Rock Island Argus., 1908-08-06

lowed was that of raging maniac.
"You've fooled me, you fiend! You
devflw
At that word and with one look at
her husbands terribly distorted fea-
lures. Frances Cable shrank back with
a single terrified cry. turned from him
and fled madly for her life. With the
spring of the wild beast, Cable rushed
after her, cursing her with every
breath. In few yards he had almost
reached her, his hands outstretched to
grasp her neck. But at that instant
the frightened woman's strength sud
denly gave way. Her knees received
the fall of the limp body. For sec
ond she seemed huddled in a posture
of prayer, then toppled over, slipped
easily forward through a fissure in the
wall and plunged headforemost into
the chugging waters below.
In the lives even of the best men
there are moments when the human in
stincts are annihilated end supplanted
ny those OF the beast. Likewise have
there been instances in which the brav-
est have been tried in the furnace and
found wanting, while, conversely, the
supposedly towards have proved to be
heroes. Therefore since no two situa-
tions can occur at different time and
yet have precisely similar conditions,
it behooves US to forbear judging, lest
we be judged, and to approach the fol-
lowing incident in this mans career as
if we ourselves dwelt under a covering
of glass.
From the time of his marriage up to
this moment no man could have fought
better the bitter struggle of life than
David Gable, yet now in this hour
his hour of travail and temptation-he
piteously succumbed. Cowardice, the
most despicable of all emotions, held
him in her grasp.
He sank exhausted against the wall,
his eyes fixed upon the black hole
through which his wife had disappear
ed; then the stony glare changed sud
denly to n look of realization-horri-
bic, stupefying. He crept to the edge
and peered intently into the water, not
six feet below, his eyes starting from
his head
penetrable. The instructive fear of
apprehension caused him to look in
every direction for possible eyewit-
nesses. Every drop of blood in his
body seemed turned to ice with hor-
ror. Down there in that black, chill
water lay the body of his wife, the
woman he had loved through all these
trying years, and he her murderer!
Terrified, trembling, painting, he
tried 10 force himself into the water
with the vague hope of saving her,
after all, but even as he looked wildly
about for help, n shout ready to spring
from his dry throat. the natural dread
of the accused facing his accuser took
possession of him. Fear, abject fear,
held him in grasp; he could not shout.
A man was running across the Drive
toward him-a long, Looping figure that
covered the ground rapidly. With a
last Mortified look in the water, David
Cable, craven for the moment, turned
and fed through the night along the
broken sea wall-fled 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! Haltr'
He dashed up to the spot where he
bad seen two figures but moment
before, the full horror of what had
| happened striking him for the first
he had been an eyewitness to the dim,
| indistinct tragedy at the sea wall.
| His presence is easily explained. He
knew of Bansemer'S telephone mes
sage to Mrs. Gable, 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
is why he lurked in the neighborhood
to turn Bansemer back before he could
enter the home of David Gable.
He saw Mrs. Cable leave the house
and go toward the lake. Following
some distance behind, he saw heI
cross the Drive and make her way to
the sea wall. Sinking along in the
shadow of the buildings, cursing his
luck and Bansemer jointly, he saw the
two forms come together out there by
the lake.
TOO late, curse him for fool, y
broom had muttered to himself He
ought to know this is bad business
just now. She's come out to meet him
too. Worse. It's my duty to look out
for him as long as he employs me. I'm
doing my best, and 1 can't help it II
he betrays himself. I'd like to see him
but can't go back on him while I'm
Il ~ L