The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-10-03

IA.HNN
and fed through the night along the
broken sea wall-aed aimlessly. his
eyes unseeing. his feet possessed Of
wings. He knew not whittier he ran,
only that he was an assassin fleeing
from the horrors behind.
Over the narrow strip of ground
sped the long. eager figure that had
darted from the shadow Of the homes
across the street In hoarse, raucous
tones he shouted after the fleeing man:
stop! Wait! Halt!'
He dashed up to the spot where he
bad seen w figures but a moment
before. the full horror Of what had
happened striking him for the first
time. The man was Elias broom, and
he had been an eyewitness to the dim,
indistinct tragedy at the sea wall.
His presence is easily explained. lie
knew of Bansemer's telephone mes
sage to Mrs. Cable, together with his
threat to expose her on the following
morning. 1t was only natural that she
should make Il final plea-that night, OF
course. The old clerk realized the
danger of an encounter between his
employer and his victim at a time so
intense as this. He could not know
that Bansemer would visit the Gable
home that evening, but he suspected
that such would be the case, 1t was
his duty to prevent the meeting, If
possible.
Bansemer would go too far, argued
the old man; he must be stopped. That
t is why he lurked in the neighborhood
to turn Bansemer back before he could
enter the home of David Cable.
He saw Mrs. Cable leave the house
!. and go toward the lake. Following
S some distance behind, he saw her
cross the Drive and make her way to
the sea wall. Sinking along in the
shadow Of the buildings, cursing his
d luck and Bansemer Jointly, he saw the
two forms come together out there by
the lake.
I TOO late, curse him for a fool
broom had muttered to himself. HE
10 ought to know this is bad business
l. just now. She's come out to meet him
{. too. Worse. It's my duty to look oui
u for him as long as he employs me. I'm
doing my best, and l can't help it il
ut he betrays himself. I'd like to see hin
a. but l can't go back on him while In
tn taking money from him. Look a
m that"
He chuckled softly as he saw tn,
two figures approach each other. Fo
all thar he knew they might be con
templating a fond and loving embrace
and he was not undeceived until h
saw one of the figures separate itself
run from the other and 60 plunging t
the earth. As he started up in SUI
prise the other figure leaned forwar
and then Strengthened itself quickly
broom did not hesitate. He dashe
across the street, conscious that somc
thing dreadful had happened. His il
slant thought was that Bansemer ha
) lost his temper and had struck the W,
man down.
The fight of the man was proof pc
tive. He called him to stop, certai
that it was Bansemer. The rum,
turned his face toward him for a m
ment. The light from the street ma
have deceived Elias Droom's eyes, bl
the face of the assailant was o thu
Of James Bansemer. broom stopp6
short and looked after the man, par
lyzed with amazement. Then he gay
a snorting laugh at his own stupidit
OF course It was Bansemer, Who ell
could it be?
Arriving at the spot where he he
ost last seen the couple, he was amaze
to to find no one there. He realized, Wi
ant horror, that the woman must ha'
I'D been struck down, had fallen or hi
we'd been thrown into the lake.
sec The gaunt old clerk groaned bitter
ure as he threw himself upon the wall al
ped peered over into the water, He liste
the ed for the cries and struggles Of Il
nto woman. Gradually his eyes solv,
the situation. He saw the row
nen spiles beyond the break in the s
in wall and the swishing pool insiC
ted Every incoming wave sent a food
ave water between the sturdy posts a
'aV- into the cut of the wall,
ana Without o moments hesitation
the dropped into this seething prison, cor
be dent that the woman's body could
tua- found there. A single glance h
ana shown him that he could crawl
ons' ward through the break to safety, a
lest he knew that the water below was
lo- dangerously deep.
as A minute later he was scramble
ring out Of this angry, icy water up throu
the issure, bearing in his long ar
p TO the inert form of Frances Gable.
lght had found her half submerged in
nan pool, every sweep of the waves throu
ur- the sievelike posts covering her CO
me pletely.
tne He dropped the body on the grou
held after reaching the level and took
quick, %shuddering glance about. I
VAIL men had stopped on the opposite S
mole of the Drive. He hesitated a secc
ear and then shouted to them. They stC
SUD stock still in alarm. Before they CO.
orrl- respond to his second shout El