The spectator., 1922-05-19


 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.
 T thought we'd better have some explanation" he said, "about our meeting last night"
 Our meetingT Spearman repeated; his eyes had narrowed watchfully.
 You told Mir Sherrill 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 meT'
 What are you talking about?" Spearman demanded.
 ''Ot course, l know exactly where you were part of last evening; and you know that l know. 1 only want to know what explanation you have to offer"
 Spearman leaned forward. "Talk sense and talk it quick, if you have anything to say to me "
 T haven't told Mir Sherrill that l found you at Corvets house last night; but I don't want you to doubt for minute that 1 know you-and about your d-g of Benjamin Corvet and your cry about saving the Miwaka!"
 A flash 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 looked in, reclosed 1t sharply. and went on his way, shaking a 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; it was or 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 Sherrll. It 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, Sherrlll and Spearman, That Alan resembled some lonesome 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 Il threat-an active present threat against himself Alan could not im- agine what the nature of that threat could he. Was it because there was something still concealed in Corvets house which Spearman feared Alan would find? Or was it connected only with that some one whom Alan resem- bled?
 Constance Sherril's most active thought that day was about Henry Spearman, for she had luncheon en- gagement with him at one o'clock.
 The tea room of department store Ao S''IiiS IN'pt' 'Rp'i for dining together without furnishing reason for even innocently connecting their names too intimately, if 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 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 of their being together were over.
 T took visitor down to your office this morning." she said.
 Yes" he answered.
 Constance was aware that it was only formally that she had taken Alan Conrad down to confer with her fa- ther; since Henry was there, she knew her father would not act without his agreement, and that whatever disposi- tion had been made regarding Alan had been made by him.
 Did you like him, Henry? l 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 long scrutiny.
 You've seen good deal of him, yesterday and today. your father tells me-" he observed.
 "Yes."
 Its plain enough you like him." he remarked.
 She reflected seriously. "Yes, I do: though hadn't thought of 1t just that way, because I was thinking most