The St. Charles herald., 1922-06-17

pretenSe OF courtesy now IN Spear-
mans manner; he sat m0tiOnless at
his desk, his bold eyes fixed on Alan
intertly. Alan closed the door behind
him and advanced toward the desk.
Il thought we'd better have some
explanation" he said. "about our
meeting last night"
"Our meeting?" Spearman repeated;
his eyes had narrowed watchfully.
"You told Mr.. Sheriff. that you were
in Duluth and that you arrived home
in Chicago only this morning. or
course you don't mean to stick to that
story with met"
"What are you talking about?"
Spearman demanded.
"Ot course, l know exactly where
you were q part of last evening; and
you know that know. only want to
know what explanation you have to
offer"
Spearman leaned forward. "Talk
sense and talk it quick, if you have
anything to say to mel"
81 haven't told Mr. Sheriff. that l
found you at Corvet's house last night;
but l don't want you to doubt for
minute that 1 know you-and about
your d-g of Benjamin Corvet and
your cry about saving the Miwaka"
A flash of blood came to Spearmans
face; Alan, in his excitement, was sure
of it; but there was just that flash, no
more. He turned, while Spearman sat
chewing his cigar and staring at him,
and went out and partly closed. the
door. Then, suddenly, he reopened II,
looked in, reclosed 1t sharply, and
went on his way, shaking little. For,
as he looked back this second time at
the dominant, determined, able man
seated at his desk, what he had seen
In Spearman's face was fear; fear OF
himself, Of Alan Conrad Of Blue Rap
ids-yet it was not fear Of that sort
which weakens or dismays; It was OF
that sort which, merely warning OF
danger close at hand, determines one
to use every means within his power
to save himself.
Alan, still trembling excitedly,
crossed to Coryet's office to await
Sheriff.. It was not. he felt sure now,
Alan Conrad that Spearman was op-
posing: 1t was not even the apparent
successor to the controlling stock OIL
Corvet, Sheriff. and Spearman. That
Alan resembled some one-some one
whose ghost had seemed to come to
Spearman and might, perhaps, have
come to COrvet-was only incidental
to what was going on now; Tor IN
Alan's presence Spearman found
threat-an active, present threat
against himself. Alan could not I'M
agine what the nature Of that threat
could be. Was it because there was
something still concealed in Corvets
house which Spearman feared Alan
would find? Or was it connected only
with that some one whom Alan resem-
bledf
Constance Sherrill's most active
thought that day was about Henry
Spearman, for she had luncheon en-
gagement with him at one o'clock.
The tea room Of department store
offers to young people opportunities
| for dining together without furnishing
reason for even innocently connecting
their names too intimately, II a girl Is
not seen there with the same man toe
often. There Is something essentially
casual and unprecedented about it
as though the man and the girl, both
| shopping and both hungry, had just
happened to meet and 60 to lunch to
gether. AS Constance recently had
drawn closer to Henry Spearman ir
her thought, and particularly since
she had been seriously considering
marrying him, she had clung deliber
ately to this unplanned appearance
about their meetings.
She glanced across at him, when sht
had settled herself, and the first little
trivialities Of their being together wer'
over.
II took a visitor down to your offic'
this morning." she said.
"Yes," he answered.
Constance was aware that 1t wa
only formally that she had taken AlaI
Conrad down to confer with her ia
| ther: since Henry was there, she knew
her father would not act without hi
agreement, and that whatever disposi
tion had been made regarding Alal
had been made by him.
ssDid you like him, Henry2 hope
| you would" -
He did not answer at once. TIL
waitress brought their order, and n
served her; then, as the waitres
moved away, he looked across at Cor
stance with A long scrutiny.
"You'ye seen a good deal OF hin
yesterday and today, your father tell
me-" he observed.
"Yes."
II .It's plain enough you like him." b
remarked.
she reflected seriously. "Yes, do
though hadn't thought OF 1t just tina
way, because was thinking mos
about the position he was in and abou
Mr.. Corvet. But do like him."
$50 do l." Spearman said with
seeming heartiness that pleased he
.At least / should like him, Connie,
had the sort of privilege you have