Show ES- ES the I ti 44 q BY DY Y RICHARD HOFFMANN CO OT HorHAN MAN CHAPTER VIII Continued VIII-Continued Continued 14 Then Ill I'll come com In la He lie pushed the door and as 81 If she had expect expected ed that too too be he felt her ber weight against It Dont Hal Ual she Ibe said less lees sure lur surely surely 1 ly for tor the love loe of ot heaven heaver please plea dont don't Ill I'll come out to you for you for 11 five minute minutes No said laid Hal flak If It you yon come out therell there'll be no conditions And If you rOil dont don't come out I come In Hal Ual Im I'm tired Ire got lot a headache head bead ache please ache please ob oh please my ml dar dam 1 Una You Ton haven't a headache and you'll forget forret youre you're tired Barry narry Im I'm serious as al death as sin as ness It If you rou wont won't come to me Ill I'll come to you Do you OU understand that than lie He waited wafted a few seconds for bet bei beito betto to speak again then he pushed the thedoor thedoor thedoor door against her strength until she Ibe dropped back from It and he hr I stood Inside closing It behind him There was no ke key nor any eye for tor forthe the bolt to engage so 10 he be left lert It and faced her ber She turned from tram him as AI If It th room had grown too small Ing Dear God If you OU haven't given me a wa way to keep him out you yon must mur want him here Hal lIal took her arm above the elbow elbo and turned her ber to him then held ber her other arm too and shook hei het once gently to stir sUr the lidded heavy study that held beld her eyes ele You Ton be belIeve belleve lIeve leeve there Is II a God Godi If U I 1 do the she raid Bald meeting hit his look steadily you IoU dont don't know better bet ter tet than I what be he wants of ot me And he held her ber before him bythe by bl the arms and looked Into the living g blue of ot her eyes eyes les deeply strengthened strength ened coed against him set let ct never blind to th the wonder of ot what had occurred d Z f fy y a r At As If I H He H. Had Expected It It Ht He Pushed the Paper Into His Pocket there fell tell suddenly across his bis heart a t bad shadow hadow as It If somewhere some some- somewhere where a silent signal goal for hurry had bad been bees made Ills His voice sounded too slow too undisciplined for his quickened purposes as be he said laid to to her hn Angel of heaven It Its It's nothing to tell you IM Id die for tor you Is you Is It Love Is as 41 much as you said It ft was wa so 10 that all Its Ita old pid meanings have fallen away awal anI and I can speak It only to tell you I love lore you and to say I 1 love you OU so 10 mu much h Id I'd die for you yon Is I. nothing more more more-la Is It It Ills 1111 voice olce made no Inquiry but his hll ey eyes s waited wafted upon hers for tor the known answer tier Her golden bead head moved a little aside and back again lad end ber her deep look gravely understood understood under under- stood tood him Carry Barry do you love mey mer She looked down at th the mouth that bad asked her that then back at his bis eyes rea ashar as alb hr r ba bare whisper said laid You know It God forgive me for tor letting you 1011 You'd never lever need to tell me you loved me so 10 much you'd die for forme me would me-would would you IOU t. t I INo No NO she Ibe 1111 said raid You mean me to know you rou would Just t b saying 1 you IOU loved me wouldn't you IOU Yea res Without changing the tho composure of ot his his hll tone be he said Out nut you wont won't shake r. r T the wrong slavery Ila of a spurt cs ce II bargain with your lour father and with a man mao who has haa no claim upon ulIOn you ClU you wont won't risk a little lime time Ume of trouble In la your lour conscience i of ot unrest sorest In tn your disillusioned dut duty I to a figure ure of love that bad had his hla best life In your lour own fancy fantl a as a child f you'd dip die for tor she Ate but you fOil wont won't do this other wont won't even neo willingly i listen to me tell you why you must how yon can ran She looked at him the dark awe of ot alarm taking her ber eyes eles more deeply she Ibe said laid nothing But nut under under un der the very heart of ot her look he be besaw saw a shining liquid fullness that had come so 10 slowly she herself herselt f might not have bave felt It And before e the tears tearl could form he be bad had her her her- warm and mortal mortal mortal-Io In his hi arms It It he whispered feeling her ber soft loft cheek wet against his You cry youre you're cool an and d calm ealm again Ill I'll show how you OU the simple aim sim pie honorable little things thing that ar arall are all aU we oe need neel to do to have bave the world to to ourselves for always I She shook her Jur bead head against hi his s shoulder but not flot Hal triumphantly felt with the same stubborn con vie tion Clear footfalls ringing on the sidewalk side aide walk opposite reminded Hal that th the e lighted room must be In plain vie view w of ot anyone who cared to look at th the e windows But nut one of ot the shades s wouldn't stay down so back at the thedoor thedoor e door he cur cursed ed the Impossibility 7 of ot locking It It and turned out th the e tight light The glow of ot the street treet against th the e ceiling showed the meager ture lure and