beside the
white-faced inert interfercr and
looked alphabetically at the girl and
her equally startled mother.
Pray pardon me-" he said. do
not he alarmed. He'll he all right in a
few moments. could not stand
for his laying hands on me"
ITO think that you could have so
forgotten YOURSELF" rcproved Mrs.
Kirkland.
Was | to endure being treated as
n theft" he broke in. Il regret that
he forced ii upon me before yourself
and your daughter. However, shall
now relieve you of my ungentlemanly
presence"
"Oh. Will! No. no! Do not leave
me-" implored Ellen.
Before he could reach the hall door.
way Amy popped into L from the 9TH
er side and outsPread her arms to bar
the way.
you dear old silly" she hantered.
That's all the good it did you. knock
ing down poor Charlie boy. You can't
run away. I've locked the front door,
and I've hidden The key and your hat"
Miss LOwrie." he sternly replied,
II will not permit even you to"
"Growly bear, Growly bear!" she
Knocked.
He stepped toward her with the evil
dent purpose Of pushing past into the
hall. She darted 10 meet him, and,
before he could evade her. flung her
arms about his neck. He grasped her
wrists. but her fingers were locked
fast. To have freed himself he must
have resorted to outright violence.