The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-01-13

sisted. "You actually threatened him
because he asked about meP"
"I reckon that was about how it
started" he admitted slowly. You
see. 1 rather thought / was a sorter
friend of yours, and that 1 ought to
stand VI for you"
Her eyes were scOrnful, angry.
Indeed! Well, permit me to say.
Mr.. Westcott. that choose my own
friends, and am perfectly competent
to defend my own character. This
closes our ncquaintanceship."
She moved about the end of the
table and touched Beaton's sleeve
with her fingers.
'Would you escort me to the foot of
the stairs?' she asked, her voice
sOftening. 1--WE will leave this bellig-
erent individual to his own company"
Neither of them glanced back, the
girl still speaking as they disappeared,
but Westcott turned in his chair to
watch them cross the room. He had
no sense of anger. no desire to retail
ate, but he felt dazed and as though
the whole world was suddenly turned
upside down. SO she really belonged
with that outfit. did she? Well, it
was good joke on him.
! Before he finished his meal his mood
had changed to tolerant amusement.
That the girl had deliberately deceived
him was plain enough, revealed now
/ In both her manner and words. 1t
! was clear she really belonged to the
Lacy crowd, and had no more use for
him.
He could scarcely comprehend the
situation; how a girl of her apparent
refinement and gentility could ever be
attracted by rough, brutal type such
as Ned BeatOn so evidently was There
surely must be some other cause draw
ing them together. Yet, whatever 1t
was, there was no doubt but that he
had been very properly snubbed. Her
words stung: yet 1t was the manner
! In which she had looked at him and
swept past at BeatOu's side which hurt
the most. Oh, well, an enemy more
or less made small difference in his
life; he would laugh at it and forget.
She had made her choice Of compan-
ionship, and 1t was just as well, prob
ably, that the affair had gone no fur.
ther before he discovered the sort Of
girl she really was.
Westcott reached this decision and
the outer office at the same time, ex-
changed a careless word or two with
Timmons, and finally purchased CT
gar and retired to one corner to Pc
ruse an old newspaper. 1t was not so
70 hnx Co.
failed to interest or keep his mind
from wandering widely.
Who was this Beaton, and what
connection could he have with Bill
Lacy's gang? The row last night had
revealed mutual interest between
the men, but what was it's nature
Lacy's purpose he believed he under
stood to some eXtent-a claim that 1t
was an extension Of the La Rosita
vein which Westcott had tapped in his
recent discovery. But he had no per-
sonal fear of Lacy; not, at least, If
h. could once get the backing of Cav.
endish's money. But these other
peOple-Reaton, Miss Donovan, and
still another expected to arrive soon
from the East-how were they con-
nected with the deal?
He was so deeply engrOssed In these
thoughts that he remained unaware
that Timmons had left the Office, or
that the Chinese man-of-all-work had
silently tlptoed down the stairs and
was cautiously peering in through the
open doorway to make sure the coast
was clear. Assured as to this, the willy
oriental sided noiselessly across the
floor and paused beside him.
''Zis Meester Vest-c-ott? ne asked
softly.
'"That's my name. John what Is 1t 2
The messenger shook folded paper
out of his sleeve, thrust 1t into the
others hand hastily, and, with hur
ried glance about, started to glid,
away as silently as he had come. III,
vanished into the dark hail, and ther,
wis the faint clatter Of his shoes OIL
tie stairs.
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