Mexico Missouri message., 1909-04-29

you must be very brave, she WINS
pered.
"Tn defend you with my !Ts." he
answered. and took out his handker
chief TO wipe his orehead--"tell me
all"
Il knew him before was married"
she went on. II used TO write to
him. He has all my letters, and none
Of them are dated" She began 4
cry very hard indeed. do you know
what he said to-day?-that he would
bring them all to me to-night-if-if'-
The villaini" said Harlon, with
energy.
HE has been threatening me for a
year. and have been almost crazy"
She paused and lifted her beautiful
tear.stained face up TO his.
"Ah, my husband. are you magnani.
nous enough 10 forgive me, to stay
here and meet him, and then force
him to surrender the letters7"
Harlon gasped. The memory OF
Chamberlaine rose mp before him like
that OF some evil genius.
"oh Ada" he said, cant ] write
him o note9"
Mrs. Harlon started to her feet and
crossed the room to the mantel.
He will be here In ten minutes"
she cried, hastily. See! Here is a
pistol. He will be unarmed and TO
tally unsuspicious. You must take
him by surprise, and then overcome
him. I know you can do IT," She
lifted the pistol and showed It to him
with n smile.
my herol" she murmured, and left
the room.
The door had not closed behind her
when Harlon precipitated himself up
on the pistol, seized II gingerly, car
ried IL to the window, and threw the
loads out on the damp grass below.
There might have been an awful
accident" he said, with pale lips. Then
he put the pistol back on the mantel.
turned out the fight. and sat down to
spend the worst minutes he had ever
known. He remembered Chamber.
lanes attempt to get out OF driving
Hughes to the train. Forgotten his
project, ehi-the villain!
The husband tried to grit his teeth,
but they persisted In chattering in
stead: then he heard a stealthy tread
In the hall. and the cold beads OF per.
spiration started out all over him. He
pressed the button with his shaking
hand and the room was suddenly H.
lumined.
In the midst OF the glare Chamber
laine stood bewildered. He had on a
macintosh and carried an umbrella.
The expression on his face SO nearly
approached fright that Harlon felt sud.
denly courageous and advanced boldly
81 know ALL" he said .impressively-
"all."
Chamberlain was close TO the door
He said: There's some mistake" and
turned to go.
Then all the pent.up fury which the
inoffensivo husband OF a fiirtatious
wife may accumulate during eight OF
ten years Of married life suddenly
boiled up In the veins Of Harlon and
led him to spring upon his guest. But
the latter was slippery to catch on &C.
count OF the macintosh, and as he
jumped backward he handled his um
brella so neatly and dexterously that
his host paused In his onslaught and
backed towards the mantel. The next
minute the revolver-barrels cleaned
on the scene.
Chamberlaine's whole attitude al
tered at once.
You're mad!" he said, coolly, and
with incredible speed and dexterity he
rushed upon the other man. knocked
the weapon out of his hand, threw him
TO the ground, and pinned him there
helpless.
Nov kindly EXPLAIN" he said, as
he looked quietly down on his pant
Ing ghost. Are you out OF your mind
or what is it?''
"You vIllain!" guTgled Harlon, 'you
come into my house by invitation and
then try to barter my wife's honor
against her girIhood's folly"
Go on" said Chamberlain. Il want
to know exactly what I am SUPPOSED
to be committing tonight"
IT want those letters. She has told
me the whole story"
"Whose letters?"
Her letters"
"she never wrote me q letter in hel
life"
"What!
4 say she never wrote me letter
IN her life"
"what did you threaten her with
thenr
II nevC: threatened her. VIVA
should threaten your wife fort"
what did you come here for. then ?
Hughes told me TO wait here foI
him. l was 20 have driven him 4
the train"
As he spoke ChamberIaIne looset
his grip and rose TO his feet. HarlsI
rose too,
Where IL Hughes nowY~ he asked
Il suppose he's gone. He had /.
/ ...~a,. tha fast ernrana He ,r,.,,ta..s