The L'Anse sentinel., 1924-02-01
CHAPTER XII

Billie had been standing near the
wall, inspecting a portrait of the late
Mr.. Josiah Appleby, Of which the kind
est thing one can say is that one hopes
It did not do him justice. She now
shrank back against this wall. as II
she were trying to get through it. The
edge OF the portraits frame tilted her
hat out Of the straight, but in this
supreme moment she did not even mo-
tice II.
"Er--how do you DOR she said.
II she had not been an exceedingly
pretty girl. one would have said that
she spoke squeakily. The fighting
spirit Of the BENEFITS. though 1t was
considerable fighting spirit, had not
risen to this emergency. II had ebbed
out of her. leaving in It's place cold
panic. She had seen this sort of
thing In the movies-there was one
series OF pictures. "The Dangers oe
Dlana." where something of the kind
had happened to the heroine In every
reel-but she had not anticipated that
IL MOuiu CNNi haPpCA " itA dhd NOh-
seqdently she had not thought out any
plan for coping with such situation.
A grave error. In this world one
should be prepared for everything, or
where Is one? The best she could do
was to stand and stare at the intruder.
1t would have done Sam Marlowe good
-he had now finished the synopsis
and was skimming through the current
installment--if he could have known
how she yearned for his return.
I've brought the revolver" said
Mr.. Peters.
$3.50 I see !" said Billie. ,J5
Mr. Peters hursed the weapon affee-
tionately In his kand. He was rather
a shy man with women as rule, Out
what Sam had told him about her be
Ing Interested in his revolver had made
his heart warm TO this girl,
II was just on smy way to have a
little practice at the range" he said.
~Then l thought l might as well look
In here"
II suppose suppose you're good
bhOtE QuaNCAtu tu AsbAC.
.T seldom MISS" said John Peters.
Billie shuddered. Then, rejecting
that the longer she engaged this ma
MAC In conversation the more hope
there was Of Sam coming back in time
to save her. she assayed further small
talk.
It's-it,s very uglyr
"Oh, no 7" said Mr.. Peters, hurt.
Billie perceived that she had said
the wrong thing. q
"very deadly looking. meant" she
corrected herself hastily.
"It may have deadly work to do,
Miss Sfilliken." said Mr.. Peters.
Conversation languished again.
Billie had no further remarks to make
of Immediate interest, and Mr.. Peters
was struggling with a return Of the
deplorable shyness which so handi-
capped him in his dealings with the
other sex. After few moments, he
pulled himself together again, and, as
his first act was to replace the pistol
In the pocket Of his coat. Billie became
conscious Of a faint stirring Of relief.
/ 'sThe great thing" said John Peters,
els to learn to draw quickly. Like
thisw he added, producing the re-
volver with something of the smooth
ness and raptdfty with which Bflfie In
happier moments, had seen conjurers
take . bowl Of gold fish out Of tall
hat, Everything depends on getting
the first shotI The first shot, Miss
Mllliken, u vitsA." 8 'ts !
Suddenly Billie had an inspiration.
II was hopeless she knew, to try to
convince this poor demented creature.
obsessed with hia 'Idee nxe,v that ehe
vas not Mir Milliken. Denial would
30 : waste of timss and might even
hfuzlAte hln 10 'peozpitnfin6 -