The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-03-03
LIBERTY BONDS
By Marjorie Raynale

of the New Haven Hotel and ask for
his usual rom.
'Call Miss Clark" said the clerk.
'For two days she's been trying to
to get you. Numbers there on the
pad"
Sam nodded and walked to the tele-
phone booth. Central was unusually
quick to respond. Then came a mans
terse voice:
County Jail"
Sorry, wrong number" said Sam,
and clicked the receiver hook impa-
tiently. Very slowly he repeated it.
County JAIL" the same terse voice
answered. ~
Sans brows drew together. "Must
be some mistake" he said. "a Miss
Clark left that number for me to
call"
"Are you Sam Higgins?" the voice
asked.
"Yes"
"Miss Clark is here. She is very
anxious to see you"
When Sam hung up, even his lips
were white. He grabbed his hat from
the desk.
''Send my bag up, will your"
"Sure," said the clerk Not bad
news hope.
But Sam had gone.
In the jai's iron-screened visitors S
room, Sam had been waiting half an
hour when they brought her in,
"Annie!" That was all he could say
just then. She was so white-cheeked
and frightened looking. Sam gath
cred her in his arms before the very
eyes of a deputy sheriff and two
TRUSTEES.
"Now let's hear about it." He
pulled up a regulation prison chair
close to his own so that he coulG
keep his arm around her.
Annie's gray eyes filled.
"It was Dr. Parks. He swore
stole some of the gold he uses in fill.
hing teeth
"Good Lord!' Sam spoke with such
emphasis that Annie glanced up at
him gratefully. Although she had
counted upon his absolute loyalty, it
was pleasant to be reassured. r..
II have never mentioned it to you,''
she said. @But for long time he's
been trying to make love to me.
evaded it as tactfully as possible, of
course. but it is hard to get book
keepers position just now. DIR. Parks
knows it too, suppose. al
Sam nodded sympathetically.
"For the past week or so he has
been more business-like. and l thought
he had forgotten about it. Then one
afternoon l had to help with gas
patient. When the woman had gone
and I was clearing things up, he be-
gan to talk to me in the old way. He
wasn't demonstrative, of course; DR..
Parks is too clever for that. But he
gave me to understand that his love-
making was the price of my position.
Next morning I did not go to the
Office. About three o'clock the police
came and L"
She began to choke up, her voice
trailing off into sbs.
Sam whistled softly. THE low
down crook" he said, with clenched
fists.
''Don't cry, little girl" Sam held
her closer against him. 'I'll go and
Annie started up. Don't do any
thing rash Sam, please. It's really
better for you to stay out of this"
Then seeing the tight lines of his
mouth, she leaned toward him en-
treatingly promise you'll not, Sam.
Tell me you won't do anything like
that!'
His answer changed the subject.
What's your bail?'
Annie sank back in despair.
That's worst of ALL" she said.
"It's fifteen hundred dollars. DIR.
Parks is one of the biggest dentists
in town you know. He has plenty of
influence"
Fifteen hundred! My God!"
Sans mind made quick inventory
of all his worldly goods converted in
to ready money. He wiped cold pers-
piration from his forehead.
"Fifteen hundred" he thought to
himself. Fifteen hundred dollars!"
Then to Annie: "Stop worrying,
little Sweetheart, and leave this affair
to me. Well have the bail money and
walk out of this place together before
you"
''Sam! Fifteen hun"
81 said we'd get it didn't II" He
kissed her to forestall the tears
which threatened again.
"Now smile just once before go
When come back, we'll leave to-
gether. remember that dear. Smile
nt,ick- -therel Goo1hve Annie"