The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-06-08
CHAPTER VIII.
Violence,


At half-past three, Alan left the Of
fee. Sheriff. had told him an hour
earlier that Spearman had telephoned
be would not be able to get back for
a conference that afternoon; and Alan
was certain now that in Spearman's
absence Sheriff. would do nothing
further with respect to his affairs.
Was there no one whom Alan could
tell of his encounter with Spearman
In Corvet's house, with probability Of
receiving belief? Alan had not been
thinking directly of Constance Sher-
rill, as he walked swiftly north to the
Drive; but she was, in way, present
in all his thoughts. AS he approached
the Sheriff. house, he saw standing at
the curb an open roadster with liv-
cried chauffeur; he had seen that road
ster, he recognized with little start.
in front Of the office building that
morning when Constance had taken
him downtown. He turned into the
walk and rang the Dell.
The servant who opened the door
knew him and seemed to accept his
right of entry to the house, for he
drew back for Alan to enter Alan
went into the hall and waited for the
servsnt to follow. '"Is Miss Sheriff.
int" he asked.
"Il see, SIR" The man disap-
peared. Alan, waiting. did not hear
Constance's voice in reply to the an
nouncement OF the servant, but Spear
mans vigorous tones. The servant re-
turned. Miss Sheriff. will see you In
a minute. sir"
Through the wide doorway to the
drawing room, Alan could see the
smaller. portiered entrance TO the
room beyond-Sherrill's study. The
curtains parted. and Constance and
Spearman came into this inner door
way; they stood an instant there in
talk. As Constance started away
Spearman suddenly drew her back to
him and kissed her. Alan's shoulders
spontaneously jerked back and his
hands clenched; he did not look away
and. as she approached. she became
aware that he had seen.
She came to him, very quiet and
very flushed; then she was quite pale
as she asked him, you wanted me?"
He was white as she, and could not
speak at once. 'You told me last night,
Miss Sheriff." he said. "that the last
thing that Mr.. Corvet did-the last
that you know of-was to warn you
against one of your friends. Who was
that?"
She flushed uneaslly. "You mustn't
attach any Importance to that; didn't
mean you to. There was no reason for
what Mr.. Corvet said, except in Mr..
Corvet's own mind. He had a quite
unreasonable animosity-"
Against Mr.. Spearman, you mean"
She did not answer.
His animosity was against Mr..
Spearman, Miss Sheriff., wasn't It?
That is the only animosity of Mr.. Cor
vets that anyone has told me about"
"Yes"
at was against Mr.. Spearman that
he warned you, thenT
"Yes"
THANK you" He turned and, not
waiting for the man, let himself out.
He should have known 1t when he had
seen that Spearman, after announcing
himself as unable to get back to the
Office. was with Constance.
He went swiftly around the block to
his own house and let himself in at the
front door with his key. The house
was warm shaded lamp on the table
in the larger library was lighted, fire
was burning in the open crate, and the
rooms had been swept and busted. The
Indian came into the hall to take his
coat and hat.
''Dinner Is at seven," Wassaquam
announced. you want some change