The St. Charles herald., 1922-06-17
CHAPTER viI-continued.

"Tm afraid you've taken rather
bad time, Lawrence. Can't we get to-
gether later-this afternoon? Youth
be about here this afternoon"
II think l can be here this after
noon." Alan said.
Lets say two-thirty, then" Spear
man turned and noted the hour almost
solicitously among the scrawled ap-
pointments on his desk pad; straight
ening. after this act Of dismissal, he
walked with them to the door, his
hand on Sherrilrs shoulder.
circumstances have put us-Mr.
Sheriff. and myself-in very diff
cult position, Conrad" he remarked.
sWe 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
less. II every movement OF Spear
mans great, handsome body had not
recalled to him their struggle Of the
night before-if, as Spearman's hand
rested cordially on SherrilPs 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-he was sure of that; ne
could not for an instant doubt It;
Epearman 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
ner toward him? For what was ali
this cordiality except defiance?
Power and possession-both Tar ex
ceeding Alan's most extravagant
dream-were promised him by those
papers which Sheriff. had shown him
When he had read down the list o1
those properties, he had had no more
feeling that such things could be hi
than he had mad at first that COrvet's
house could be his-until he had heart
the intruder moving In that house
And now 1t was the sense that another
was going to make him fight for thos'
properties that was bringing to hin
the realization Of his new power. HI
shad" something on that man-ol
Spearman. He did not know what tina
thing was; no stretch of his thought
nothing that he knew about himsei
or others, could tell him but at sigh
Of him, In the dark Of Corvet's house
Spearman had cried out In horror, b
had screamed at him the name Of
sunken ship. and In terror had hurle'
his electric torch. It was true, Spear
mans terror had not been at Alan Cor
rad: It had been because Spearma
had mistaken him for some one else
for q ghost. But. after learning tina
Alan was not q ghost, Spearman's q,
titude had not very greatly changed
he had fought, he had been willing t
Kill rather than to be caught there.
Alan thought an instant; he woul
make sure he still 'had" that some
thing on Spearman and would lear
how far 1t went. He took up the Y
ceiver and asked for Spearman.
A voice answered-"Yes."
Alan said, evenly: II think you an
I had better have talk before "
meet with Mr.. Sheriff. this Afternoon
/ amshere In Mr.. Corvet's Office no
and will be here for half an hou
then I'm going out"
Spearman made no reply, but hun
up the receiver. Alan sat waiting, b
watch upon the desk before him
tense, expectant, with fiushes Of hs
and cold passing over him. Ten mil
utes passed: then twenty. The tel
phone under Corvet's desk buzzed.
.Mr. Spearman says he will 81,
ven ave minutes now" the switchboal
girl said.
Alan breathed deep with relie'
snearman had wanted to refuse to 81
him--but he had not refused; he hs
.enf for him within the time Alan hs
appointed and after waiting until ~
heforo Il axDired.