The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1943-03-18

2@&A4OO ~04S w 4SO4 - 1870 . 0~~o>
door of the smoking room. It
was beyond the conservatory and
the departing guests. had drifted
out of it. The room was empty
save for the disolving cloud of
cigarette smoke Landon beckon-
ed to Mark.
"A word with you! he said
hoarsely, closing the door; he
was pale with rage.
Mark stood easily, facing him;
there was a splendid vigor about
him that London had not seen in
his poor, rough and ready suit
of clothes. It could not be said
that clothes made the man, but
the man shone radiantly through
the clothes, there was something
aout HMM this house-broken,
scented atmosphere - splendidly,
lheathenishly alive. He smiled at
Arches wrath.
you've lost" he said casually;
I'm asked to dine"
II know it," replied Landon
fiercely, ''but you won't-you'll
go home!"
Better take your defeat more
calmly," counselled Mark; 'You-
re not a good sport
Landon gasped with anger,
1--WE watched you," he said
thickly; you've trespassed here
l-you've dared too much. Now,
you'll get Quit"
] Marks eyes met his hooking
| ly; for a moment their glances
ground on each other like cross
ing steels, then he laughed.
"Listen-Ive won and I'll stay;
the dinner was the acid test, you
know. Do you think they'd like
you for trying to cheat them II
lyou drive me out, I'll tell them
what you did-weIl 60 together
Landon whitened yet more
you've got to CO." he ragged;
"rll make you, you-paid impos-
teri!
Mark swung around in pagan
fury; he seized him and shook
him. Landon was big, but in the
others hands he might have been
a reed. Mark threw him aside
like a helpless puppy; then he
slapped the money, five hundred
dollars, down on the table.
''Take it, there's the price; it's
infamous, unthinkable; l repudi-
ate it! I'll stay because I'm ask
ed; because I will! Go out there
and tell your story-if she be-
lieves it Mrs. Lynn will show you
the door,
Landon knew it; he reeled un-
steadily on his feet; he saw stars,
his face was CHASTITY. He struck
the money fiercely and flung it
in the fire AS the flame caught
it and the costly smoke went up
he heard Marks tormented
laugh.
Tell them, you've played a
mean trick on your hostess; you
We done a thing no gentleman
should do; a thing to damn you
socially; go and tell her! You'll
suffer. I'll stay" said he with
sudden passion, his eyes flashing
their flame at Landon. 'Tll stay
and you can't put me out-the
wager's won!'
Mark Grant kept his word. He
stayed. In the first flush and
exultation of his love for Pam he
would have walked through fire
to stay. But he had no such Or
deal; Landon had felt his fingers
on his shoulder; the cinch of them
had left the young mans muscles
sore He wanted no more of that.
| He gnawed his rage in silence.
He saw that he was trapped. If
he told the truth to get Grant
out, he would go out himself, in
disgrace. Strange to say, he had
not thought of that, he had it to
digest while he watched Mark S
triumph at the dinner. This
Istrange fellow; this heathern with
iron fists, whoever he was, had
found his tongue; he talked we'll.
mot of travel and adventures,
Landon noticed, but of life. He
had a horrible lucid insight; he
saw through peoples motives,
and he was we'll read. No one
could question that. He had
caught Burleson's interest-the
great man, usually wearied and
Iself-absorbed. listened to him
with marked attention studded