The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-06-14
10 air of Sunday calm brooded
i over the little town.


M over the little town.
/ Y A scorching north wind swept
the dust down the dreary
streets, and sent it swirling round the
corners with a gritty swish, and
friction that seemed to generate
thousand electric sparks and prickles.
A group of four loitered Oh the cor
ner. talking with unusual interest.
'Its too blamed bad that express had
to be ten hours late last night OF all
times" growled one. They'd a been
clear away by this time, but now"
"Oh, pshaw"' struck IN girls
lighter voice, Jim amt 'spected It'll to-
morrow, nohow, and the train'll be IN
in an hour. Don't croak"!'
The others laughed uncertainty, and
the uneasiness deepened as the first
speaker continued, ,unmoved.
That's all right! But she amt here
vet, and I'd hate like cold pizen to be
the man who'd married Jim Tyler's
girl-I'd hate it like cold pizen 1 tell
you-ef there wuz any chance o my
havin' to stay on the same side O this
yere ball as Jim, afterward-that's
allr'
"Oh, Jim won't do nuthin'! She could
always wrap him round her little fin
ger, anyhow. Say, wasn't it mighty
slick Nv her, to het two strings to her
bow all the time, and never let on.
till the other fellow turned up last
night? Though what she kin see III
that little dood drummer after q Six
foot scorche: like jim, beats me-
drawled the girl.
well, look a-here. young woman.
don't let US hev eny O. that sickness
round hereabouts," began her COM
panion, threatingly, "or-" his voice
broke as a man on horseback clattered
around the corner and swept toward
them.
"By the Lord Harry" he breathed.
sIts Jim-Jim Tyler. The Lord help
her-now"
The four stood motionless as the
man dashed By. with gay wave of
the arm in salute.
Two block down the street he threw
his horse back on it's launches before
a battered little cottage, and finSing
himself from the saddle, threw open
the front door without the Formally
of a knock, then stopped on the thresh-
old, as if struck by thunderbolt.
A man, of the f1asby drummer type.
sat in a chair facing him, and perchcd
on his knee was a girl-her hands in
his, as she laughingly balanced her.
self, with her lips just beyond his
reach.
For tense moment the silence held.
Then the face of the husband turned
yellow-white with fear, and following
his eyes, the laughter froze on her lips.
ard deadly terror blanched her
pretty, silly face.
The man in the door stood motion
less.
"Get up"' he said.
She tried a laugh of bravado. which
choked in her throat, but the drummer
put her from him. and advanced 4
step. holding out shaking. expostu!at-
ing hands.
The man measured him with cold
contempt that cut like knife.
"I'll settle with YOU, LATER" he said,
ard turned to the girl.
"Who is this fellow"'
She thought with frenzied rap!dity
for second, weighing and balancing
chances. He blocked the only door.
Tine was what she wanted-time for
help to come.
jim" she wailed-"Jim-I loved you
you know 1 loved you-but they
threatened-they said"
"Who is this fellow:" he repeated,
with the same deadly quiet.
"Jim-listen-I couldn't help 1.-THE
has more money, you know. and they
made me-oh. Jim-dear-"
"Who is this fellow:" he asked.
"He-oh. Jim-forgive inches my
my husband-we were married last
.-l;sten-" her voice rose
to shriek.
The man plunged forward. revolver
In hand, toward his successful rival.
who sQuealed with terror, but the girl
threw herself between them, and
clutched his arm in a frenzied grasp.
Listen. Jim-listen! Oh. God. don't
hurt him! Listen-I couldn't help it
I couldn't! You know love you." she
lied; 'I've always loved you-" she
threw BOTH arms about him with a
sudden strength that checked and held
him. He struggled with her, his cold
rage rising to mad, unreasoning fury,
with the lies, her touch. the baf1ed
desire of the man. Freeing one arm,
be brought down the heavy revolver
full in her upturned face.