Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-08
CHAPTER III.
Copyright. 1909. by Dodd.
Mead e Co.


IN sort Of dase Challoner was
shambling toward the door when
the telephone bell rang. Instantly
= it reused all the deviltry and cum
ming that had oozed from him the mo-
ment before. SEEKING the receiver. he
thrust 1t silently against his ear.
"Hello!" began the voice at the other
end.
Challoner did not answer.
SIS that you. LettyT' the voice went
on.
Still Challoner did not answer.
Then. as the woman stepped forward,
he handed the receiver to her. at the
same time placing his left hand over
the mouthpiece, and said:
Its Hargraves. Tell him to come
mp. will your"
She shook her head.
Again the voice at the other end Of
the wire sounded, but she could not
answer. for the thickness of Challo-
ner's hand lay between her and COM
munication.
The suspense was becoming un-
bearable getting on her nerves. There
was nothing to do but to comply with
his wish, and upon her eyes suddenly
yielding to his he released the mouth
piece, standing on guard the while she
obeyed him.
Then Challoner drove her-literally
drove her-into a far corner of the
room.
Nov let him come! Wen see," he
exclaimed. holding revolver in his
right hand, and as he stood there
watching her as tiger does tigress
It was with certain sense Of grati-
.dcation that he noted written across
her face the altogether new sensation
Of fear, terror and therefore respect
for him.
And he rejoiced in the knowledge
thai, the hand that could no longer
count out banknotes to her or sign
checks was hand that held life and
death within it's grasp. Lefty Love
realized this. too. as she stood there
cowed. trembling. listening. watching
the door, Suddenly there flashed
through her mind way out Of the
situation. and. smiling. she said lightly:
"Oh. pshaw, Lawrence. the heavy Is
not your line! Come! Suppose we
have something to drink"
And, without waiting for him to an
swer, she crossed the room and press
ed the button there. Somewhat sheep
ishly Challoner slipped the revolver
back into his pocket and dropped into
chair. while she ordered the maid
to fetch some Bengal-a cordial. dis
her from period so remote that the
memory Of man runneth not to the
contrary.
In his merry lifetime Hiram Ed
gar Love had possessed gallons Of it.
1t had come to him in the night from
the mysterious east. in the teeth Of
the revenue guns Lefty took her place
beside small table. and presently a
silver topped. cut glass decanter was
IN her hand.
Challoner drank-drank. He forgot
Hargraves. forgot everything but the
face of Lefty Love, kiss that he
wanted. but that somehow he could
not get. an utterauce in a thick voice,
monetary hand to hand struggle
not with Hargraves. but with her;
then somehow she eluded him. and he
was left alone-alone in the darkness
that the Bengal had cast upon him.
But In all this there was no Har-
graves.
A few hours later when he awoke he
was still sitting at the table, but he
was alone. He rose hastily. even stead
fly, and secured the other rooms. There
was no one there. He looked for the
Bengal. but that. too, had disappeared.
All Of sudden the Jewels that were
,on her dressing table-jewels that he
had given her-caught his attention,
and for the moment the temptation
was strong to take them for the mon
ey that was IN them. But even his duh
Wits soon recognized the folly Of such
q proceeding, since 1t was for her that
he nseded the money. and somewhat
reluctantly he put them back in their
case. muttaring to himself as he left
the house:
Lefty must believe in me. Things
are bound soon to come my way
Soon he was back at Cradlebaugh's,
wandering about looking for Pemmi-
can Finally he saw him coming out
of one Of the rooms and hailed him
with:
"Hargraves showed up yetY
The unwholesome looking factotum
shook his head. At the same time he
noted that Challoner was in, differ
emf ;Ino1d than when ne naI talked talked
with him earlier in the evening. Penn
mican wondered as he turned away;
but then. It was not given to him to
know that Challoners experience that
night had served immeasurably to
strengthen desperate purpose. True,
that the Joy that had been Challoner's
.'his by rights" as he told himself
had been wrested away from him. for
he was satisfied that Hargraves' alb
eence from Cradlebaugh's meant that
he was with Lefty Love hut little BY
little the agony Of jealousy was be-
coming : pleasurable sensation, pas
sion That obsessed him. He would wait
lays weeks. months. II necessary for
Hargaves.
A day rolled around. Night again
at Cradlebaugh's. and Challoner still
1t his post OF observation waiting. It
was past midnight when Colonel Har-
EravlD anelly appeared. Chailonef.
A. t.