Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1921-01-14

Simply.
at al-besides. against the doctors
orders
CranstOn stole over toward him,
looking closely for weapons. He pulled
aside the wooden blanket that Lennox
had drawn up over his body, and he
pushed his hand into the cushions of
the couch. few deft pats, holding
his rifle through the fork of his arm,
finger coiled into the trigger guard.
assured him that Lennox was not
"heeled" at all. Then he laughed and
went to work.
81 thought I told you once" Len
nox began with perfect GOODNESS, that
the doors of my house were no longer
open to you"
"YOu did say that" was CranstOn's
cultural reply. But you see I'm here
just the same, don't you? And what
are you going to do about itT'
II probably felt that sooner or later
you would come to steal-just as you
and your crowd stole the supplies
from the forest station last winter
and that probably influenced me to
give the orders. I didn't want thieves
around my house. and ! don't want
them now. ! don't want coyotes.
either"
"And ] don't want any such remarks
| out of you. either" Cranston an
swered him. you lie still and shut
up. and I suspect that sissy boarder
Of yours will come back after he's
through embracing your daughter in
the snow and find you in one piece.
Otherwise not"
IF were in one piece" Lennox an
swered him very quietly. ''instead of
bundle of broken homes that can't
lift IT'S arms. I'd get up off this couch.
unarmed as am, and stamp on your
lying lips"
But CranstOn only laughed and tied
Lennox's feet with cord from the
window shade.
He went TO work very systematical-
ly. First he rifled Lennoxs desk in
the living room. Then he looked on
all the mantels and ransacked the
cupbOards and the drawers. He was
haunting and calm at first. But as the
moments passed. his passion grew up
on him. He no longer smiled. The
rodent features became intent: the
eyes narrowed TO curious. bright Sits
under the dark lashes. He went to
Dams room. searched his bureau
drawer and all the pockets of the
clothes hanging in his closet. He up
set his trunk and paved among old
letters in the suitcase. Then. stealing
like some creature of the wilderness.
he came back to the living room.
Lennox was not on the divan where
he had left him. He lay instead on
the floor near the fireplace; and he
met the passion-drawn face with entire
calmness. His motives were perfectly
plain. He had just made desperate
effort to procure Dams rife that hung
on two sets of deer horns over the fire.
place, and was entirely exhausted
from it. He had succeeded In getting
down from the couch, though wracked
by agony, but had been unable TO lift
himself up in reach of the gun.
Cranston read his intention In one
glance. Lennox knew It, but he sim
ply didn't care. He had passed the
point where anything seemed to mat
ter.
"Tell me where II is" Cranston or
dered him. Again he pointed his rifle
at Lennox's wasted breast.
Tell you where what is? My
money!"
you know what l want-and II
isn't money. ] mean those letters that
Failing found on the ridge. I'm
through fooling, Lennox. Dan learned
that long ago. and it's time you learned
II now
Dan learned It because he was sick.
He isn't sick now. Don't presume too
much on that"
Cranston laughed with harsh scorn.
"But that isn't the question. said
I've wasted all the time I'm going to.
You are an old man and helpless; but
I'm not going to let that stand In the
way of getting what came to get
They're hidden somewhere around this
house. I've watched. and he's had no
chance to take them into town. I'll
give you-just five seconds to tell me
where they're hidden"
"And I give you" Lennox replied,
zone second less than that-to go to
h-lli"
ITO RE CoNTrNrEnD
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