The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-28
THE EVENING STORY
{. In Place of Paul.
(By Epes w. sargent

conceal 1T seems to me. Jeanne.
that you are always fooling with that
murderous-looking thing
mot always" was the grave re-
Spouse. For whole weeks it lies in
the top drawer, Frank, but once
month I take 1t out and clean it that
it may always be ready-and that
may not forget-as though L ever
could" she added wildly.
Musgrave shuddered. He disliked
the sight of weapons. and there was
something sinister in the care with
which the girl kept the revolver al
ways in good condition.
1t was no pearl-handled toy such as
woman might be supposed to carry,
but blue barreled .45 that would
"stop" man with single shot; the
sort of a weapon that was meant for
men. 4.
It struck EARRING note in the fem
ininity of Jeanne Barthon's person
ality. 1t was absurd and yet repelling
that the dainty little artist should de-
vote so much time to the care of the
black muzzled threat. All about were
half-finished sketches, bits of French
seacoast, ideal heads and fashion
drawings in odd confusion with a
handsome toilet over dressmaker's
form in one corner.
Jeanne herself was essentially femi-
nine; a tiny mite OF a woman with a
coronet of golden hair surmounting a
fragile face. She was scarcely five
feet tall, and the gun was oddly out of
proportion.
which he swept the fashion magazines
to the floor and watched the girl with
gloomy face
Perhaps it will be as well to tell
you my secret, Frank" she said at
length when the weapon had been
oiled and reassembled. "Then you
will understand my care-and also
why cannot promise to marry you,
dear 1t is best that you should I'M
derstand."
secrets" he demurred. They can
not be very important-except your
reason for not wanting to marry me.
You admit that you are unmarried
and free and that you love me. Those
are the essentials"
Unmarried? Yes the girl breath
ed tensely, "but free? No. 1t is that
would tell you, dear, so sit that L
may not see the horror in your face,
and do not speak until 1 have finished.
Sit So" she added as she placed a
chair so that it stood directly before
ut is the gun with which some day
I am to kill a man." she began, plung-
ing into the middle OF her story. DO
not stir until I say that you may.
cannot talk If you interrupt. 1t is
hard enough to tell even So"
'sThen don't tell.'' urged the man.
you never will Kill man. GU are
afraid even of the dark"
softly, "but when the moment of
revenge comes I shall shoot to kill,
with. never thought OF what Will foi-
low. They may not kill me, but will
I have done the justice that men
would not do. That is why I may not
marry.
ct had brother once. He was all
that had. Not even cousins had l,
and when my Paul. went to your Klon-
dixie. I grieved and grieved, even
though he had promised that in zone
year he would return, with millions OF
francs and I should enter the atelier
of the great artist with whom would
study and become famous.
"For a year 1 had his letters. then
none came. I said that mails were
not regular in that far-off land. and
so waited almost another year. Then
with the little money that had l
sought him. for knew that evil must
have befal1en.
at journeyed across this great land
to the frozen North. and there I
learned the worst. Paul was dead
killed by his friend, they said--his
friend who could shoot him down for
the little gold that he had.
''They said 1t was all an accident.
Bah! Men who handle guns do not
have accidents. Is 1t reasonable to
tell that one is killed by another by
accident? This man said that he was
cleaning his revolver and that 1t went
Oft by itself. They had let him go.
He had fed the scene. He came to
New York, they said, and he was a
lawyer.
.There was a little photograph of
him. That I brought with me. OF
course he would shave his beard, but
I have made other sketches-you
have seen them-with the face clean
shaven and with the mustache. One
mark he had; great scar across the
cheek. 1t is his brand of Cain. By it
I shall know him.
Now I study art no more. I draw
fashions because 1t pays, and when I
am idle haunt the courts look for
lawyer with great scar, and when
find him this gun shall speak"
5 Musgrave had risen from the chair,
and as she spoke she raised the re-
volver and pointed 1t at an imaginary
foe. His turning disconnected her, the
gun wavered, there was a report and
the bullet scared Musgraves arm.
With cry of horror the girl sprang
to his side. ~ esf- 7.s s7f
AZ have killed your she gasped.
"You, my dearest friend, have shotl 1t
was not for you that the revolver was
meant. You were right. I was wrong
to keep it. oh. my dearT
She sank sobbing beside him, endeav-
oring to roll up the sleeve and stanch
the blood that now trickled in a tiny
stream down his arm. Musgrave push
ed her from him.
1T was right he cried hoarsely.
1.-THE shot hit the man for whom it was
intended. but you did not aim at the
heart. Was your brother Paul Des-
plaines?"
THAT was my mothers NAME" she
explained. Paul took 1t so that when
he should return, Desplaines, the min
er. and Barthon, the millionaire, would
not be the same. 1t was childish-but
he was but a boy"
"It was common to use other Names
said Musgrave harshly. IT was Jack
Joyce up there"
your the girl recoiled and half
turned to where the revolver lay upon
the floor. The studio building was al
most deserted and the sound of the re-
port had brought no inquiry.
shot s-ntar hrath h.