The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-14

mans got to have his fling first He's
 He paused. and the mad words died into silence. Something had happened, but what? For the moment he could not tell. But something had stified his voice and taken away from him the power of speech. Something had gripped his mind. his hand. his wh ole being. He saw himself as though he were looking at another man. He saw his right arm move slowly forward and upward, and then his forearm bend back till the revolver was close to his forehead.
 And then came a wild unreasoning desire to press the finger on the trig- ger. It was no desire to commit sui eide. It was merely an intense longing to see the effect. It almost amounted to curiosity; there would be a report. a spurt of flame. some smoke. but after that--welf, 1t would be easy to see what came after that.
 And then suddenly great fear over came everything.
 No, no Crawshayw he screamed. Not yet! No, I tell youl I will have my fling first"
 His piercing. agonized voice rang through the house There was a sound of footsteps outside, the hurried open ing of door. another scream from Sir Richard. who was struggling as if in the grip of python.
 Then there was a report, a crash on the floor. and then silence. Sir Rich ard Gaunts had tainted, and this alone had saved his life. He pulled the trig. itself the wall.
 When Lady Betty Drake left Gaunt Royal she stayed with some friends in Warwickshire for fortnight Then she paid a visit to some distant rela- tions in London, and finally took a small furnished house in Mayfair.
 It was, of course impossible for her to live alone; she was not young girl, but she was young enough to pro- vide food for scandal. She wrote to 6 certain Mrs. Prideaux, the widow of a very distinguished officer, and asked her to share her home with her. This lady, who was SO years of age, and in receipt of a small pension used to stay at Gaunt Royal three weeks in every year, and Lady Betty had con- ceived a strong liking for her. The offer was gratefully accepted. and Lady Betty made 1t clear from the outset that she was receiving. and not be- slowing a favor.
 It was at the height of the London season when these two took ID their residence in their new home. Lady Bettys rank and fortune would have assured her welcome in the best houses in town. but she was in deep mourning. and refused all invitations to the various wearlsome entertain ments with which society burdens it. self. She received callers, and return ed calls. for she was not superior to the ordinary civilities of life; but she declined to do more than this, and was glad that she had good and reason able excuse for her conduct.
 She was. however, not a woman to let time He heavy on her hands. She made up her mind to devote herself to some work which would help others in less fortunate circumstances than her. self, and one has not to look far for such work in London.
 Lady Betty dispensed her charity on novel lines. She gave freely, in fact. on gigantic scale, but she never gave anything herself. The money all went into properly organized channels. and if she required help for any particular person. she let 1t come to that person from another source 'I will speak to So-and-So about yon,' was her inva- riable reply to any request for help. Now this in itself Is not uncommon,