Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1909-01-21

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
Gable, 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
had seen two figures but a moment
before, the full horror of what had
happened striking him for the first
time. The man was Elias broom, and
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. Cable, together with his
threat to expose her on the following
morning 1t was only natural that she
should make final plea-that night, of
course The old clerk realized the
dopoor of an anoouptar hatraap hio
employer and his victim at 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 Cable.
He saw Mrs. Cable leave the house
some distance behind, he saw her
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 a fool"
broom had muttered to himself. HE
ought to know this 10 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 l can't help it II
he betrays himself. I'd like to see him
but can't go back on him while I'm
taking money from him. Look at
that"
He chuckled softly as he saw the
two figures approach each other. For
all thar he knew they might be con-
templating fond and loving embrace,
and he was not undeceived until he
saw one of the figures separate itself,
run from the other and go plunging to
the earth. AS he started up In sur
prise the other figure leaned forward
and then Strengthened itself quickly
broom did not hesitate. He dashed
across the street. conscious that some
thing dreadful had happened. His in
slant thought was that Bansemer had
lost his temper and had struck the wo-
man down.
The flight of the man was proof pos
Tive. He called him to stop. certain
that it was Bansemer. The runner
turned his face toward him for a mo-
ment. The light from the street may
have deceived Elias Droom's eyes, but
the face of the assailant was not that
Of James Bansemer. broom stopped
short and looked after the man, para
lyzed with amazement. Then he gave
snorting laugh at his own stupidity
or course 1t was Bansemer. Who else
could 1t be?
Arriving at the spot where he had
last seen the couple, he was amazed
to nnd no one there. He realized. with
horror, that the woman must have
been struck down, had fallen or had
been thrown into the lake.
The gaunt old clerk groaned bitterly
as he threw himself upon the wall and
peered over into the water. He listen
ed for the cries and struggles Of tho
woman Gradually his eyes solved
the situation. He saw the row Of
spiles beyond the break In the sea
wall and the swishing pool inside.
Every incoming wave sent flood Of
water between the sturdy posts and
into the cut Of the wall.
Without q moments hesitation he
dropped into this seething prison, conf
dent that the woman's body could be
found there. A single glance had
shown him that he could crawl up
ward through the break to safety, and
he knew that the water below was not
dangerously deep.
A minute later he was scrambling
out Of this angry, icy water up through
the assure, bearing in his long arms
the inert form OF Frances Gable. He
had found her half submerged In the
pool. every sweep OF the waves through
the sievelike posts covering her com
plstely. as- h,
He dropped the body on the ground
after reaching the level and took 4
quick shuddering glance about Two
men had stopped On the opposite side
Of the Drive, He hesitated . second
and then shouted to them. They Stood
stock Sun in alarm. Before they could
| rsepond 10 his second shoot Elias
broom wss tsarlng - E0ma4rs weeeh
~ 4