Evening star., 1936-08-21

little less crude. They don't give me
q very good opinion Of your family.
II you don't object to my being frank"
mot at all. It's much the best pro-
cedure for us both. Possibly. you are
not to be blamed for your attitude.
Poor old John is very much upset
over the whole affair. He was all for
coming over and making a plea on my
behalf in fact. he thought you
might be in q position where you
would consider a suggestion of hav-
ing it o.. made worth your while"
Deeds reached over and rubbed his
cigarette viciously in the ash tray.
"I'm inclined to agree with you in
your estimate Of your brother" he
acknowledged. Hes blest with lot
of nerve among other things"
Sloan permitted himself tolerant
smile
Il told you he was like that, Nc
Clune. You've got to make due al
lowance. Johns past 40 and the
chump imagines himself in love. He's
diff1cult enough when he's normal"
Deeds brown eyes narrowed as he
watched the other mans impassive
face. He sat motionless.
"Al Of which goes to show there are
many ways OF being a fool" Sloan
moralized. gently. With a quick mo-
ton, he thrust his glasses into the
pocket of his shirt. His next words
were spoken In a changed voice. 1t
was cold. impassive.
Il think we've dallied enough, Nc
Ciune. You won't promise to keep
your mouth shut and you don't want
money. You're no fool. Neither am l."
so WHAT"
Several things. I am not interest
ed in any conclusion you are pleased
to draw about me. have no inten-
ton of burdening you with conf
dences. but ! would like to impress
you. if it's possible :. with the
fact that I am accustomed to get
ting what I want from people. Not
just sometimes. All the time. If you
can adjust yourself to that situation,
it may save all of us some un-
pleasantnesS."
Am I supposed to pack up and
fade away? Aren't you afraid I
might continue my research from a
distance?"
"Oh, no. Because you are not 60
ing to leave here say for the
matter of another 10 days or so. After
that, 1t will make no particular diff
ference where you go or what you
say. ! have my own reasons for be-
ing rather certain"
But suppose I did decide to flit?"
Deeds persisted.
You won't. After you think it
over"
"Sure!" was the contemptuous re-
tort. Il suppose I would be picked
up among the driftwood when the
tide went out. Maybe I wouldn't be
found at all. Aren't you being Just a
little dramatic yourself now?"
mo. You accused my brother John
:. l think you had him In mind
specifically of being crude. What
you have just suggested would be un-
forgivably crude. fully expect you
W euJOy YOUR fdCdIl quite as II
nothing had happened. Play around,
swim and eat. I quite envy you
your appetite"
But forget what I know about
you?"
Exactly. Simple enough. isn't it?"
TOO simple!"
Deeds got to his feet and faced his
visitor. who looked up at him without
the slightest change Of expression on
his lean face
Il think this has lasted long enough,
doctor. 1t isn't funny any more"
Go on"
Il don't know whether to ask you
to get out or If ] should take
you by the scruff of the neck and
toss you out. You've said just about
enough to :. to put you in the cheap
crook class. Your precious brother
has already put himself there. don't
know what your game is and I'm not
sure I care. But I've been around a
little. I don't fall for bluffs too cas-
lily, hope. Suppose you get on your
way. before we forget ourselves and
the estimable Jere Kendall puts US
0Ilt for dictlrhi,u he