The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-10-06

Wa1ted Tor the other TO move again.
Only to know his whereaboutsl stir
myself / dared not, could not; there
was the door close by, and there was
the chance Of ending it all by one
shout, but must have forgotten both
in the sudden horror.
expected every moment to feel his
grip, to close with him, to feel the
probe of his blade.
Five minutes-surely that number
had passedl-and that blow had not
come. Involuntarily took two strides
out into the room, and there stood on
toe tips, turning as an pivot to clutch
at something warm.
Nothingl But to stand still now,
having once moved, was impossible.
The cunning of sheer desperation took
me. The floor seemed to be thickly
carpeted, and gave back no sound.
Two more stealthy strides--anoth ther;
now 1 must be close to the opposite
wall. would reach out and touch it,
and then make two rushes at different
angles-clutch him with arms and legs,
and hold him powerless. But-what
vas that? His breathing, just there,
where the wall should be? / could
bear it no longer; / threw out both
arms in q frenzy, and my left palm
touched a smooth, bald head. Back /
went shuddering. II was n real man,
STOPPING to avoid me, contemplating
some trick-and the horror of that
first contact brought the reaction.
The light the light! Nina must go
everything must go.
''Enoughp shouted, madly; and
simultaneously two arms closed about
my waist. Ali In an abandonment
of fear, then, gripped at his throat,
bent him back and struck--twice,
three times-at his chest, 1 think and
up to the very hilt each time, and
then
Some one was plucking me back
and out into the passage. | sank on
stair and lay there, while the ground
seemed to be rocking under me. /
knew nothing that passed until glass
was put to my lips.
Drink thisl You have killed him.
L think-but you cried 'Enoughp
that first husky voice was whispering.
'You must go straight away, in case
it is discovered. Listen! cab waits
outside, and have put money in
your pockets. Go Mt once to Brighton
brighton, do you hear?-and stay
there until You hear from us that it is
safe. Ask each day at the postofIce
for n letter. No questions now; go,
and all will be wellp'
The rest seems like part of
dream. l groped obediently out, half
blinded by the sudden light, and into
a hanson that waited outside. An
hour later, without knowing how had
got there, / was in train whirling
south. ''Killed him! Killed himw
sang in and out of my brain. had
killed man! That was ALL of Nina
/ never once thought. But, not
was all some nightmare. I would
credit nothing until 1 received that
letter.
And one mornino, when I put the
usual hoarse inquiry, an envelope was
handed to me. One nervous glance,
then an incredulous gasp. The hand
writing upon it was---Masters'! Ten
minutes later, I was trying hard to
take in stupefying revelation, sob
after sob of relief shaking me. A
revelation-yes, indeed!
''DEAR OLD JEFF-I am only pray
ing that this reaches you all right.
Heaven knows I have longed to put
you out of your misery, but it was
oofn INT n1 10
and his daughter should be well out of
the country, and probably have sue
ceeded in preventing you making the
mistake of your life.
"Jef, it was all clever trick of
mine. That night, after what you told
me, l saw you were on the edge Of o
precipice, and took one of the fellows
into my confidence. We hired the
house in Soho, got the italian to write
that letter, and concocted an ordeal.
When you stabbed so murderously at
your opponent in the dark room you
were stabbing at your old chum, Mas
ters. Thank heaven, we had provided
you with that property knife, with the
vanishing blade, that we bought for
last years theatricals.
Disguised, ! saw you safe off to
Brighton, and then put a real de-
tective on Velazzio's track, and gave
him his chance to clear out. Results
show that he was only too glad to take
it. And so it is all over, and you will
live to thank me for it.
''Yours ever, JACK MASTERS"
-Tit-Bits.