Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-11-14
By REX E. BEACH.

long time. Suddenly Strive smiled on
her peculiarly. with confident cunning.
AS he leered at her over the disorder
between them he took from his pocket
fat bundle. which he tossed to her.
Nov for the bargain, eh? Z"
TASK the man to remove these dish
es,' she said as she undid the parcel
with clumsy fingers.
II sent him away two hours ago."
said Strive, arising as If to come to
her. She shrank back, but he only
leaned across, gathered up the four
corners of the tablecloth and twisting
them together, carried the whole
thing out, the dishes crashing and jan
Cling as he threw his burden reckless
~ into the kitchen. Then he returned
and stood with his back to the stove,
staring at her while she perused the
contents of the papers, which were
more voluminous than she had sup
posed
For long time the girl poreds over
the documents. The purport of the
papers was only too obvious. and as
she read the proof of her uncle's guilt
stood out clear and damning. There
was no possibility of mistake. The
whole wretched plot stood out plain.
its darkest infamies revealed.
In spite of the cruelty of her disfllu-
sionment Helen was nevertheless ex-
allied with the fierce ecstasy OF power,
with the knowledge that justice would
at last be rendered 1t would be her
triumph and her expiation that she.
who had been the unwilling tool of
this miserable clique, would be the one
through whom restitution was made.
She arose with her eyes cleaning and
fps set.
ut is here"
"Of course it is. Enough to convict
us all. 1t means the penitentiary for
your precious uncle and your lover"
He stretched his chin upward at the
mention as though to free his throat
from an invisible clutch. Eyes, your
lover particularly, for he's the real
one. That's why l brought you here.
He'll marry you, but I'll be the best
man. The timbre of his voice was
unpleasant.
Come, let us co. she said.
go" he chuckled mirthlessly
That's fine example of unconscious
humor."
What do you mean?"
"Well, first, no human being could
find his way down to the coast in this
tempest; second-but, by the way, let
me explain something In those papers
while l think of it." He spoke casual
ly and stepped forward, reaching for
the package, which she was about to
give up, when something prompted her
to snatch it behind her back, and It
was well she did, for his hand was but
few inches away. He was no match
for her quickness, however. and she
glided around the table. thrusting the
papers into the front of her dress. The
sudden contact with Cherry's revolver
gave her a certain comfort. She spoke
now with determination
81 intend to leave here at once. Will
you bring my horse? Very well,
shall do it myself"
She turned. but his Incidence vanish
ed like flash. and, springing in front
of the door, he barred her way.
Hold on. lady. You ought to under
stand without my saying any more.
Why did bring you here? Why did
plan this little party? Why did send
that man away? Just to give you the
proof of my completely in a crime,
suppose. Well, hardly. You won't
leave here tonight. And when you do
you won't carry those papers. My own
safety depends on that, and / am self
ish, SO don't get me started Listenw
They caught the wall Of the night cry
ing as though hungry for sacrifice.
mo, you'll stay here ant"
He broke off abruptly, for Helen
had stepped to the telephone and taken
down the receiver. He leaped. snatch
ed it from her and then, tearing the
instrument loose from the wall, raised
1t above his head. dashed it upon the
floor and sprang toward her. but she
wrenched herself free and fed across
tue IOOLf. he 1du D WulLS udtI WAS
wildly tumbled, his face was purple,
and his neck and throat showed swol-
len. throbbing veins. He stood still.
however, and his lips cracked into his
ever present, cautious smile.
Now, don't let's fight about this.
It's no use, for rye played to win.
You have your proof-now I'll have my
price-or else I'll take It. Think over
which 1t will be while | lock up
Far down the mountain side man
was urging a broken pony recklessly
along the trail. The beast was blown
and spent. its knees weak and bend
ing, yet the rider forced it as though
behind him yelled thousand devils,
squirting headlong through gully and
ford, up steep slopes and down invisi-
BILE ravines. Sometimes the animal
stumbled and fell with its master.
sometimes they arose together, but