The Holly chieftain., 1922-06-15

Alan put his watch back Into his
pocket and, crossing to the other office,
found Spearman alone. There was no
pretense Of courtesy now In Spear
mans manner: he sat motionless at
his desk, his bold eyes fixed on Alan
intently. Alan closed the door behind
him and advanced toward the desk.
II thought we'd better have some
explanation" he said, "about our
meeting last night"
"Our meeting?" Spearman repeated;
his eyes had narrowed watchfully.
"You told Mr.. Sheriff. that you were
in Duluth and that you arrived home
in Chicago only this morning. OF
course you don't mean to stick to that
story with mef'
what are you talking about?"
Spearman demanded.
"Of course, know exactly where
you were part Of last evening; and
you know that know. only want to
know what explanation you have to
offer"
Spearman leaned forward. "Talk
sense and talk 1t quick, If you have
anything to say to mel!
II haven't told Mr.. Sheriff. that I
found you at Corvet's house last night;
but / don't want you to doubt for
minute that I know you-and about
your d-g Of Benjamin Corvet and
your cry about saving the Miwakar'
A fash of blood came to Spearman's
face; Alan, in his excitement, was sure
of it; but there was Just that flash, no
more. He turned, while Spearman sat
chewing his cigar and staring at him,
and went out and partly closed the
door. Then, suddenly, he reopened 1t,
looked in, reclosed it sharply, and
went on his way, shaking little. For,
as he looked back this second time at
the dominant, determined. able man
seated at his desk, what he had seen
In Spearman's face was fear; fear Of
himself, of Alan Conrad of Blue Rap
ids-yet 1t was not fear Of that sort
which weakens or dismays; 1t was OF
that sort which, merely warning Of
danger close at hand, determines one
to use every means within his power
to save himself.
Alan, still trembling excitedly.
crossed to Corvet's office to await
Sheriff.. 1t was not, he felt sure now,
Alan Conrad that Spearman was op-
posing; it was not even the apparent
successor to the controlling stock of
Corvet, Sheriff. and Spearman. That
Alan resembled some one-some one
whose ghost had seemed to come to
Spearman and might, perhaps, have
come to Corvet-was only incidental
to what was going on now; for In
Alan's presence Spearman found a
threat-an active, present threat
against himself. Alan could not I'M
agine what the nature Of that threat
could be. Was 1t because there was
something still concealed in Corvets
house which Spearman feared Alan
would find? Or was 1t connected only
with that some one whom Alan resem-
bled?
Constance sherrilrs most active
thought that day was about Henry
Spearman, for she had a luncheon en-
gagement with him at one o'clock.
The tea room Of department store
offers to young people opportunities
for dining together without furnishing
reason for even innocently connecting
their names too Intimately, If a girl Is
not seen there with the same man too
often. There is something essentially
casual and unpremeditated about It
as though the man and the girl, both
shopping and both hungry, had Just
happened to meet and go to lunch to-
gether. AS Constance recently had
drawn closer to Henry Spearman in
her thought, and particularly since
she had been seriously considering
marrying him, she had clung deliber-
ately to this unplanned appearance
about their meetings.
She glanced across at him, when she
had settled herself, and the first little
trivialities Of their being together were
over.
II took visitor down to your office
this morning" she said.
YES" he answered.
Constance was aware that 1t was
only formally that she had taken Alan
Conrad down to confer with her IA
ther; since Henry was there, she knew
her father would not act without his
agreement, and that whatefer disposi-
ton had been made regarding Alan
had been made by him.
did you like him, Henry? hoped
you would"
He did not answer at once. The
waitress brought their order, and he
served her; then, as the waitress
moved away, he looked across at Con-
stance with q long scrutiny.
"You've seen good deal of him,
yesterday and today. your father tells
me-" he observed.
"Yes."
"It's plain enough you like him." he
remarked.
She reflected seriously. "Yes. do;