The Harrison times., 1920-02-28

"That Is Mr.. Symington Otis, sir"
81 wish 10 see him. BE SO good as
10 tell him So"
"Who shall say, sir?"
FiUzhugh heSitated a moment and,
like lightning panorama, there
flashed across his mind teegraphic
pictures Of myriad hands applauding
him, Of the warm-blooded Russian,
whose eyes bespoke her love for him,
of the dark-Skinned reds yOicing
their iconoclaStic views. And a whIm-
siCal idea came.
Tell Mr.. Otis" said he, that an
emiSSary of the Cause desires to speak
with him"
The butler, though not understand
ing, was instantly suspicious.
Il am afraid" he demurred, with a
firm shake of his head, that Mr.. Otis
is very busy and will be unable to
see you"
Fitzhugh thrust his foot between
the closing door and the wall; and at
that moment Mr. Otis stepped into the
hall
We'll, Noonan"
"ThiS man, sir, is trying to force his
way in. am just about to eject him.
sir"
Fitzhugh laughed merrily. "Oh, no
you're not, NoOnan." And before the
corpulent Noonan could say a word
or move a muscle he was seized in a
grip of steel and thrust speeches.
against the wall
The master looked on as though un.
certain whether to be amused or in,
dignant. While he was deciding FtZ
hugh confronted him.
"Mr. Otis" said he, 81 want few
minutes talk with you"
Otis smiled. 81 think you've earned
an audience with me- Nerve like yours
should not go unrewarded." They en-.
tered the shadowy room, ostensibly q
library.
"What can do for yOu?"
Just Il moment" Fitzhugh drew
the sliding doors, which led to the
| hail. 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
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 hat
the deep, resonant ring it always ac
Quired whenever he was "acting" 6
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 not?"
Otis frOwn deepened. He glanced
impatiently at his watch. 81 can spare
you but little time this morning" h,
said, with polite curtness. 81 mus
ask that you state your business a.
! briefly as possible"
"But you are milliOnaire?"
Eyes, yes. What of it?"
"And | am a pauper. At this mo
ment l could not buy-ths newspa
per- He took from the library tabl
the morning paper Otis had beer
reading. 1t was folded in such wis
that a large fashlight photograph i'm
mediately caught his eye. He recog
! nized it instantly-reCognized the tall
straight figure in the white sweate
standing above the blur Of faces, arm
| thrown upwards and OutwardS, heat
back, eyes closed. He lived over agaiI
that brief moment of glory, and tn,
! eXQltation he had felt returned two
fold. He cast the paper aside an,
threw himself into the role he wa
| playing with redoubled zest.
"Mr. Otis"-and he pointed twC
rigid fingers within an inch Of hi
hearers faCe-"yOu must lend me tel
thousand dollars" !" He seized tn,
newspaper parcel, which had beer
resting on his knees, and stood up
holding it high above his head. Mind
say must" His voice rang out omi
nously. His eyes were cold, merci
less. an these hands, Mr.. Otis, l hole
sufficient dynamite to blow this hOus,
and all it contains to ten million
atoms. Quick, sir" he Numbered
and made terrible gesture with the
parcel. "Ten thousand dollars, or
hurl it at your feetw
Although Otis face had turned
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 unwaveringly upon
the black ones above him, his mind
working with the cool precision Of a
perfect mechanism. He's either mad
or an assassin" ran his thought
"probably mad and the only way to
deal with a madman is to humor him.
Perhaps, though, he's only blutling, In
any event I'd best take no chances"