The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-01-28
byTictOr Rousseau
CHAPTER X-Continued
CspynEht By W. G. QApma.


an in Avonmouth. See here, are you
going to bust up the game or are you
not?"
iii show you" shouted Lancaster,
breaking from Myers grasp and rush.
Ing from the room.
He met the women at the foot of
the stairs. His face was flushed, his
hair disordered, his manner maniacal.
You sneak, what are you butting
Into this show for?" he demanded of
Mrs. Fraser.
The matron, cowed by his violence.
trembled. She tried to pull Joan to-
ward her room; then caught her eye
and made the slightest gesture ;ndica-
tive of shooting Lancaster raised
his first threateningly.
The mstron did not lift a finger to
defend herself. She stood quite calm
ly, awaiting the expected blow; per-
haps 1t was some atavistic trait in
herited through generations Of poor
ancestors; and yet servile although it
might have been, the look on the wom-
ans face was almost heroical.
The man let his fist fall: he seized
the matron by the shoulders and
pushed her back into her room. He
turned the key in the lock and put it
In his pocket
THAT'S settled, I reckon" he said
with Subtraction.
Joan's hand went into her pocket
Her fingers closed about the revolver
handle. But at that moment the sec
rotary, who had come out of his room,
went up to Lancaster.
"See here. now" he began to re-
monstrate, have little sense, doctor.
If you're bent on busting everything
up, you and part company"
The other turned on him with so
menGcing a gesture that Myers flung
up his hands in despair and went
back into his room. Joan stood fac
Ing the doctor alone. At that moment
her decision was nearly ripened, and
she felt conscious of no fear of him
ut all.
II he attempted violence she knew
what she would do. But he die not
lay hands on her. He stood leaning
against the newell post at the foot of
the stairs, watching her face.
Joan was searching his eyes for the
least Sign of the man she had known,
and ne broke off, scowling and wincing
under her stare. Above his words
was the sound of the beating rain. the
flashing wind; and from within the
matron's room Joan heard Mrs. Fra
ser crying in prayer:
20 Lord, save her!" she walled.
"Save that girl this night o Lord,
from the devil Save her! Save her,
o Lord ~
Maybe 1 got you wrong" continued
the doctor. But if | did, | ask you, |
who's to blame? Didn't you come to
me at my house in Avonmouth and |
nsx for your job back? Weren't you
as sweet as sugar when you wanted
something out of me? And didn't you
agree to come up here to work for
ne? Well, what's the inference, then?
You can have your job back If you
want it. But l can do better by you
han that. You're too pretty for a
lurses job, and l told you so that
lay you turned on me in the theater
ike a wildcat. Now, thenl It's up
O youI Your move. partner
Joan tried to push past him, but he
enained at the foot of the stairs.
docking her way.
LET me pass, pleased" she cried
I'm going to leave the institute at
nee"
without your hat?" he sneered.
LET me pass at once"
"Well. | reckon l can't stop you"
e rejoined. "Just one word more,
hough. Do you realize your situa-
ion? DO you know what people will
nv when you go to them with crazy
tories about me? Nobody will link
on came down here to the notorious
ohm Lancaster after he'd fired you
Ist because you were such won Ter
N nurse that he couldn't do without
nu. Whit sort of reputation do you
spect to have in Avonmouth? You
an go. but you won't 20 there. Not
lck to Avonmouth, understand that
ell. I'll hound you out of the town.
I'll little double-crosser! -
For the first time Joan felt her spir-
begin TO shrink from the ordeal.
he was cowed. she was almost as
,Ipless as If he had used physical
olence toward her. And through
q baneful dream she was aware that
vers had come out of his room and
as watching the scene from the end :
the hal. wearing SNUG. compla-
MT smile Myers was getting his way
Id having his revenge in one.
And becaul, the situation was too p
,rrible for belief, Joan could remrm- "
# only the Lancaster of the yesfer- o
~. She ran to the man and caught c
m by the arms, and looked into his II
ce with pathetic earnestness.
I'm going to stay. John" she n
led. my faith is stronger than e.
at. l remember what you have said b
me. and l remember my promise to k
u. Some day you will come to
urself and everything will be clear. u