The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-11-23


She stepped backward, still front.
ing him, and, with hand behind her.
raped sharply on the panel Of the
door.
The change in the girl was so pro-
nouhced, her action SO impetuous, ns
to leave West startled and silent. The
thought came to him instantly that
she was not the innocent victim he
had supposed. Her words and move.
ments expressed disappointment, rath.
er than regret. She was angry at his
choice, ready to withdraw from him
all sympathy, all assistance. Her plea
had failed. and the woman had be.
come tigress. Then she must have
been en1eavoring to deceive him; ms
deeply interested as these others-In
getting him safely Off the trail of this
crime. 1t was hard lesson, one that
Instantly turned all his theories up.
side down, but the truth came to him
with binding, sickening force-she
was as guilty as Hobart; they were
both working to the same end. en-.
deavoring to get him safely out of the
way. They would accomplish this
with lies II possible, IL not then with
force. 1t was for no other purpose he
had been granted this interview alone
lin the hope that he might thus be
deceived by her. Now he saw through
the trick
These thoughts swept Vests brain
In sudden flash of revelation, but he
had no chance to act, to denounce
her, to make single movement, be-
fore the door opened swiftly, and IIo
bart slipped eagerly into the room.
The first glance the fellow had of the
prisoner, standing erect and unbound,
must have deceived him into believing
the girl had succeeded in her quest.
$50 you've set him Free" he ex.
claimed. "The fellow has come to his
senses, has he?"
"No, he has not" she snapped with
temper darkening her eyes. ST was
not afraid of him, so I let him loose
bL. he's made me no promise. Now II
is up to you; I'm DONE"
She slipped out through the open.
ing, and Hobart leaned against the
door, pushing 1t shut behind her, his
scowling eyes watching West In.
tently.
$50, that Is how 1t stands, IS 1t, nv
man?" he growled threateningly. "You
even refuse to accept the word of the
lady, do your"
"Those are very nearly the facts"
West replied steadily. "Then I told
her l thought she must he mistaken
now I believe she was sent here for
no other purpose but to deceive me
had
1t has vanished since this interview"
"What crime?"
Murder; the killing Of Perciynl
Coolidge. Is that plain enough. Ho
bart? l want you to understand. Il
am fighting this case from now on in
the open; 1t Is going to be man to
man."
"What the HI. do you mean, YOU
cur?"
"I'll tell you." went on West coldly
determined now to so anger the fellow
rs to bring the whole matter to
climax, reckless OF the consequences
u charge you with murder. l haven't
the proof, hut Ill get 1t; I do moi
know the object. but I'll find out"
"You fool! You'll never get awas
from here"
81 am a soldier, and am taking
soldiers chance. Now listen. feel
no particular interest I'm the death OF
Percival Coolidge. In my judgment
the world Is Just as well Off with him
dead rs alive. Rut what this means
to Natalie Coolidge is another matte
entirely"
"She told you-''
"Yes, she told me-a lie. Phat Is
what hurts; what makes me ready to
take any chance to put you where you
belong. You hnve lied to her, deceived
her, nude Ar your accomplice In
crime. I'm fighting for a woman, be-
cause she has got no one else to fight
for her"
"Oh. see; in love, hey-with her,
or her money!
with neither, so far as I know"
frankly. "She is a woman helpless in
your hands; that Is sufficient"
But, HI, she hasn't any use for
you-didn't she tell you SOP"
"Quite plainly-yes. But that Is no
excuse for any man to play the
coward. l am not afraid of yoI, Ho-
bart, or your gang. You got me be-
fore by treachery; I was not looking
for trouble. But now I am. I am 60
Ing through that door, and If you try
to stop me you are going to get hurt"
The fellow grinned, one hand thrust
into the outer pocket of his coat, his
eyes narrowed into ugly Sits.
"YOu think so! You haven't a
weapon or you, West, and If you take
a step, I'll put you out Of commission.
/ know how to handle your kind, you
big buffer. What / want to know is
what you have got In your head. for,
believe me, don't take any stock in
this woman stuff. are you after
slice of old CoOlidge's Doodle? There's
enough Of It for all hands to have
dip. How does that hit your?
"Sounds interesting, at least" ad-
mitted West, so earnestly as to at
tract the others attention. "But let's
talk 1t over among ourselves-who Is
listening thereT