The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1922-06-30
VIII
A Late Evening Call.

olack hair fallen over her white shout
dArI. Eyes like jet beads were fast
sned on him. In them he read indig
nation struggling with fear.
Say, what are you anyhow mol
buzzer? II you're a porch-climber GU
for the props you've sure come to the
wrong dump. 1 got nOthin' but bun
rocks"
This was Greek to Clay. He did
not know that she had asked him If he
were a man who robs women, and tina,
she had told him he could get no d.
Almonds there since hers were false. b
The Arizonan guessed at once that
he was not In the room mentioned In
the letter. He slipped his revolver
back into its place between shirt and
trousers.
rs til. house number 1912" he
asked.
"No, it's 123. What of it?"
Its the wrong house. I'm ce'tainly
one chump."
The black eyes lit with sardonic
mockery. "Say, do l look like one
Of them born-every-minute kind?" she
asked easily. $50 ahead and spring
that old n On me about how you
got tainted at the club and come in
at the ' ndOw on account o. your wife
havin' a temper somethin' fierce"
"NO, II was lOOkin' for some one
else. I'm awful sorry 1 scared you.
I'd eat dirt If 1t would do any good,
but it won't. I'm just a plumb idiot.
! reckon I'll be puShin' on my reins."
He turned toward the window.
stop right there where you're at"
she ordered sharply. Take a step
to that window and I'll holler for a
bull like a BOwery bride get
tin a wallOpin' from friend husband.
/ gotta have an explanation. And
who told you l was scared? Forget
that stuff. Take it from Annie that
she amt the kind that scares."
Il came to see some one else, but /
got in the wrong house." he explained
again lamely.
That's twice l heard both them in
terestin' facts. Who is this goil you
was comm through a window to see
In the middle O the night. And what's
that gat for if it amt to crOak some
other guy? You Oughtta be ashamed
of yourself for not pullin' a better
wheeZe than that OF me-"
Clay blushed. In spite of the
slangy impudence that dropped from
the pretty red lips the girl was slim
and looked virginia..
you're way off. | wasn't calm
On her o." He stuck hOpeleSsIy.
"Nhadya know about that?' she
came back with obvious sarcasm. you
soitainly give mt a pain. I'll say YOU !
weren't calm TO arrange no Sunday |
school picnic. Listen. Look at that !
wall a minute, will yOu?"
I When he turned again at her order
she was sitting on the side of the bed
wrapped in a kimOnO, her feet in bed
slippers. He saw now that she
was a slender-limbed slip of a girl.
The lean forearm, which showed bare
the elbow when she raised it to
draw the kimono closer round her.
told Clay that she was none too well
nourished.
+. It Occurred to him that she might
give him Information Of value. He
told her the story OF K;.ty Mason. He
could see by tl!p @ir''s eyes that 81
hal jumped to the GOA fusion that he
was in love with Kitty. He did NOT
attempt to disturb that conviction. It
might enlist her sympathy. &s
Annie Millikan had never seen a
man like this Before, so clean and
straight and good to look at. From
childhood she had been brought up on
the fringe Of that underworld the at
mosphere Of which is miasmic. She
was impressed In spite of herself.
I Say, why don't you 60 into the
movies and be one of these here screen
You'd knock 'em dead" she
fippantly, crossing her bare.
ankles.
Clay laughed. He liked the insolent
little twist to her mouth. She made
one strong appeal to him. This bit of
\ girl, so slim that he could break her
n his hands, was game to the core.
He recognized 1t as a quality Of kin
ship. 49,
.IIow do you know the girl amt
4 b&dger-worker? You wantta 60 slow
when you tackle Jerry Durand. ] can
ell you n thing. He's In this bust
hess up to the neck. I seen his
Gorilla Dave, comm outa the
lpuse next door twice today"
! Seen anything Of the girl?"
"Nope. But she may be there. Hon.
st, you're up against a tough game.
Why don't you lay down on it," she
lsked, her frank eyes searching his.
you soitainly will if you've got good
I'm goin' through"
Her bIack eyes warmed. "Say, III