Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-12-24

| E| y
Phil Followed Her with "a Revolver
| in His Hand.
dealing with n mad woman it were
wsest to humor her.
How can I serve yOu?" he asked.
quietly, wondering what she was go
| ing to say next. She pointed to the
clock
HE will be here in a minute or
two"
"He? Who?" Ph:lo asked. with II
composure which his pulses belicd.
''rhe man. tell you, the man." she
answered. 'That man," aud she point
ell to swarthy face in the photo
graph. "He is my lover, and Ioatlle
him. He is a mailman when he is
jealous. When he finds you are here
lie will try to kill you"
THAT is very thoughtful of him aI.s.
of you," Ames said quietly. The wo-
man might be mad, or She might not,
hut, in any case. the adventure was
| ticklish, and cool blood the only wis.
dom.
IF he kills you,' tho woman went
Oh. with her eyes fixed ON Philo's face,
then he is a murderer. and so am
we'll rid of him. If you kill him. az I
hope, then you have acted in ,sclf-de-
fc1lse, and are innoccnt-and sO too,
I am well rid of him"
you seem to have thought things
| out very carefully" said Ames. But
why did you honor me with your
| choice of chaMpicn?"
Because of your reputation" she
said, with smile that was half
sncer; perhaps because Of your big
| boast. Women have done SO much for
you that it was time you should do
something for wo:ocn."
Philo shrugged his shoulders. 'sYou
fatter me-" lie began, but the woman
interrupted him.
"Hush,'' she said, II hear a football"
Philo, straining his sense Of hearing,
seemed to catch the faint sound of a
distant ascending step on those distant
ascending stairs. He slipped his hand
to his hip pocket and pulled out his
pistol. The WOmans eyes flushed at
his action.
"Of course he said, 81 can only feel
fattered at the honor you have done
me. IT your friend attacks me. as
you seem to assn'ne-well, IS believe
am considered to be a good shot, and
as believe that Justify the impress
sion, should imagine that YOU will be
relieved Of your difficulty i'll about five.
minutes"
Even as lie spoke the steps cane
nearer and nearer, ard sounded louder
and louder in the gaunt loneliness Of
the place. But Ames' blood. growing
hot x1,s{I II
ment. suddenly cooled at the sight of
the woman's face. 1t had grown Curl
ollsly pale and drawn and wan, and it's
quick pity. She seemed to be listening
steps. but with different interest He
thought to himself, trying to translate
her expression. that the steps sounded
singularly light to be those of the
black-visaged savage whose face grim
ned on the chimney piece. The steps
came close and stopped before the
door. There was moments silence
and then q ring.
The woman remained motiOnlesS for
a moment, like one under the influence
Of some ungovernable fear. some un-
nameable horror. Then, as If shaking
off the lethargy of dream, she walk
ed to the door and went into the hail.
Philo followed her with a revolver in
his hand. She opened the haW ltnor.
and Ames mechanically lifted his pis-
toll. but lowered it again as his gaze
encountered nothing more alarming
than a telegraph boy dimry visible in
the faintly-lighted corridor. Before the
boy had time to say narne. the wo.
man lad caught the message from
him. looked at the address, an swung
the door to. Philo Ames anel she were
again alone together. Philo could hear
the boy whistling and stamping as he
went away, but the wclnam stood still,
holding the message in her hands.
1t was only for minute, but it SEEM
cd an age: then she turned and
walked into the drawing room, Ames
making way for her. She tore the en-
velope open, read the message, gave q
little cry, which she forced fiercely
into Il laugh as she handed the slip of
pink paper to Ames. He read four
words in fash. The four words
We're: Go to the devil" Then she
snatched the paper from his hands,
and the pair stood in silence for
second. facing each other vaguely.
"Well." said Philo, slowly, you
seem to be rid Of your difficulty"
She gave little SILVER us she an
swered: $50 1t appears"
Philo swung his fur coat on to his
shoulders and slipped his revolver
bnck into it's place. AS he stretched
out his hand to his hat the woman
touched him on the arm.
"You can stay II you like" she said,
In II voice Tint was half u provoca ton,
hnlf mn appeal.
PhIlo looked at the womnns bonut!.
fnl fare, ana his heart grew hot: then
he glnnccd around the room. md
thought what shambles II might have