Graham guardian., 1922-11-21

g
had no chance to act, to denounce
her, to make a single movement. be-
fore the door opened swiftly. and Ho-
bart slipped eagerly into the room.
The first glance the fellow had of the
prisoner, standing erect and unbound,
must have deceived him into believing
the girl had succeeded In her quest.
$50 you've set him free" he ex.
claimed .The fellow has come to his
senses, has he?"
"No, he has not" she snapped with
temper darkening her eyes. Il was
not afrd1d of him, so let him loose,
but he's made me no promise. Now II
Is up to you; I'm done"
She slipped out through the open
Ing, and Hobart leaned against the
door, pushing 1t shut behind her, his
scowling eyes watching West in
tently.
$50. that Ia how 1t stands, Is II; my
man?" he growled threateningly. "You
even refuse to accept the word of the
lady, do you?"
"Those are very nearly the facts"
West replied steadily. Then ] told
her l thought she must be mistaken;
now I believe she was sent here for
no other purpose but t. deceive me.
If l ever had any doubt Of crime,
1t has vanished since this interview"
"What crimef'
L no
Coolidge. Is that plain enough, Ho-
bart? / want you to understand. I
am fighting this case from now on in
the open; 1t is going TO be man to
man."
"What the HI do you mean, you
curf"
"I'll tell you" went on West coldly,
determined now to so anger the fellow
as to bring the whole matter to
climax, reckless Of the consequences.
II charge you with murder. haven't
the proof. but I'll get It; I do hot
know the object, but I'll find out"
"You fool! Youth never get away
from here"
'I am soldier, and am taking
soldiers chance Now listen. feel
no particular interest in the death of
Percival Coolidge. In my judgment
the world is just as well Oft with him
dead as alive. Put what this meana
to Natalie Coolidge is another matter
entirely"
"She told you"
"Yes, she told me--a lie. That Is
what hurts; what makes me ready to
take any chance to put you where you
belong You have lied to her, deceived
her. made her your accomplice in
crime. I'm fighting for a woman, be-
cause she has got no one else to fight
for her.
"Oh, l see; in love, hey-wlth her,
or her money!"
with neither, so far as l know"
frankly. "She is woman helpless In
your hands; that is sufficient"
"But, hi, she hasn't any use for
you--didn't she tell you so?"
Quite plainly--yes But that is no
excuse for any man to play the
coward. | am not afraid of you, Ho-
bart, or your gang You got me be-
fore by treachery; was not looking
for trouble. But now l am. l am 60
ing through that door, and II you try
to stop me You are going to get hurt"
The fellow grinned, one hand thrust
into the outer pocket Of his coat, his
eyes narrowed into ugly slits.
"You think sol You haven't
weapon on you, West, and II you take
a step, I'll put you out of commission.
I know how to handle your kind. You
big buffer. What want to know is
what you have got in your head. for,
believe me, / don't take any stock In
this woman stun. Are you after a
slice Of old Coolidge's Doodle? There's
enough OF 1t for all hands to have
dip. How does that hit your
Sounds interesting, at least" ad-
mitteds West, so earnestly as to at
tract the others attention. "But let's
talk II over among ourselves-who Is
listening there?''
Hobart glanced behind at the nearly
closed door. 1T was for only second
he was off guard, yet that was enough.
With one leap forward, West struck,
his clenched fist smashing against the
side OF the fellows jaw. II was
wicked, vicious blow, with all the pro
pelling force Of the body behind 1t,
and Hobart went down stunned,
crashing the door tightly shut as he
fell. Once he strove bllndly to reach
his feet, tugging madly at the weapon
In his pocket, but West, feeling no
mercy, and wide awake to the fact
that any shooting would mean call
for help, struck again, sending his
groggy opponent fat, and unconscious.
II was all the swift work OF min
ute, and there had been no noise to
arouse alarm. Hobart had not even
cried out; the only audible sounds
being the sharp click OF the door, and
the dull thud of falling body.
West emptied the mans pockets,
II