Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-02-11

a. SoAh bloou With th iu1cAueu NtSlttue
was more than he had bargained for.
inarticulately resentful of such
squeamishneSs in himself. he looked
furtiveiy aside, licking his lips. and
discovered the decanter of Madeira
whici, Mario had left unsupported on
the table, after opening 1t for Leonora.
Carnehan brimmed an ordinary
drinking glass with the wine and
drank it In one loLg draught, grateful
for its pungeat warmth, deluded by
its mellow smoothness.
Now. Ma Neira may not wisely be
taken on too of rye whisky. Con-
scious of reinforced bravado the man
leaned against the table, his back 10
It, leering trueulently.
what did l come for? oh, l dun
no. What. dyou thlnk2"
You've threatened me often enough,
II You ever caught me with him
again !"
He Nodded In heavy humor. "You
got that right, kid No girl of nine can
pass me up for any stool pigeon or
dick that ever lived"
'.TIe isn't"
And get away with IT. You walt
youl see!
She shut her eyes. In spite of her
self She shuddered, He laughed with
qualification. and her eyes reopened
of sudden, passionately unafraid,
seeking first the pistol in his hand,
then his face.
you're going to :. Bin me, Redi"
'Tll say / am"
In spite of his shamefaced slnrlS,
he meant II in deadly earnestness. she
had another shudder, but fought ii
down without releasing his gaze.
After minute she said: Very
well; I'm ready, only"
He interrupted: You're worse'n
ready; you're In BOLIVIA hurry. His
turn comes first. years next. Get me?'
"But'-she implored his credullty
with clasped hands extended-"I tell
you. you're wrong about him. Red He
hasn't got anything 10 do with the
cops-honest TO God, he HASN'T"
The Madeira was working powerful
| ". A flash of unwonted insight Wis
tied his sodden intelligence. "You
wouldn't be beggin' for that pip II
you wasn't stuck on him. And that's
enough. Bull or no bull. he ain'i goin'
TO live TO say he store Red CaTaehau's
girl y
You're wrong. Red--you're all
wrong she protested wll.Ay "And
anyhow. what good'l 1t do your Don't
you know you're just playing Inez'
game?"
"G'wan. Inez ain't nothin' to me-"
Il know she isn't. and sne knows II,
too. and that's why. Dont you see7
You turned her down for me and she's
been crazy jealous ever since Now
she gets even with us botli--gets me
out of tine way right off the hst and
sends you 10 the chair for 1t. My
God. Red You don't trust that hell
| cat. do your Don't you know she's
only waiting to fix things safe for Leo
before she squeals on you2"
"Ah, forget IT." That together
with more profanity; silenced her.
lie me and Inez alone Mebbe ! did
pass her up for you: but that's long
time ago and shes forgot all about II
by now. She don't think of nob9dy
but Leo"
"If You believe that you're as big a
boob as she thinks"
"Maybe-but not as big ore as
you think" Carnehan emntled tho
deeanter into the glass and swilled il
at a guIp. Most anybody I'm strong
for can fool me once, but not even
You can fool me twice"
"Inez has"
"Ah sure! You'd say so :"
But there was an accent OF doubt
In his jeering retort and IN the look
he gave the girl as well. Far gone
In befuddlement, he was insure of
himself, insure Of anything within the
scope of his perceptions. and uneasy.
What If Leonora were telling the truth
| about Inez? Inez whom ne secretly
despised, Ieonora who was worth a
score of Ine2' sort
"How do you mean she's fooled me
twicew he demanded thlckly.
"FIrst, when she made you think I
cared anything about anybody but you
Red" The girl inched nearer, playing
to perfection part upon which her
re depended--her life and Newio's.
"She was the one told you about Ma
rio--lied TO you, told you | was see
ing him often--a man hardly knew.
hadn't spoken to a dozen times In all
my life. Why. Red. before tonight I
never have seen that man anywheres
but in the street, and then only to
pass the time Of day. But you'd take
anybody's WORD instead OF mine, your
believe anybody except the girl that
loves you!"
Her hands cane liglaly to rest upon
his forearms. He gave them no well
come but made no move 90 repulse
them. The uncertainty In his eyes was
giving way to another emotion, one
which the girl knew TOO well. She
moved still closer. and one hand stole
slowly I'D TO HIS shoulder.