Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-10-02

him.
81 tell you, Bland, don't need excuses.
Mac said that he had been called sud
denly away, and-l can't remember why
he wanted me to keep it, butt
Bland said nothng his supercilious, in
credulous look was far more exasperating
than words Nevertheless, being caught
with a weapon had seemingly put Strong
in the wrong, and he was less violent
Bland renewed the attack.
"And now we're on these matters,
Strong he said icily "Tll give you some
more information"
"Shut up"
'You are engaged to be married, be.
lieve?'
"l.et that name be spoken but once by
your lying lips, and"-
Again the sneer.
at isn't necessary for me to speak the
name of any one. Pm gentleman, and |
trust above"-
shut up, say AS you value your life.
shut up"
The last words were spoken almost
pleadingly. BANDS eyes were riveted on
those of his victim There was in them a
mingling of malice, contempt, vindctive.
ness, which was driving Strong on to
crime with fearful vehemence. He fin
gered the pistol nervously. Unexpressed
thoughts were coursing through his brain
In obedience to one of these he seized the
weapon and raised it from the table.
81 tell you, Bland, you are provoking me
beyond endurance. Flesh and blood won't
stand it. Let up, for Gods sake" He
lowered the weapon and laid it down
again
Am to sit here and listen to your bus
ter because you happen to have temper9
Do you think to brighten me into the be.
lief that you would dare try to iniure me?"
81 won't try to iniure you if you will re-
call your words as to those hold dear"
81 have spoken no such words"
"Your innuendoes then"
STRONG, you are fool For months
you have been secretly despised by every
man that comes to this den. You know it
and yet yon act toward me as if neither of
us knew it, suppose you will pretend to
know nothing about the hole in the cash
drawer when you were cashier in The
Times counting room"
81 never knew there was a hole in the
cash drawer" cried the bounded man
with renewed fury and wonder blended.
80 supposed" ironically.
Strong once more took up the weapon,
glazing at his prosecutor and painting like
a deer at bay
ooh, lay that toy down. You only want
to brighten me with it. You wouldn't
dare Use it,"
"Wouldn't dare'" He cooked it.
NO"
''Not after the hints as to my birth9" He
pointed it at BANDS breast.
| Bland was silent.
'And your vile suspicious thrown upon
one whose name if you had spoken it |
would have pounded the life out of you?"
/ He put his forefinger on the trigger.
Still Bland said nothing.
and after your lying implication that
am thief?'
! Bland was sitting all the while opposite
the muzzle of the pistol pointed at his
breast He had shown himself master of
facial expression, and now gathered his
forces for crowning efTert. Every feature
was brought into play to form picture of
haunting malice He remembered once re-
porting case where young man had
dared a friend who was pointing a knife at
him to stab him and got stuck for his
pains. He resolved to hold Strong to his
purpose by similar procedure
/ you dare not"
81 dare uotf'
NO"
strong sat glanng INTO the lace OF the
man VINO had goaueu MN tlll sell control
was oDIlterated' BLAND eyes were turing
MN TO eVll as a snake charms bird to
It's destruction
u knew you dared not. | knew you
hadnt the nerve. knew you were a
coward thIei,
inere was rePorU anu DI"hu zen odch
III ~, ms chaIr
me IF3I words tlat pro"e 'he STIFFNESS
Whlcn io4IoWeu went from some one OUT
sue
MY Ooul the thlhg was loaded AFTER
an.
Inc door opened and dozen men rushed
INTO the room. Strong was sitting with
the smoking weapon IN his hand, leaning
forward his eyes starting out OF his head
ana rlVeted on Band. scarcely had the
crowd entered when Bland sat up, while
the pleasantest OF all the smiles that had
ever charmed his companions broke over
his face. His shirt front was triile black
ened with powder, but he was otherwise
uninjured. In his right hand, between his
first and second fingers, was a cigarette.