Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1905-07-18
ADVENTURE OF
A MONEY LENDER.
BY J. A. II LLOYD.

but strenuous. A yawning policeman
promenaded slowly past the odd NUM-
bers. while a young girl. exqusitely
dressed. was walking briskly past the
even in the opposite direction. Ex-
cept for these two human beings the
terrace was deserted. The girl
walked quietly into the house and
rang the bell. Then she sat down in
the most comfortable chair in the
room. A minute or two later a puz-
zled butler stared protest and admira-
ton at her from the doorway.
/ Tell Mr.. Samuels that I shall see
him here in this room; It will be cool
err. Yes. nowl Lady Laura Brldgevale,
and do be quick
The butler bowed and withdrew
In few minutes a fat, STOPPING Is
raelite shufled into the library. The
girl smiled at him.
Its horribly hot she said, gently.
81 thought It would be cooler ia the
library. Do sit down"
"Bridgevale Laura Bridge
VALE" he muttered.
IL don't seem to remember" he con-.
tinued, and ne moved pace toward
that corner.
mo, no; it's no use" the girl inter-
rupted. I'm not Lady Laura Bridge
vale. I just said the first name that
came into my head"
Puffy and startled, the man turned
on her.
The girl laughed out loud. She had
nice laugh. There isn't much time
she said, looking straight into his
eyes.
81 want e1O0," continued the girl,
"and-yes, ten shillings for han
SOM"
az can't DO IT," said the man of bust
ness, his teeth closing in angry final
ity.
You've got to do it, Mr.. samuels,"
said the girl.
DO you mean just on your note of
hand?"
"Yes, I do; but there's time limit
for you"
Something like gloomy grin passed
over the money lenders face. You
mean a promissory note = three
months?"
81 mean ten minutes. and three have
gone already"
This time he thought she really was
mad and he jerked his body forward
like an animal in pain.
"It's like this, Mr.. Samuels," she
began, kindly. DO you know what a
time fuse is?"
AS she spoke she rose from her chair
and glanced out OF the French window.
Its In the garden, Mr.. Samuels, and
it's ten-minute fuse!"
do you mean that there is a bomb
in my garden? Do you mean, while
you sit twirling your fiimsy fal-lals
that me and mine may be blown into
eternity"
you see, Mr.. Samuels, it's as quiet
as the country here. London's like
a village out Of the season. | was just
walking behind him; he was hOrrid
and shaggy. l think he was a little
mad, Mr.. Samuels. He threw the thing
in Just like this" she added, waving
her arm, land then he said out loud:
'Usurer, ten minutes for your prayers
| didn't think he was nice man, MIR.
Samuels. There was no policeman
about and so l came in to tell you my
self But l do want that 810O-and
ten shillings for the hanson"
Here, take it," In a moment he
had thrust ten $40 notes into her
hands.
Wait a moment" said the girl; I'VE
have three more minutes. can't be
found with the bomb, Mr.. Samuels, or
they'll arrest me as an anarchist. Can
you catch, Mr.. Samuel?"
You don't mean that you are going
to throw the accursed thing at me-?
The accursed thing is as harmless
as a chocolate box until the time lin
it," said the girl It's like this she
continued, taking a little parcel from
the pocket of her skirt. You see this
little bonbon box, Mr.. Samuels imag-
inc the fuse, the ten-minute fuse, Mr..
Samuels, placed here at the side. For
Ten minutes that little bomb is as
harmless as an inkstand Throw the
fuse into water one second before the
time limit and you are safe. There's
a carafe at your elbow; look, you have
Just a clear minute. Put those notes
into this little Easter egg-you see,
mean fair play--throw 1t to me out OF
the window and you will receive, in
perfect safety, the most deadly invest
ment of modern life. All, forgot the
half sovereign, Mr.. Samuels.
The money lender had already ad-
justed the notes and began to tumble
savagely in his pocket for this pur-
chase of life.
The girl walked airily out of the
French window.
Catch, Mr.. Samuels!"
The money lender extended his arms.
II struck him somewhere between the
throat and the diaphragm and he stag
gered back, clutching blindly at the
table to save himself He rushed TO
the carafe and poured its contents over
the Misunderstanding little object. Then
he wiped the perspiration from his