Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-08-20
"That is Mr.. Symington Otis, sir"

VINO snail 1 say, SIR!
Fitzhugh hesitated II moment. and,
like lightning panorama, there
flashed across his mind Geographic
pictures of myriad hands applauding
him, of the warm-blooded Russian,
whose eyes bespoke her love for him,
of the dnrk-skinned reds voicins
their iconoclastic views. And whim.
Steal idea came.
Tell Mr. Otis" said he. that an
enissary of the Cause desires to speak
with him.
The butler, though not understand
ing. was instantly suspicious.
II 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.
"Well. 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 muscle he was seized in n
grip of steel and thrust speeches.
against the wall.
The master looked on as though un.
certain whether to be amused or in
II h; IL l. INA
hugh confronted him.
"Mr. Otis" said he, II 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 o
library.
What can l do for you?"
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.
isfied they We're free from Interrupt
ton, picked up his parcel and took a
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 1t always ac
quired whenever he was acting q
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. II can spare
you but little time this morning." he
said, with polite curtness. II must
ask that you state your business as
briefly as possible"
'But you are millionaire?
"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 was folded in such wise
that large fashlight photograph i'm.
mediately caught his eye. He recog.
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
exaltation he had felt returned two.
fold. 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
resting on his knees. and stood up.
holding 1t high above his head. Mind.
l say must" His voice rang out omi.
nously. His eyes were cold. merci.
less. I'm these hands, Mr.. Otis, l hold
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. 'srcn thousand dollars. or i
hurl 1t at your feet -
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. Hes either mad
or an assassin" ran his thought
probably mad; aid the only way to
deal with mailman is to humor him
Perhaps, though. he's only bluffing. In
any event I'd best take no chances"
Otis made caressing movement
with his fingers along the arm of his
chair; his head rested on the back of
1t the better to keep his eyehold on
the supposed maniac.
Ten thousand. Er-won't You
please sit DOWN."
Il will not. l could not explode the
dynamite sitting down."
Quite So quite sol" The caressinR
movement increased. His voice was
silky, "Ten thousand-h'm. You do
not, of course, suppose l have that
much money in the house?"
No. You must write me check"
very true, so l must. "But"-he