Barry waited for tor him H Dewent lie De e went to berIt her ber It cl cant can't nt ever happen happen ever she shea Q a as a. If to herself herselt And you must g go sway away In n a minute soon minute oon before before- oh God help me me my darling Her lIer good lips turned quickly t to o his He lie felt her ber close her close her whole e surrendered loveliness living against agatha t him It was as u If U she gave th the e best treasures of ot her life to th the e keeping of ot his bis exalted body GS lIS 1 If It t their nearness found Its way WilY o of ot f growth to communion n miraculous and destined both She Sh ne e would forget he be must moat go Ito and 6 he be e knew be must not notA A quick single creak was all th the e warning that came from the hat hall I bringing Hal Ual to a sense of tim time e elapsed elapse to sharp premonitory 7 alertness Does Doe ugly growl was wa S begun as the door latch clicked d I It broke Into a sharp bark at th the e sound ROund of ot a step In the room and the door crisply closed again A Akey Akey Akey key scraped metal found the key by hole and turned the lock Jock over plucked smartly out again Then the snap of the switch put pat light In the frugal room on and Hal was looking Into Martin Cracks Crack's light blue eyes ee their lazy private smiling harassed d dbl by bl a Intensity as of hate bate and fear and triumph all together Only his voice was as still drowsy II as ashe he be said I kinda thought It'd be tonight For a moment Hal Dal was afraid that the bursting of ot hot bot poisons In hl him s must blind him gag gal him nauseate him beyond any power to act You little lUtle snooping son pon of ot a a- a cst call catl he said laid the heftY heavy savagery of ot his voice somehow saved from trem bung bling you yon doing here here beret Indolently Cracks Crack hand slipped I Into his aide Docket know w Dm rho n sight light of ot that evil little tittle golf gait ball would snap the last shackle on his control but Crack drew out a stubby double-derringer double to point at I him and a small preposterous agent of reason remaining In Hal lIal noted bow how that old fashioned weapon suited Cracks Crack's old old old-fash tash toned tidiness Yon Ton guess what Im I'm doln said Crack In fly ely almost sensual mla mis chief The bed creaked Hal Ual became aware of ot his bis arms banging down beside him drained of ot certainty rt-ad rt ready to tremble as after great effort ef et fort tort Then the physical revulsion n under his bis fury tury abruptly choked It Itself Itself self lett left him to a numb miserable disgust a tainted exhaustion o of t blood that would pass for tor calm And In 10 It there throbbed only one sur sure lure e emotion to command such luch faculties es s as were wert batted hatred o of ot f Crack Itea steady and unc uncomplicated mp seemed to U live Independent o of t Cracks Crack's private gloating In hit his degradation Hal DIl beard heard his ow own owa a vole voice quiet and careless In con iron tempt as al he be nodded lod ed at the de der der- r ringer Bogert You dont don't need Deed that d n d-n n nIlly silly Illy thing Crack Crock put It ft away wa brief mbar ember bringing some of the drowsiness back to his eyes res Thought you'd oud probably be sens- sens hIt ile You Yon did did said list Hal And what's there to be sensible about The small check in Cracks Crack's return to o basking satisfaction did lie Hal 1 good list Hal looked at Barry She sat eat o othe on n the edge of the bed knees kneel drawn draw n up legs tightly encircled by bl he ber y arms golden head bead a little bowed bowe d de over oyer her dark sullen stare at th the e washstand In the corner Well Wel said lold Crack with a sort sari of ot II sly modesty In achievement we can use Ule dough an we can ean use Ulle pub pub- You Yon got the say laY which have bave a. a I ab h 1 of ot a time get get- getting ting money moner money Hay Hal said out of ot his e l calm so shoot on oa th the theother e other If It you OU think It'll get you yon any where to I 1 guess It'll get ret us UI somewhere e all right said Crack But nut I fig Og ered Mr Frederick sooner soon loon e er n make It dough If It you rOU wouldn't By nl G o-d. o d what a dirty trick Mck o on n t the he Old Man Dlan getting him Into a e amess amess mess like this Shame like Ilk e an Instant of ot fright held Hal's Hals e veins ans any and made his hi lungs lung seem leem to t shrink Providence you OU Ireland Providence I Let a narrow white whit e bug leer at you OU In the rotten tra trap p you rou walked into and leave to take care of the Old Man Christmas Leave Providence t to take care of your oar hate too Look Loo k at Martin Crack named for tor a saint G no doubt look doubt look doubt look at him sitting therea there a venomous lackey of ot evil dont don't t fight him dont don't match your pristine pristine pris pris- s tine floe wits against his bis basking v vl- vl 1 doneness dont don't disturb your lour fin fine P wounded spirit now that the first firs t Cur fury wry Is I. out of you yon OU Hal Ilal thanked God his hll revolted cal calm m bad had stayed steady upon him till h he be e saw what he must do He ne could coat d stall somehow for tor another day dal dayn until un un- unI n I tit til d de delivered I de-I patient Sister