Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-23
CHAPTER V.-Continued.

The two men faced each other an in
slant in silence. Travers' face betrayed
curious complex emotion of desperation
and shame He had been called a black
guard. and the word had stung like the
cur Of horsewhp. He had never be
iieyed 1t possible that any man should
have the right to use such a term-to
him. tho embodiment of geniality. good
humor ard good nature. He did not he
lieve even now that any one had the
right lie was not an unprncipled man
not in the sense that he had ever con-
scouslY done wrong. He did not Know
what wrong was-hiS one conception he
ing an act putting him within reach OF
the law: and Of such an 1ndis"retlon ne
had never been guilty. Throughout his
scheminS he had always pictured him
self az a complaisant Napoleon of finance,
combining business with pleasure. Ills
conduct toward Lois had been based on
this standpoint lie was genuinely fond
of her. and is there any law forhidding
man TO Law firm hold upon his wife's
money? Yet Stafford had called him
backyard. and Stafford was the world
the world of responsibility of which
Travers had believed himself a gifted
member. For the moment the incompre-
hensible insult was more to him than the
coming danger to which his plans were
put.
i gu look AT me as IHpUSH ldu tcii-
mitted a crime lie exclaimed, in tone
of injured protest
you have" Stafford answered. stead
lily. You have fooled me, playing on my
preiudces. and God knows what other
weaknesses. | won't say anything of
that | deserve my share of blame. But
you have tricked and deceived a woman.
You have deceived an honorable man into
a dishonorable venture. You have brought
disaster on your own country. You are
ha, lr1o,t dxrcn III III
are the parasite TO whom we owe all our
misfortunes. and
Stafford, take care.
"Out of the way am going to put an
end 10 il an
Travers flung the excited man back.
Shame is dangerous poison in the blood
of base natures. IT Is merely the pre-
cursor to a state of absolute license where
self-control self-respect are flung to the
winds and the devil is set free to work
his full unchecked will. Travers giared
at Stafford, hating his upright bearing.
his upright Indignation, with violence
to which murder would have been the
only true expression.
You are not going till 1 have your
promise to hold your tongue. he said,
between his teeth
Stafford flung the others OBTAINING hand
from him. Freed from his tanning. dis
eased conscience, and reused to activity,
he acted like a man of lightning deter
mination and iron will.
That you Will never have, and You are
a scoundrel TO ask for it. AS you like
there are other exits than the door" He
swung round and made for the open
window.
Travers did not stop him. He stood
rooted to the spot, his hand on the re-
volver which he carried at his side. The
revolver had not been meant for Stafford.
Travers' quick eyes had caught sight of
something creeping slowly and stealthily
up the veranda steps. He had seen the
flash of knife. and a cry of warning had
rushed to his lips. The cry was never
uttered. Devil ard angel fought their
last battle over Travers' drifting, rudder-
less nature. The word "scoundrer' had
been the devils winning cast.
60 then, and be damned to you,'
Travers shrieked.
He saw Stafford reach the veranda
steps. The stalwart khaki-clad figure was
photographed on his Keeling brain He
heard the clank of sword against the
first stone step. He tried to cry out
afterward he tried TO believe that he had
cried out-but il was too late. The hid
den something which had crouched be-
hind the heavy crecpers sprang up-for
short second seemed to tower above the
unconscious officer-then a CLEAN of light
flashed down with the black hand Stat
ford flung up his arms, swung around and
fell face downward on the veranda. There
was a short, stfied groan, and then-and
then only-Travers fired.