The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-03-03


able to offer him only regrets and
sympathy. Where, he asked himself,
would any young man of his financial
status be able to lay his finger on
that much money ?
Fifteen hundred dollars meant years
of grim saving and persistent sacri-
fee. Until his recent engagement to
Annie, Sam had not even 1awned
bank book. Since then, he Tad, de-
posted thirteen unseen dollars from
each weekly pay check; but, for all
that, his account still continued in
the three figure class and gave every
indication of so doiong for months
to come.
The thought of DR.. Parks with his
suave voice, his, confident manners,
made Sans spirit grow hot within
him. His fingers tingled to lay hold
of the man, to
He grabbed up his hat and went out
again.
As he stepped from the elevator
and walked down the marble lined
corridor toward DIR. Parks office,
there was a white tenseness upon
Sans face that none of his friends
would have recognized In his pocket
rolled tightly, was riding crop of
the Spanish cane variety. In man.
ner that DIR. Parks could not mistake,
Sam intended to demand Annie's re-
lease.
Outside the door of DIR. Parks
office he paused. On the frosted
pane was pasted this notice:
"OUT OF TOWN. WILL BE BACK
THURSDAY"
Sam stood with his hand on the
door knob, staring at the sign. An
idea struck him. 1t was risky, but if
the plan should work! One moment
he hesitated; then, at the sudden
memory of Annie's brimming eyes, he
released the knob and walked to
turn in the hall
At the end of the hall a window
opened out on fire escape. He
stepped to the window and ran the
lower sash up. The fire escape ex-
tended beyond the first rear window
of DIR. Parks office. Stepping out on
the fire escape, Sam closed the win
dow down behind him. He found the
catch of the dentists window un-
fastened. The next moment he stood
in DR.. Parks office.
He paused a moment, looking
around him. There was the desk
where Annie used to sit; the tele-
phone number he knew backwards.
He tried to picture her sitting there
again in the accustomed place. In
one corner was the safe from which
Annie was supposed to have stolen
the gold His hands were clenched.
He passed on into the inner Office.
Sans movements were calm and
deliberate. He opened the door of
the closet. On the pegs he found DR..
Parks white coat and apron. Remov-
ing his own coat, he donned the uni
form Next he made tour of inspec-
tion about the place; discovered the
secret of raising and lowering the
torture chair; opened the tool cabi-
net and selected some more or less
familiar looking instruments which
he laid out in two shining rows on
top. Beside them he placed roll of
absorbent cotton with a pair of for
ceps, and sprinkled a little carbolic
here and there to create the custom
ary dental aroma.
His stage setting all in order, Sam
went to the telephone. He took the
receiver off the hook and, after con-
sulting the directory, called Sutton &
Co., firm Of downtown brokers.
sutton & Co." voice answered.
This is DR.. Parks. 424 Popular
Building. would like to see about
some Liberty Bonds"
"Just a minute" said the voice.
There was slight interruption, and
then a mans voice answered
"W. R. Sutton speaking. DIR. Parks"
'sWould you send me over three five
hundred dollar Liberty Bonds as soon
as possible? I'll have the cheque
ready for you.''
Certainly, DIR. Parks. I'll have
them there in less than fifteen min
utes."
"All right, Mr.. Sutton said Sam
pleasantly. Goodbye"
Goodbye, doctor, and thank you"
Sam got up, opened the Office door
and removed the sign from the FROST
ed pane. Closing the door, he tossed
the scraps of paper into the waste
basket and dropped into chair.
He was smoking reflective cigar
cite in very unproffessional manner
when knock came on the door. Sam
opened 1t and the messenger entered.
In his right hand the boy held q
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