Slater Anastasia was e livered at her ber sorry Borry destination and In tn Los Loa Angeles a free agent I he would be his bis fathers father's his fathers his ow own Providence Iro In this In the roe room I of ot a city hotel alone with Crack Crac be might remember those Immense e riven compositions In defiance ce through which the they had minutely traveled scenes In n which It U did o no not 02 matter what happened to a ma man n. n And white while these flashing things thing a tumbled past Hal's Hals bitter attention n he be ashy saU aL quietly Wit lt Interests yo you yon u what Frederick Ireland would think thin k Id I'd ask him You Ton know him I do said Crack What do you ou figg er hell he'll think now How well do you know him Dont tn know w him said Bald Crack Crac k but you'd ought to Youre You're h hi hison son Bon areat arett you you pout Is Ie that a statement Hal flat asks asked d Or Oroa oa a request st for Information Dont seem like you OU were e ex arils n denYI li It It No 0 B said mid ld Hal Ifal I dont don't reme remember remember m ber having baring denied It It II since nee l' l Ive I've re ve reDU known yon oo lie He glanced at Barry y as he reached for a cigarette She had hadn't nt stirred Youre Irelands Ireland's son son so-o Cra Crack ctt said Frederick X Ireland the Ireland the b big ig whack Sure said Hal Ilal Confidently And you got 90 po o Idea Id a what he hell he'll II think when be he hears bears you fOU bee been n caught In a married womans woman's roo room m by bl her husband hosband If It I told you what you yon did didn't n t like you wouldn't believe It It sa said laid lei Hal Ual as If It Crack were being a lit little tie I I dull witted about It The smile lie sl slipped ped ov over em Cracks crack skinned fair face again at and d dhe he be said aid Look took Ireland we dont don't dot t want to get you In a Cotta lotta trouble A hot swirling under Hal's Hals composure re made him hold himself bard hard In Los Loa Angeles Angelel In Inthe the room alone atone wl with th Crack be he wo would ld remember th that at we Well saId ald Hal Spose y you DU ou DUle dont Heres lIere the thing eat said laid d If It you'll talk dough ne ae wh whole le leId works stops right het heu hel in to this roe room lem m between the three of ot us If It y yr rr f r wont won't we gotta go to Uncle Fr Fre crick An after that Its It's court ac an an anthe the newspapers newspaper a program m anyway anY said Id Hal lIal Push Item number one off olf n and go to Mr Ireland II Is that all i you want to know Dont you OU wanna save Ave your yourself self trouble Yes you yon 00 bet bet said IIa Hai Hall and t the he be casuals casual readiness of i his own iol voice ce cc fortified him nut But I dont don't see lee any a or l trouble You dont don't dont said Crack Creek Y You ou ouIS u dont don't wanna stop this right here f Hal Dal welcomed with vicious vicious' pie pleas pleas- IS- IS ur are ure the undertone of ot Impatience ce ce He lIe said By paying you IOu mone money Yes Yea Hal lIal puffed the fragment of ot a laugh through his bis pose nose and end said to lei Id THE STORY FROM THE OPENING CHAPTER his bt lathe fathers his of hi Idl Idle fife lite and withdrawal of ot lidl lIal Ireland rland son Ion ot of a without fund fand but bat with the th promise of 01 t Tuu wealthy banker practically a nl n in san F b be mutt must reach reub from Irom N New York Francisco which at one once t take I J auto uto party on a t shame bar e- e bola bul bail oSt our Four passage palla of hl bl with It L It a n cross country young attractive Dairy Brry Tr Trafford aged td Oil ail all companion ic Pr ni are ar rt a a and a ual Vb whom Sister Siller Crack Darr Carry reticence allon his hla To b. b ha S hiTt iw r at dl l e Martin a Hal lial I. I to u Darry bedroom b tk at once Through liar nr d of f hl apparent disappears i and lh his own owe following day Hal n tells 1111 her br h. h h loves loy ov her hir She Sh Sh they answers exchange hn Th The M lace lav him without giving clI an any r reason nuon ao On Oa Ala hi Insistence that lh she b nt that shortly b before tor his bit Barry tela I death h her br r father had bad pal I mo many years ea older than h abe h Trusting her hV father falbe arced her ber to mur marry a man mn on hi hl deathbed her secured cured her har promise Implicitly She lb h did dw iono so 0 io- io and nd no matter matler what happened for lr ten tea years arL Th That t to wal stick to 10 hr her husband wa though the she knows know of 0 her hr bur band V if tour four f fT year ear ago aco and h k keep p-h p her r Promise while admitting her ber Is II determined mined to Iova for tot can make will 0 move h her r. r That JuU Hal UaL No J K o argument n U 1 thou though h tb she ah h tries BO goes cou tl u to her br In to b. b her hr room to dissuade him h him b hs f pay pal you yon a nickel even saes If It It meant anything to e me I know Maybe you ou dont don't think think said Crack youre you're Irelands Ireland's son Ion he breaking peevishly as es h his hi is voice toke raised itI It I 1 haven't denied It yet said Mid didn't HaL lIaL think you rou want went to go ahead with this Crack watched him again and liked It less les The cunning In 10 his eyes eres ere tr tried for a space pate of minutes unworried look to challenge |