Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-12-15
appel sharply on the panel of the

to leave West startled and silent. The
thought came to him instantly that
she was not the innocent victim he
had supposed Her words and move
ments expressed disappointment. rath-
er than regret She was angry at his
choice. ready to withdraw from him
all sympathy. all ass stance. Hei plea
had failed and the woman had be
/ come a tigress. Then she must have
| been endeayoring to deceive him. as
| deeply interested as these Others-in
| getting him safely off the trail of this
/ crime. 1t was hard lesson, one that
instantly turned all his theories up
side down, but the truth came to him
with binding, sickening force-she
was as guilty as Hobart; they were
| both working to the same end, en-
| deavoring to get him safely out of the
way. They would accomplish this
with lies If possible if not then with
force. 1t was for no other purpose he
had been granted this interview alone
in the hope that he might thus be
deceived by her. Now he saw through
| the trick.
These thoughts swept Vests brain
| in q sudden flash of revelation, but he
| had no chance to 'act, to denounce
| her, to make single movement, be-
| fore the door opened swiftly, and Ho-
| hart 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 hep
"NO. he has not" she snapped with
temper darkening her eyes. 81 was
not afraid of him, so let him loose,
but he's made me no promise. Now 1t
is up to you; I'm DONE"
She slipped out through the open
ing, and Hobart leaned against the
door. pushing it shut behind her, his
scowling eyes watching West in
tently.
$50, that is how 1t stands, is it, my
mann" 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 I told
her I thought she must be mistaken;
now / believe she was sent here for
no other purpose but t. deceive me-
If ever had any doubt of crime,
it has vanished since this interview"
"What crime?'
Murder; the killing of Percival
Coolidge. Is that plain enough, Ho-
bart? / want you to understand.
am fighting this case from now on in
the open; it is going to be man to
man."
"What the HI do you mean, you
cur?'
"Ill tell you" went on West coldly.
determined now to so anger the fellow
as to bring the whole matter to a
climax, reckless of the consequences.
81 charge you with murder. l haven't
the proof, but I'll get it; I do not
know the object, but I'll find out"
"You fool! You'll never get away
from here"
81 am a soldier, and am taking a
soldiers chance. Now listen. I feel
no particular interest in the death of
Percival Coolidge. In my Judgment
the world is just as well off with him
dead as alive. But what this means
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, I see; in love, hey-with her,
or her money!"
with neither so far as I 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 SOP"
"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 / am. / am go
ing through that door, and if 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 Sits.
"You think so! You haven't a
weapon on you, West, and if you take
step, I'll put you out of commission.
| 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 stuff. Are you after
slice of old Coolidge's Doodle? There's
enough of it for all hands to have a
dip. How does that hit your"
Sounds interesting. at least" adj
mitted 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 a second
he was off guard. yet that was enough