Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-03
lie BOOZE of FEAR %Armm Samezs Roche

So night before last I give little party.
And ! tip OF a newspaper man know IN
hang around the police station up Pelham
way. Then l reach cop, give him
century note TO raid US. Then go to young
Bourke. ] tell him that I'm giving little
dinner TO some American friends whove
been kind 10 me. Stag ahatr, you kro~
He's nice kid, and agrees to come. "hen
he gets there it amt stag. Dear me, no.
I have flock OF girls from the Jonities--
easy. Rosa" His voice was suddenly stern
This was business"
The wornans mouth closed, and the I'm.
gers that had tightened over the handle NJ
her coffee cup relaxed. AN right II yon
say So" she said surlily,
IL do say so," said Halsey. well, Bourae
wants to quit the party. Nice little mammas
boy he is But we kid him out Of it. He's
young He didn't want to seem too much
of a hick And We were all his friends. Hs
didn't want TO be rude. So he stayed. me
unhappiest youth l ever saw. And Reilly
the COP pulled the pinch and we all took
ride in the hurry-up to the station"
You took a chance" she interrupted.
He shrugged. These eastern hattics
wouldn't know me And a million or so Is
worth a chance. Well, the newspaper eoy'
all set by me-and a crooked guy in that
recognizes Bourke, has little talk with
him. and--you saw yesterdays paper? The
raid on Summertime :?
II glanced at it." she told him.
We'll" he assured her complaeent!y,
that was my little party The girl-this
Guernsey girl-read it. and-it's ont for
Mr.. Bourke."
she's through with him." asked Rosa.
.you said il kid" laughed Halsey
The woman eyed him She shook her
head. Il didn't know" she said slowly,
that any one could be as low as you are
He was not offended. He beamed upon
her.
Il told you. old dear, that sooner or later
you'd wear diamonds il you came with me-
Hin" She eyed him thoughtfully. Don't
you ever forget, though. Benny Halsey, that
any time find you mixing it with dame
in anything but a business way something
will happen"
why do YOU talk that way" he de-
manded, aggrievedly. Have ! ever double
crossed your"
Not yet" she said.
He smiled at her reassuringly. He won
dered just how much trouble Rosa would
stir up if he pursued certain vague plans
to their conclusion. Allayne Guernsey was
q handsome girl He could handle
Outraged pride had caused Allayne's moth
er to send from her side and to his death
Harley B. Had Mrs. Guernsey realized
whittier she was sending her husband she
would never have given the command for his
departure. Had Allayne Guernsey known,
definitely. beyond a peradventure, that
Spenser Bourke would not return to plead
again and again his cause, there is the slight
possibility that he might not have been sent
away.
we rarely. any Of us, have definite and
permanent opinions that are fuli,born within
US We make weak decision; events bolster
US up; we brag blatantly Of our strength Of
character When Allayne Guernsey. few
days after her dismissal Of her fiance. learned
that Bourke had accepted the superintend-
ency of a factory in Hillstown, in Northern
New York State. and had taken up perma.
nent residence there, her mind seemed sud-
denly to go blank, her eyes TO envisage
cherries and empty future. Then pride, the
mother of self-deception, came to her rescue
For Bennett Halsey, who had intended 10
get hold of portion of the Guernsey estate
through chicanery, began to wonder if mar.
rage might not encompass the same ends
more fully.
Complications had arisen in the Halsey
life. Halsey was we'll known in such cities
as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Denver
He had also wide acquaintance in London
and Continental Europe. But to New York
he was in his propria persona-that Of a
crook-unknown. At least he thought 50.
As little boy eats around his layer cake.
saving the juicy chocolate icing for the final
udbit, so Benny Halsey had saved New York
One week after the breaking of her en-
gagement to Bourke hand had been
slapped heavily upon Halseys shoulder He
had wheeled, his right hand dropping to a
clutch of the law, and always he was pre-
pared. Then his fingers relaxed upon the
automatic pistol He essayed grin as he
looked into the leering countenance of one
Abe Gelstein, who at the moment he mad
thought to be safe in far-off California
" Tossed a scare into you, Benny, eh7"
chuckled Abe.
Halscy breathed heavily. His face, that
had gone dead white resumed a bit of its
normal color.
Got a bad heart, Abe" he said truthfuIly.
1t was that heart that had brought forth the
medical advice
And bad conscience" said Abe And
gun" He shook his head pityingly
You're gettin' old, Benny. Time was when
you'd a drawn before you turned, coulda
bumped you off easy"
Halseys grin became less forced Thought
it was a copper, Abe. But an old pal
Let's go some place where we can have a
little drink"
Gelsteins smile was crafty. last time /
did that with you. Benny, was a matter Of