The Ordway new era., 1909-04-30

You must be very brave, she "h'''
pered.
"Tu defend you with my life." ne
answered, and took out his handker-
chief to wipe his forehead-"teli me
all"
u knew him before ! was married.
she went on. Il used TO wri'e "
him. lie has all my letters. and none
OF them are dated" She began 10
cry very hard indeed. "Do you know
what he said to-day?-that he wouiu
bring them all to me to-night-if-h
The vlllain!" said Harlon. with
energy.
lie has been threatening me Tor
year, and have been almost crazy
She paused and lifted her beautitul
tcarstaincd face up to his.
All. my husband. are you maShahi'
nous enough to forgive me. to stay
here and meet him, and then force
him to surrender the lettcrs?'
Harlon Easped. The memory OF
Chambcrlainc rose up before him ike
that Of some evil genius.
oh Ada" he said, cant | write
him a notc?"
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
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 smile.
My hcro," she murmured. and left
the room.
The door had not closed behind her
when Harlon prccipitated himself up
on the pistol. seized 1t gingerly. car
ried II 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 Hight. 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 n 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"
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 n 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 ac-
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
pst tprynJiIIa
rushed upon the other man, knocked
the weapon out of his hand, threw him
10 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 is it?''
You villain" gurgled Harlop. "vou
come into my house by invitation and
then try to barter my wife's honor
against her girlhood's folly"
Go on" said Chamberlain, "I want
to know exactly what I am supposed
to be committing tonight"
Il want those letters. She has told
me the whole story"
Whose letters?"
Her letters"
SHE never wrote me a letter in ber
life"
What"
81 say she never wrote me a letter
in her life"
What did you threaten her with
them"
81 never threatened her. Wha,
should I threaten your wife for?"
What did you come here for. then p,
Hughes told me to walt here for
him. was to have driven him n
| the train"
As he spoke Chamberlaine loosed
his grip and rose to his feet. Harlan
rose too.
Where is Hughes now?' he asked
II suppose he's gone. He had I,
| make the fast express uo n,z..,,,