The Coolidge examiner., 1936-06-12

then to Holt, with a little shake of
his hands: "And so you will be
careful, Holt dear?"
Stuart withdrew his hands from
hers and turned, going abruptly.
not looking at Adams.
When he was gone and Nan had
closed the door, she swung toward
the old man with tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Ezra!' she moaned. "Oh, if
anything should happen to Holt !"
Il heard about what went on.
Don't fear. Well watch to see
nothin' does happen!"
"Tods so savage, so brutal! And
feel such responsibility for
Holt. He's such . such an emo
tional boy! If Tod harms him, I'll
feel I'm to blame and Don't
you see?-beseechingly. "Oh, why
must things like this come up to
be faced just when just when
love comes, Ezra?"
Though her words had given him
sort of shock the old man dOwned
his curiosity and the questions that
they provoked, and devoted all his
resources to comforting her. He
stroked her hair and patted her
shoulders until her emotions were
under control. Then she asked him
to go.
"It's my problem" she said. 81
can think better alone. I'm so glad
you were here to let me be fe-
male and weak for a moment !'-
wiping her eyes and smiling
bravely.
He left her then, with a deal to
| think about. He carried his news
to Kerry later the same evening.
Looks like Stuart's finally got
what he seems to want most" he
said, and did not notice that his
companion appeared to stop even
his breathing to listen. "She's aw
full upset because she's afraid some
| thing'll happen to him. And she's
in love, too, which doesn't make
for calm thinking.
'"Tod'll have him on his list now,
and Tod's got long memory when
! he's been angered. Course, he was
drunk" --r ert -t --.e-a "-
Young did not hear this last. He
was concerned at the moment only
with one thing which Ezra had had
to tell. Dismay filled him as he
realized the emotion that had been
fermenting in his heart for days,
which had almost crystallized into
recognizable thought this after
noon: that finally his heart had
taken root! He was in love to his
/, ears with Nan DOwner and vet
here was old Ezra, bringing word
of her love for another. His heart
had discovered a home, only to
find it already occupied.
West was sober enough when an
hour later he stood in the shadow
of Bluejays rattletrap flivver not
far from Mel Knights store at the
Landing and talked rapidly, jab-
bing a finger now and again
against the breeds chest.
g. . And he's made you a joke,
here, knockin' you into the river
that way, Frank! He'll drive you
out Of the country If he stays and
and I want him gone because
he tried to frame mel"
The breeds eyes were fixed on
the white mans face.
How much?" he asked.
"Well, not much. It's your fight.
I can get along; I'd rather have
him gone, but can get along. You,
| though And there'll he no
chance, you see, out there on Town
! line if"
"How much?'
Unoer his insistence West paused.
"Ten dollars"
"Huh! You do your own Job,
Tod West"
! He turned to his car.
Hold !"-grasping a sleeve.
Moneys scarce"
"Well, 1 amt goin' to take no
chances for no ten dollars. For
a hunnerd, no"
"a hundred! You're crazyi"
They bartered longer. but with
out heat, and finally Bluejay nod
ded.
"All right. But when?"
"When the jobs DONE"
''I'll see, eh? And this other ..
you tell me when you want me to
say / seen Stuart there, Tod. In
the corner, eh? And burying a
His voice dropped to a cautious
whisper.
Bluejay cranked his car and clat.
tered away and Tod West strolled
toward the store.
! He had become a changed man
in this span of few short days.
Like the changing of an ominous
tocsin had come Blueiay's sketchy
report Of Young's talk with Ezra
Adams. Why should these two be
talking Of the Downer case, when
that had been considered closed
months ago? And there was the
disappearance Of his pistol on the
night he believed his house burn
ing. Explainable, probably; the