The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-06
"And as Mr.. and Mrs. Farnswortk they 60
N into the World?"

the house That Steve built. Well?"
"I'm trying to think; Pm trying to plan;
but all 1 can do is remember that day in
the summer after our freshman year when
we went walking through the hills with
Molly, dear girl. You have forgotten it.
perhaps?"
Never a minute that I've spent with
her."
"Seems to be all l can think of just now.
What can we do?''
"Go there and hold 'em up, il we have to-"
Fitzpatrick smiled.
Hold up Steve Keene? You're getting
devilishly ambitious, Jim. Do you figure
on gun-play?"
"Well?" and the big fellow leaned still
further forward across the table with his
square jaw thrusting ominously out.
Steady, Jim, steady old fellow. Guns
won't help Molly"
'Then what will? Remember, we're deal
ing against Steve Keene.''
"My God, man, don't you suppose Pm
thinking of that hungry-eyed fiend of man
every second? But if there's anything to
be done for Molly, it will have to be through
Burton"
Through that?''
And Crashaw pointed to the flabby hulk
that had once been Hal Burton.
Don't you see? We could bring her
body to him, but never her SOUL"
Jim Crashaw looked into dim distance
and sighed.
Maybe you're right. woman's devil
ish queer proposition. How shall we 60
about it?'
Call Burton over here and tell him what
you know"
So they sent for him through waiter.
and Burton came and stood towering above
their table, for he was a grea, body of a
man. His feet were planted wide apart. and
he seemed to be bracing himself as if to the
sway of ships deck. While he stood there,
Fitzpatrick looked up to him, and said to
him with small, cold words: "Hal, at
o'clock tonight your wife is going to leave
your house with Keene and never come
back"
1t required moment for the meaning to
soak into the dull brain of Burton. Then
he flushed to an ugly red and drew back his
fist. Little Fitzpatrick sat without moving,
staring calmly up to Burton, but Crashaw,
looking very sick, reached out and caught
the big fellows hand.
'It's true" he said.
"You swine," said Burton thckly "You
low swinev'
The veins stood out on Crashaw's fore
head, but he had been Burton's roommate
at Yale, and he long ago forgiven his cap
tain for marrying Molly Canders.
He said: "No one knows of it but Billy
and l. The two are going to leave-unless
you prevent them-and drive straight for
Old Oak Tavern, where they will register
as Mr.. and Mrs. Farnsworth Do you I'M
derstand?"
The red died out of Burton's face while
ne stared down at them, and left him a
splotchy purple His lips moved slowly, as
if they were numb with cold. Then he
turned on his heel and walked quite soberly
from the room.
What do you Think" said Crashaw.
1T looks very bad to me'
Pm afraid that he's been rotting inside
as well as outside Damn it, Billy, and Hal
was stanch old boat in his day, eh?'
Therefore, when the car of Steven Keene
stopped before the house of Burton, and he
went inside, he came upon the master of the
place striding up and down the hall. He
stopped in his packing and eyed the visitor
with sinister quiet.
II knew" he said, "that you were quite
at home here, but l didn't know that you
carried key to the house."
II suppose you think it strange" an
swered Keene in the most matter-of-fact
voice, "but the house holds one thing that
/ value and naturally Pm clad to have the