Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-01-20

openly III anticipation, 10 DISCUSS II
in cold blood with an intended victim,
was more than he had bargained for.
1narticulately resentful of such
squeamishne$s in himself, he looked
furtlvely aside, Kicking his lips, and
discovered the decanter of Madeira
which Mario had left unsupported on
theltable, after opening it for Leonora.
Carnehan brimmed an ordinary
drinking glass with the wine and
drank it in one long draught, grateful
for its pungent warmth, deluded by
It's mellow smOOthness.
Now, Madeira may not wisely be
taken on top of rye whisky. Con-
scious of reinforced bravadO, the man
leaned against the table, his back to
it, leering truculently.
"What did I come for? Oh, dun.
no. What d'you think"
you've threatened me often enough,
if you ever caught me with him
again :"
He nodded in a heavy humor. "You
got that right, kid. No girl of mine can
pass me up for any stool pigeon or
dick that ever lived" il
"He isn't"
."And get away with it. You wait
you'll 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 . kill me, Red"
'I'll say / am"
In spite of his Shamefaced smirk,
he meant it in deadly earnestness. She
had another shudder, but fought it
down without releasing his gaze.
After a minute she said: Every
well; I'm ready, only"
He Interrupted: you're worse'n
ready; you're in heluva hurry. His
turn comes first, yours next. Get me?"
"But'-she implored his credulity
with clasped hands extended-"I tell
you, you're wrong about him, Red. He
hasn't got anything to do with the
cops-hOnest to God, he hasn'tw
The Madeira was working powerful
ly. A flash of unwonted insight WIS.,
tied his sodden intelligence. you
wouldn't be beggin' for that pill il
you wasn't stuck on him. And that's
enough. Bull or no bull, he AIM goin'
to live to say he store Red Carlehau's
girl "
you're wrong, Red-you're all
wrong" she protested wiLny. "And
anyhow, what good1l it do your. Don't
you know you're just playing Inez'
game?"
"G'wan. Inez ain't noth;r' to me-"
81 know she isn't. and she knows 1t,
too, and that's why. Don't you see?
You turned her down for me and she's
been crazy jealous ever since. Now
she gets even with us bOth-gets me
out of the way right off the h&t and
sends you to the chair for it. My
God, Red! You don't trust that hell
cat. do you? Don't you know she's
only waiting to fix things safe for Leo
before she squeals on you?"
"Ah, forget itn' That, together
with more profanity, silenced her.
lie me and Inez alone. Mebbe l did
pass her up for you; but that's long
time ago and she's forgot all about II
by now. She don't think of nobody
but Leo"
"If you believe that you're as big q
boob as she thinks"
"Maybe-but not as big a one as
you think" Carnehan emptied the
decanter into the glass and swilled II
at a gulp 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 IsonOra were telling the truth
about IneZ? IneZ whom he secretly
despised, Leonora who was worth q
score of Inez' sort
"How do you mean she's fooled me
twice" he demanded thickly.
"First, when she made you think
cared anything about anybody but you
Red" The girl inched nearer, playing
to perfection part upon which hei
life depended--her life and Mario'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 dozen times in al
my life. Why, Red, before tonight
never have seen that man anywhere'
but in the street, and then only t.
pass the time Of day But you'd take
anyhody's word instead of mine, you'll
believe anybody except the girl tina
loves your
Her hands came Stly to rest upor
his forearms. He gave them no wei
come but made no move to repulst
them. The uncertainty In his eyes was
giving way to another emotion, ONT
which the girl knew too well. Sh'
moved still closer, and one hand stol'