The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-02-25

window, and she sighed deeply as i
relief at behOlding d scene Of peace
Arthur Holbrook still stood wit
bowed head by the table, his back t
his brother, and | felt suddenly tn,
girls hand clutch my wrist. She will
her fresher eyes upon the scene saw
before | grasped it, wkat now occurred
Henry Holbrook had drawn a revolye,
from his pocket and pointed it full a
his brothers back. We two at thu
window saw the weapon flash menac
ingly; but suddenly Arthur HolbrooB
flung round as his brother cried:
Il think you are lying to me, and
want those notes. want those notes
| want them now. You must have
them, and | can't go to Patricia until
| know they're safe"
He advanced several steps and his
manner grew confident as he saw that
ne held the situation in his own grasp.
l would have rushed in upon them but
the girl held me back.
Wait! Watt" she whispered
Arthur thrust his hands into the
side pockets of his flannel jacket and
nodded his head once or twice.
why don't you shoot, Henry?"
Il want those notes. said Henry
Holbrook you lied to me about
them. They were to have been de-
stroyed. | want them now, tonight
If you shoot me you will undoubt.
eddy get them much easier" said Ar
thur; and he lounged away toward the
wall, half turning his back, while the
point of the pistol followed him. But
the fact is, l never had them; Giles
pie kept them"
Threats cool quickly, and l really
had not much fear that Henry Hol-
brook meant to kill his brother: and
Arthur's Indifference to his danger
was having its disconcerting effect on
Henry. The pistol barrel wavered:
but Henry steadied himself and his
clutch frightened on the butt. l again
turned toward the door, but the girls
hand held me back.
Wait" she whispered again. THAT
man is a coward He will not shoot"
The canoe-maker had been calmly
talking, discussing the disagreeable
consequences of murder in tone of
half-banter, and he now stood directly
under the foils. Then in a fash he
snatched one of them, flung it I'D with
an accustomed hand, and snapped it
across his brothers knuckles. At the
window we heard the slim steel hiss
through the air, followed by the rattle
OF the revolver as it struck the ground.
The makers foot was on it in.
stantly; he still held the foil
Henry" he said in the tone of one
rebuking a child, you are bad enough,
but | do not intend that you shall be
a murderer. And now l want YOU to
go; | will not treat with you; want
nothing more to do with you. re-
peat that | haven't got the notes"
he pointed to the door with the
foil. The blood surged angrily in his
face; but his voice was in complete
control as he went on.
Your visit has awakened me tn q
sense of neglected duty, Henry,
nave allowed you to prosecute our sis.
ter without raising hand. | have nc
other business now but to protect her.
10 back to your stupid sailor and tell
MIN that if | catch him in any mis-.
chle1 on the lake or here | shall Ger.
tainly kill him.
lost any further words that nassed
between them, as Henry. crafty
threatening, walked out upon the deck
TO his boat; then from the creek came
lhe tnreshlng of oars that died away
IN moment. When l gazed into the
room again Arthur Holbrook was
blowing out the lights.
l am grateful; l am so grateful"
laltered the girls voice: "but Won
must not be seen here. Please 90
now! l had taken her hands feeling
mat | was about to lose her: but she
reed them and stood away from me in
he shadow.
We are going away-we must leave
lere! can never see you again" she
In the starlight she was Helen by
'Ver% test my senses could make: but
~ something deeper l knew that she
was not the girl l had seen in the
Window at st. Agatha's. She was
nore dependent, less confident and
'olsed; she stihed a sob and came
lose. Through the window saw Ar.
hur Holbrook climbing up to blow ont
he last light.
could have watched myself but
was afraid that sailor might come:
'nd 1t was he that fired at you in the
DAD. He had gone to Glenarm to
'atcn you and keep you away from
lere. Uncle Henry came back today
nd sent word that he wanted to see
IN l.