The Ordway new era., 1920-12-31

| from bewidernent to perpiexity. from
perplexity to hysterical alarm and an
ger.
You. What-what do you mean?"
she screamed.
Before he could realize what she
was about she had darted at him and
plucked frantically ut his mustache.
"Jovel" he calculated, and he
clapped his hand TO his lip.
'Oh oh oh Z" she painted. shrinking
away from him, her dilating eyes fixed
in Mortified stare upon the few stiff
hairs in her clutched fingers. ats
real! Obi"
MY wordl I should say 1t isv' he
mumbled. pressing hard on his lip.
"But-but how then-oh, dearl oh
dearl Take me In to doctor! ] must
be crnzy! You had it; then you didn't
have 1t; now you do have -
"Have it?"
Your mus-mustnche! l thought
you had shaved. 1t was gone-Tm sure
1t was gone-yet now-i"
"Gonel When?"
in therein the library-not five
minutes agol Oh. dearl must be
raving crazy 1t wasn't there then
you've grown 1t again in five min
utes -
He stared at her wildly, infected
with the terror in her look and voice.
lnsane-lnsane That face In the mir
ror She. too, had seen itl
They gIared ut one another, over
come with dread and horror.
Il say" remarked voi,e behind
him.
He wheeled about ahu found him.
self looking into the mUzzie of an au-
tomatic pistol in the hand of BENIN.
Caught you mapping, eh?" jeered
the detective. 81 learned that Kirk
land was tracing in this direction.
did not rush up to the front door.
Quietly slipped in from the rear.
y'knOw und-here we are. Quite
clever. l call it. No wonder you look
tlabbergasted."
In flash Amy flung herself between
the two. Don't you shoot him Don't
you darel" she cried.
Hastily he lowered the pistol and
sought to explain: Il had no intention.
none whatever-only in self-defense
Can't you understand? II he is vio-
lent-attempts to resist But II you
persuade him to submit / am sorry
to have to use handcuffs.'
"Handcuffs? Oh, shame, shame on
you !-pretending to be his friend all
this time. Shame on you."
BENIN bit his lip. His bright. shall
low eyes deepened and darkened with
profound emotion. But he stood iirm.
Il made no pretense.' he rejoined.
II offered to prove myself his friend.
| stood ready TO save him, even at the
cost Of my professional honor"
"Your professional honor!" she re-.
preached.
He is your brother. l thought you
would understand. 1 am willing to
give great deal to clear him. If you
will-cr-accept my"
But If cannot?'
Then 1 shall do my duty. Do you
take me for fool, TO connive at the
escape of an embezzler, unless you are
considerate enough to"
"Oh, you won't-you can't! Surely
you'll not be so meanr'
II cnn send him to the penitentinry.
What's more, will, unless"
"No-n-no do mott" cried the ago
nized girl. Let him go, please let him
go! | will do whnt-what you wish! /"
You will? You will marry me?" he
demanded, and he stepped forward in
eager clation.
She shrank back with her hands
over her averted face. The prisoner
slipped II protective arm about her
shoulders and quietly remarked TO
BENIN: Better step aside If you are
nervous. You might accidentally dis
charge your pistol. There are people
coming along the path behind you"
Suspicious of ruse, BENIN edged
around TO the side of the opening and
glanced swiftly over his shoulder A
few feet away two hats We're visible
over the shrubs, moving down the
twisting path.
Here they are. Hurry up" boome6
the voice OF Doctor Kirkland.
(TO BE CONTINUED)