Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1909-01-07
In Place
OF Paul.
By EPES ". SARGENT.
Copyrighted. 1905, by Associated
Literary Press.

THAT revolver againT asked Mus
grave, with a laugh that did not cover
the Irritation that 1t was intended to
conceal. ut seems to me. Jeanne, that
Tou are always foollng with that muir
aerous looking thing"
mot always" was the grave re-
Spouse. For whole weeks 1t lies In the
bop drawer, Frank, but once a month
take 1t out and clean II that 1t may al
ways be ready and that I may not for
ret, as though I ever could" she added
wildly.
Musgrave shuddered. He disliked the
sight Of weapons, and there was some
the girl kept the revolver always In
good condition.
Ii was no pearl handled toy such as
a woman might be supposed to carry.
but blue barreled 40 that would
stop" man with a single shot, the
sort OF weapon that was meant for
men.
1t struck a Earring note In the femi-
ninity Of Jeanne Barthon's personality.
1t was absurd and yet repelling that
the dainty little artist should devote so
much time to the care of the black
muZzled threat. All about were half
finished sketches, bits of French sea
coast, ideal heads and fashion draw
ings In odd confusion. with a hand
some toilet over a dressmaker's form
In one corner.
Jeanne herself was essentially femi
nine, tiny mite Of a woman with
corolet of golden hair surrounding a
fragile face. She was scarcely FIVE feet
tall. and the gun was oddly out Of pro-
portion.
Musgrave sank into a chair from
which he swept the fashion maya
zines 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 under
stand my care and also why / cannot
promise to marry you, dear. 1t in best
that you should understand"
II have no wish to pry into your
secrets" he demurred. ''They cannot
be very mportant-except your reason
for not wanting to marry me. You ad-
init that you are unmarried and free
and that you love me. Those are the
essentials"
Unmarried-yes." the girl breathed
tensely, but fresno. 1t Is that
I would tell you, dear, so sit that I
may not see the horror in your face
and do not speak until have finished
Sit So" she added as she placed a
chair so that IL stood directly before
her own
at Is the gun with which some day
I am to kill man." she began. plung-
ing into the middle of her story. do
not stir until say that you may.
cannot talk II you interrupt 1t is
hard enough to tell even So"
'Then don't tell" urged the man.
You never will XIII man. You are
afraid even of the dark"
"Of the dark, yes" she admitted
softly. .but when the moment Of re-
venge comes shall shoot to kill, with
never thought Of what will follow
They may not kill me, but I Will spend
years In prison. and all because l have
done the justice that men would not
do. That is why I may not marry.
II had a brother once. He was all
that l had Not even cousins had l.
and when my Paul went to your Klon-
dixie grieved and grieved. even
though he had promised that In one
year he would return with millions of
francs and should enter the atelier
of the great artist with whom | would
study and become famous.
"For year had his letters. Then
none came. said that malls were not
regular in that far of land. and so |
waited almost another year. Then
with the little money that had I
sought him. for I knew that evil must
have befallen.
II journeyed across this great land
to the frozen north. and there learn.
ed the worst Paul was dead-killed
by his friend. they said-his friend
who could shoot him down for the lit
tie gold that he had.
"They said II was all an accident.
Bahl Men who handle guns do not
have accidents. Is It reasonable to tell
that one Is killed by another by acct
dent? This man said that he was
cleaning his revolver and that It went
on by itself. They had let him go.
He had fed the scene. He came to
New York. they said, and he was
lawyer.
There was little photograph Of
him. That l brought with me. OF
course he would shave his beard, but
I have made other sketches you have
sesn them-with the face clean shaven
ana with tho mustache. One mark b.
had-a great scar across the cheek. II
= his brand Of Cain. By It I shall
know him.
~Now I study art NO more. draw
fashions because It pays, and when !
am idls haunt the courts. ! look for
Z lawyer with Z great scar, and when
I md him this gun shah speak"
Nusgrave had risen from the chair.
and a. she spoke she raised the 70
volver and pointed II at an imaginary
foe. His turning disconnected her, the
gun wavered. there was report. and
the bullet scared Musgrave's arm.
with a cry Of horror the girl sprang
20 his side.
II have killed your she gasped.
sYou. my dearest friend. have shot
1t was not for you that the revolver
was meant. You were right. was