Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-06-24
CHAPTER X.
a caller.

Az the first Of the month was ap.
prDaching. Wassaauam had brought
his household bills and budget to Alan
that moFaing directly after breakfast.
To furnish Alan with whatever sums
he needed, Sheriff. had made consid-
erahic deposit In Alan's name In the
bank where he carried his own ac-
count: and Alan had accompanied Sher-
Fill to the bank TO be introduced and
had signed the necessary cards Ia or
der to check against the deposit.
Alnn had required barely half Of the
hundred dollars which Benjamin Cor
vet had sent to Blue Rapids for his
expenses In Chicago; and he had
broughi with him from "home" hun
dred dollars OF bis own.
The amount which Wassnquam now
desired TO pay the bills was much
more than Alan had on hand; but that
amount was also much less than the
eleven hundred dcllars which the serv-
ant listed as cash OH hand. This. Was
saquam stated, was In currency and
kent by him. Benjamin always had
had HIN keep that much In the house
Wassaquam would not touch that sum
now for the payment OF current ex- l
penses.
On the flrst OF the month. therefore
Alan drew upon bis new bank account
to Wassaquam's order, and In the early
afternoon Wassaquam went to the
bank to cash his check--one OF the
very few occasions when Alan had
been left In the house alone; Wassa.
quam's habit, 1t appeared, was to 10
about on the first OF the month and
pay the tradesmen In person.
Some two hours later, and before
Wassaquam could have been expected
back. Alan, IN the room which had be-
come his. was startled by sound Of |
heavy pounding, which came suddenly |
to him from iioor below. Shouts
heavy, thick. and unintelligible -min-
gled with the pounding. He ran swift
iy down the stairs, then on and down |
the service stairs Into the basement. |
The door to the house from the area.
way was shaking to irregular, heavy |
blows. which stopped as Alan reached
the lower halfway; the shouts contin-
ned still moment more. Now that
the noise OF pounding did not inter
fere. Alan could make out what the
man was saying. ben Coryet !"--
the name was almost mlntelligible--
ben Coryet! Benz" Then the shouts
stopped. too.
Alan sped to the door and turned
back the latch. The door bore back
upon him, not from push, but FROM
q weight without which had fallen
against it, A big. heavy man, with u
rough cap aud mackinaw coat. would
have fallen upon the floor II Alan had
NOT caught him. His weight In Alans
arms was so dull, so inert, that, IL yio-
ience had been his intention, there was
nothing TO be feared from him NEW.
Alan looked up, therefore, to see II
my oiie had couH with him. The alley
aud the street we're clear. The snow
4, the areaway showed that the man
lad come TO the door alone and with
great difficulty; he had fallen once up
IN the wink. Alan dragged the man
hto the house aud went back and
tloscd the door. Ii
lie returned and looked al him. The
man was HE. very like the one whom
Alxn had followed from the house on
he night when he was attacked; GER.
ainfy that this was the same man
anne quickly IT, BIN. He seized the
elbow again and dragged him up the
'tai-s ard 70 sNs lounge IN the library. / /