Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1922-05-25
CHAPTER vll-continued.,

I'm afraid you've taken rather q
bad time, Lawrence. Can't we get to-
gether later-this afternoon? You'll
be about here this afternoon?"
II think can be here this after
uoon." Alan said.
Lets say two-thirty, then" Spear
man turned and noted the hour almost
:solicitously among the scrawled APP
pointments on his desk pad; straight
ening, after this act Of dismissal, he
walked with them to the door, his
hand on Sherrill's shoulder. I;
circumstances have put us-Mr.
Sheriff. and myself a very diff
cult position, Conrad" he remarked.
''We want much to be fair to all con-
.cerned-"
He did not finish the sentence, but
halted at the door. Sheriff. went out,
and Alan followed him; evaporation
half outrage yet half admiration-at
Spearman's bearing, held Alan speech
aess. If every movement Of Spear.
mans great, handsome body had not
recalled to him their struggle Of the
Aight beforeif, as Spearman's hand
rested cordially on Sherrilrs shoulder,
Alan had not seemed to feel again that
big hand at his throat-he would al
most have been ready to believe that
This was not the man whom he had
fought. But he could not doubt that !;
he had recognized Spearman beyond
question. And, Spearman had recog-
nized him--ke was sure Of that; he
could not for an instant doubt it.;
Spearman had known it was Alan
whom he had fought in Corvet's house
even before Sheriff. had brought them
together. Was there not further proof
OF that In Spearman's subsequent man
mer toward him? For what was all
this cordially except defiance?
Power and possession-both far ex.
ceeding Alan's most extravagant
alream-were promised him by those
papers which Sheriff. had shown him.
When he had read down the list Of
those properties, he had had no more
Feeling that such things could be his
than he had lad at first that Corvet's
house could be his-until he had heard
the intruder moving in that house.
And now 1t was the sense that another
was going to make him fight for those
properties that was bringing to him
the realization Of his new power. He
chad" something on that man-on
Spearman. He did not know what that
ching was; no stretch OF his thought,
nothing that, he knew about himself
or others. could tell him; but, at sight
Of him, in the dark Of Corvet's house,
Spearman had cried but in horror, he
had screamed at him the name Of a
sunken ship, and IN terror had hurled
his electric torch. twas true, Spear
mans terror had not been at Alan Com
rad; it had been because Spearman
had mistaken him for some one else
Tor ghost. But, after learning that
Alan was not ghost, Spearman's at
tithde had not very greatly changed;
he had fought, he had been willing TO
kill rather than TO be caught there.
Alan thought an instant; he would
make sure he stu s'had' that some
thing on Spearman and would learn
how far It went. He took up the re-
celver ana asked Tor Spearman.
=. A voice ansWered--.Yes.' ~
Alan said, evenly e think you and
had better have d talk before we
meet with MI. Sheriff. this afternoon.
Lam here IN Mr.. Cofyet's s6fice now
and will be here for half m i hour.
then I'm going oht."' !sss III
Spearman made no reply but hung
up the receiver. Alan rat waiting, his
watch upon the desk before him
{ tense, expectant, with dushes OF hot
and cold passing over him. Ten min.
!. utes passed s. then twenty. The tels.
phone under Corvet's desk buzzed.
IS Mr.. Spearmans says he WIN give
sSou five minutes now, J" the swift chboard.
I Sirl said. &. VIA essss,
Alan breathed deep with relief /;
& Epearman had wanted to refuse to SEQ
him but he had not refused !; he had
& cent for him within the time Alan had
appointed and after aiting until Just
setore Il exDired