Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-08-28

the doubt would turn her from him.
And there was the cool master Of the
situation, with hss cold. pitiless eyes
bent on the young trustee. weakening
his power of resistance every moment
You know 1t Is safe" said Weston
in his soothing voice. you have the
power. You are merely borrowing the
money. You will earn enough 10 pay
interest on il, and II will be easy
to avoid showing any securities. They
are elsewhere II your uncle wants
them-till you make enough to pay the
money back. You see. would not rob
an orphan. Marsden. Oh. no. / am
only asking the money Of you for old
times sake, and you can pay 1t back
to Sylvia. You will be happy, Mars
den. with Sylvia's love. and / shall al
ways be shut out Of the sunlight of
congeniai companionship. Think of
the difference. Marsden. between hap
'piness with Sylvia and-the cold I'M
feeling bars of cell in Sing Sing
prison"
Man! Devili"
Hush. They may come any minute.
and | must leave New York tonight.
Quick No one will ever know! Do
II nowv'
Marsden suddenly awoke to the fact
that he was looking into the barrel
of q revolver leveled at his head.
take your choice" said Weston
coolly.
1 Thoughts that burned like molten
lava rushed through Marsden's brain.
He was no longer master of himself.
| Like a man in a dream he rose from
his chair. moved by tho powerful will
of the other. and crossed to the safe.
Instinctively Weston turned the lights
low. Marsden moved like a man
walking in his sleep. Dimly he was
conscious of his lifelong innocence
but the words of Weston were ring
ing in his ears. And he loved Sylvia
as few men ever love.
He opened the safe. There lay n
pile of bank notes. notes he had drawn
from the bank that afternoon. He
vaguely wondered how Weston knew
There was a dim recollection of see
ing a man like Weston in the bank
when he drew the money.
He reached out his hand TO take the
money. He started as he saw beside
il small revolver. He picked 1t NJ
with the money.
That's right" said Weston. with a
cold laugh use that after / am
gone. You can't use IL before. Raise
1t and l will blow your brains outw
With his right hand still holding the
revolver close to Marsdens head, he
reached with his left and took tho
package OF bills.
This will get me west nicely, and
you will never hear from me again,
he said. shut the safe"
| With a groan Marsden did so.
"Sit down in that chair with your
back to the door"
Mechanically Marsden obeyed.
Don't move till / am out OF the
house. If you do, I'll shoot. I'm to,
rich now 10 give up. even If / xii
YOU
With another groan Marsden sanl
into the chair. Weston started toward
the door-then stopped. He had hearo
a noise that Marsden in his agony hat
not heard. The outer door had opened
People were coming In.
There's a light" said a silvery voice
Erred must be waiting for us"
Weston was perplexed. He glanced
around. In the library was larg,
screen. Noiselessly he slid behind that
Marsden did not know. The realiza
ton of what he had done had com,
upon Marsden now and deprived hin
of reason. How could he prove tina
he had been threatened with re
volyer? How could he prove that b,
had not taken the money himself
Who would believe that Weston ha,
walked In and then out again will
$1,000?
His brain whirled He was besid,
himself.
A beautiful girl in an opera cloak
with smile on her lips. tiptoed to th'
library door TO surprise the lover il
whom she had so much confidence
She stood horror stricken on the thresh
old.
Marsden sat with his head turne,
away. with his right elbow resting OF
the table, his hand raised. and her owl
revolver pointed at his head.
she dared not startle him. She saw
that he was meditating. There wa
but a second 10 spare.
With the flight Of a bird she sprani
to his side.
"Fred!' she cried and knocked dow
the hand that held the weapon.
Ii exploded. There was a cry iron
behind the screen. 1t fell toward then
and the body OF Weston. still with hi
own revolver in his hand. but with
bullet from Sylvia's pistol in his heart
plunged across the screen to the floor
TMy Godw said Marsden, and thei
he lost consciousness.
In Westons pocket was found TN
album from which Whit'aker's nam
had been torn. Marsiena explanation
were clear and convincing
A month later he ana Sylvia wer
married but She shuddcrs when sh
recalls that night ami thinks what an
other moment OF delay In reaching
home would have cost her.
Six and Half Dozen.