The Meeker herald., 1909-05-22
CHS WIFE"
~ raYMTyE DUBOIS
,cosyr.sh.. ~ ). ,. LAssinoot. Co,

covsr his equanimity and failing ut
terry.
you must b. very brave" she whis.
psred.
TIL defend you with my life" hs
answered. and took out his handksr-
chief to wipe his forehead-"tsll me
all,"f
II knew him before was married"
sAe went on. Il used to writs to
him. He has all my letter., and none
Of them are dated" She began to
cry very hard indeed. do you know
what he said to-day?-that he would
bring them all to me to-night-if-ir'-
The villain!" said Harlon, with
energy.
"He has been threatening mo for
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 to forgive me. to stay
here. and meet him. and then force
him to surrender the lettersr
Harion gasped. The memory OF
Chamberlaine rose up before him Ike
that Of some evil genius.
"Oh Ada" he said. cant l write
him . note?"
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 10
pistol He will be unarmed and to-
tally unsuspicious. You must take
him by surprise. and then overcome
him. ! know you can do It," She
lifted the pistol and showed 1t to him
with Q smile.
my hero!" she murmured. and left
the room.
Ths door had not closed behind her
when Harlon precipitated himself up
on the pistol. seized 1t gingsrly. car
ried It 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 light. 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, eh!-the villain!
The husband tried to grit his teeth.
but they persisted in chattering in.
stead: then he heard a stealthy tread
spiratio0 started out all over him. He
pressed the button with his shaking
hand and the room was suddenly H.
lumined.
In IL midst Of the glare Chamber
iaine stood bswildered. He had ON .
mackintcsh and carried an umbrella.
ne exprsSsioK On his face 70 nearly
approached fright that Harion felt sud
denly courageous and advanced boldly.
II know ALL" he said .impressivsly-
"all."
Chamberlaine was close to the door.
He said: There's some mistake" and
turned to 20.
Then all the pent-up fury which the
inoffensivc husband of q fiirtatious
wife may accumulate during eight or
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 ~ he
Jumped backward he handled his UNI
brella 20 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.
"Now kindly explain?' he said. as
he looked quietly down on his pant.
ing ghost. Are you out Of your mind!
|-or what 10 it?'
you villain!" gurgled Harlon. you
come into my house by invitation and
then try to barter my wife's honor
against her girlhood's folly"
go on" said Chamberlain. Il want
to know exactly what am supposed
to be committing tonight"
81 want those letters. She has told
me the whole story"
Whose lettsrsf"
Her letters"
She never wrote me . letter In her
life."
What"
81 say she never wrote me letter
In her life"
what did you threaten her with,
then?"
II never threatened her. What
should threaten your wife forf''
What did you come here for. then r
Hughes told me to wait here for
him. I was to have driven him to
the train"
Az he spoke Chamberlaine loosed
his Grip and rose to his fest. Harlan
i rraA TN