Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1921-07-08

her hand on the dOor-knob she shot a
quick question at the boss.
"How much will you tell Cousin
Basll?"
Nothing Of what you have told
me-"
"Thank you" she whispered back;
"you are as big in your friendship as
YOU are in other ways" And with
that she was gone.
1t was right along In the same half
minute, while the boss was standing
with his back to the fire and the ma
ior was going in to talk to him, mat
lost Maisie Ann don't know where
she went, or how. She had lei go OF
inv wrist, and when ! CROPPED for her
she was gone. Since didn't see any
good reason why should stay and |
snv upon the boss and The major, !
slipped out to the hall and eurled up |
on the big settee beyond the coat
rack; curIed up, and after listening
while to the drone Of voices in the
farther room, went to sleep.
It was away deep in the night when
the boss took hold of me and shook me
awake The long talk was just get
ting itself finished, and the major had
come to the door with his guest.
eve must manage to pull Colllng-
wood out of It in some way" the ma
Tor was saying. 81 don't love the
d.--n' scoundrel any betteh than you
do. Graham; but that's reason-a
family reason, as you might say"
Then he switched off quickly. You
haven't asked me yet why | ran away
from home this evenln' when | was
expecting you"
mo" said the boss "sheila told
me that you had telephone call to
the Billiard"
The old Kentuckian chuckled.
Eyes, sub; and you'd neveh guess
in a thousand yeahs who sent the
call. or what was wanted. 1t was ouh
friend Hatch, and no Otheh. And he
|, had the face to offeh me ten thousand
doIlahs a yeah to act as consulting
counsel for him against the railroad
company
"Of course you accepted" said the
: boss, meaning just the opposite,
; The major chuckled again. u
y talked with him long enough to find
d out about where he stood. He thinks
Il he's got you by the neck, but. like
e most men O. his breed, he's a paltry
J. coward, sub, at heart"
The boss laughed. "What Is he
U afraid of"
ale Is afraid Of his life. He told
Ie me. with his eyes buggln' out thai
)r thoh was one man heah In Porta
ar CITY who would kill him to get pos
10 session of certain papehs that wer'
3 locked up in the cash vault of th'
Is Security National"
r The boss was pulling on his gloves
= 81 didn't give him any reason t
I'd think that / was anxious to murde
him." he said.
2" "Oh. no, my deah boy; 1t isn't you
as at all. It's HOWE Colllngwood. That'
k where we land afteh all is said an
at done. You'll hands are tied, and wev
l." rot this heah young maniac to dea
with If Collingwood gets about thre
lly fngehs of red Iikkeh under his bel
90 whv. thah's one murder in prospec
ar And If Hatch has any reason to thin
IN that YOU can still get the underho
as on him. why, thah's another. I'm gla
tel vou'ye seen fit to take Ripleys adviC
I'm at last, and got you bodyguard.
Id, "What's thatw queried the Dos
el- Rut the query was answered minut
we later when we hit the sidewalk X
the tramp back to town and Tarbe
fell IN TO walk three steps behind
ard all the way to the door of the raj
zen road club.
led It sure did look as if things we
l lust about as bad as they could ev
ght he. now Hatch once more on to
the whole bottom knocked out OF q
railroad experiment, our good mar
sed for political honesty gone glimmerln
he and, worst Of all, perhaps, the boz
his big heart broken right in two oV
ital those four little words that nothi
asil could ever rub out-"he is my nj
trip hand" didn't wonder that the be
ere said never a word in all that 10
red walk downtown, or that he forgot
ack tell me goodnight when he lock
himself up in his room at the club