Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-02-11

49, OAO OAA S4OSS ~ liz L
window, and h sighed deeply as in
relief at beholding "a scene of peace.
Arthur Holbrook still stood with
bowed head by the table, his back to
his brother, and l felt suddenly the
girls hand clutch my wrist. She with
her fresher eyes upon the scene saw,
before l grasped it, what now occurred.
Henry Holbrook had drawn a revolver
from his pocket and pointed it full at
his brothers back. We two at the
window saw the weapon flash menac-
ingly; but suddenly Arthur Holbrook
flung round as his brother cried:
L think you are lying to me, and 1
want those nOtes-I want those notes,
l want them now! You must have
them, and 1 can't go to Patricia until
| know they're safe"
He advanced several steps and his
manner grew confident as he saw that
he held the situation in his own grasp.
| 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. 1 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
tho Fa4% = $500. L~I 49,. n -
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. h 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 a lone of
half-banter. and he now stood directly
under the foils. Then in a flash he
OAS VI Y AAOA4o ~ up VAN
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 c~anoe-maker's foot was on it in
stantly; he still held the foil.
Henry" he aid 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; l want
nothing more to do with you! re-
peat that I 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 to a
sense of neglected duty, Henry. 1
have allowed you to prosecute our sis
ter without raising a hand! | have no
other business o but to protect her.
Go back to your stupid sailor and tell
him that if l catch him i'll any mis-
chief on the lake or here | shall GER
tainly kill him"
l lost any further words that passed
between them, as Henry, crafty
threatening, walked out upon the deck
to his boat; hen from the creek came
the t~hreshing of oars that died away
in a moment. When 1 gazed into the
room again Arthur Holbrook was
blowing out the lights.
L am grateful; l am so grateful"
faltered the girls voice; but you
must not be seer here. Please go
norrlc T 49, 49, 49, L4-l, co41S-~
that l was about to lose her; but she
freed them and stood away from me in
the shadow.
w are going aWay-we must leave
here! | can never see you again." she
whispered.
In the starlight she was Helen, by
every test my senses could make; but
by something deeper l knew that she
was not the girl 1 had seen in the
window at st. Agatha's. She was
more dependent, less confident and
poised; she stifed a sob and came
close. Through the window l saw Ar
thu Holbrook climbing up to blow out
the last light.
Il could have watched myself, but
l was afraid that sailor might come;
and it was he that fired at you in the
road. He had gone to Glenarm to
watch o and keep you away from
here. Uncle Henry came back to-day
and sent word that he wanted to see
my father, and asked you to come to
help U.S."
I thank -cu for that"
And there was another mana
stranger, back there near the road; 1
cOuld not make him ont hut Won will
be careful-please. You must think
very i'll of me for bringing you into all
this danger and trouble"
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