The Washington times., 1922-10-15
Ccoutinnsd from PAGE ~

4
and mteting them he lounged for
ward, rather unsteadiIy, leering
from one to the other out Of half
narrowed, bloodshot eyeG.
Il became Instantly evident to
both Of them that he had been
drinking, and drinking heavily,
and some Of the white wrath died
out -Of Dams face and Was re-
placed hy cold contempt
What's the meaning Of this,
Knowles 7" he demanded. care
you stark, staring mad, or are you
so fuddIed that you don't know
where ven are? Get out Of here,
the same way as you got ip, be-
fore ] count five or III chuck you
through the Window
Knowles blinked, and cropping
with . cautious hand found . chair
back. After q moment he
ehuckled, as though amused, and
the girl shuddered, feeling cQld
all through.
Rather good, thatF' Knowles
observed. NPOt-calling-the-ke ie-
black idea,--eh, whatf Ny dear
old boy, what's sauce for the goose
Is sauce for the gander. Strikes
me I've as much right as you have
to come visiting at an uneonven-
tial hour. Anyway" he laughed
thickly, Judging By the scene ]
disturbed, the lady concerned isn't
making any objection. !"
Shut your foul MOUTH
Dan was at his side, Dams strong
b0ny brown hand hxed In D relent-
less grip upon his shoulder, and
Dams brilliant eyes blazing furi-
ously down into his before the
jerky words had well left Knowles
lips and for minute he seemed
to shrink.
Then he laughed again. The
sound rang with curious distinct
ness upon the silence, and Fancy
gave an audible gasp. Setting his
teeth Dan gripped the thin Shout
der tighter, and with o jerk lifted
Knowles mOmentarily of his feet.
"Shut up, / tell your he whis-
pered. Listen 10 me, KnowlesI
II you raise your voice again, III
run you straight through that win
dow, glass and all! ] mean It, you
unutterable little skunkw - 3
Under his fingers Knowles
writhed, but he could not get free,
and after, a minute he desisted,
Struggling, uttering another sub
dued chuckle. = -.
"Afraid Of rousing some one,
suppose3" he suggested, rather
thickly. "Would be Q bit awk-
ward, wouldn't it? Nasty position
to be found in, what? Newly re-
turned lover--fair lady pledged to
another--er-" He paused,
hiccoughing gently, and wriggiing
his imprisoned shoulder in Dams
furious hold. sa'
Thought you were burglar,
myself. Saw you creeping up the
stairs outside about half an hour
ago, and followed you. Seemed
suspicious, don't you know. That's
how come to be here. OF course,
I'll go--in just q minute. Didn't
mean to be a spoil sport. Oh, all
right; don't hustle! I'm going, old
man; I'm going" Vi.
Impelled by Dams hand he took
a couple of steps toward the win
dow. Then, over his SHOULDER he
glanced back at Fancy, And away
from her up into Dams set face.
'sYou coming too?" he Qpes-
toned. "Oh-"
He got no further. The little
control Dan had been exercising
over his fury gave way. He saw
red, and, in the same moment,
exerted his immense strength.
Knowles was lifted high of the
floor like a wriggling, limp terrier
about to be chastised, suspended
for a minute in mid air, then flung
with incredible force half across
the room. ~. a -.
Fancy, motionless, drew one
rasping, choking breath. Dan, his
fingers twitching, walked deliber-
ately across to the stirring, PROS
trate figure. e. =
"Get upr he said curtly, and
very slowly, rather to the girls
Amusement, Knowles obeyed.F
His face was hvid now, the
sneering, leering cunning had left
Il. He looked at Dan blankly,
then lurched slowly past him in
the direction Of the nearest arm.
chair. His left hand was pressed
against his side, his mouth was
curiously dark at the corners, his
nostrils pinched. ' =