El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-07
A RADICAL CURE
(By Paul villiers).

THERE was strange expression
in Robert Morris's eyes as he
- opened the door of Harry Pen
roses room, entered and locked the
door behind him.
What the deuce is the matter with
YOU" Harry exclaimed. why do you
lock the door?'
Il come from Margaret" Morris said
calmly. II asked her to become my
wife and she told me that she became
engaged to you yesterday"
Harry Penrose looked at his rival
with an expression of surprise min
gled with confusion. They were both
clerks in the same railroad office, lived
in the same boarding house and had
both fallen in love with the same girl.
their landlady's charming daughter.
Margaret
Il am sorry" he said
81 do not want your sympathy" the
other replied calmly. You must give
her up. You have always been my RI
val. In the office you got ahead of
me, but here 1 won't stand for it, She
has chosen you. but if she is not to be
mine, she shall never marry you,
either.
You talk like a contemplate ego
tist," said Penrose, looking at the
locked door. Il suppose you have got
a revolver and intend TO threaten TO
shoot me-"
Not quite. have not bought the
revolver yet. but I intend to-"
Il understand. This is to be a warn
ing
Yes. a warning! As I said before,
if Margaret is not to be my wife, no
body else is to have her.
Don't talk such nonsense. you fool, .
said Penrose. do you really imagine
for a moment you can scare me to give
up my life's happiness. Go into your
perhaps, you will have got a little
more common sense. Open the door, I
say"
Not until I have made everything
plain. Ny plan is this. II you do not
give her up. I will wait for chance
to shoot you down like a dog
Rot and nonsensei If I thought
you knew what you are saying. would
send for a policeman"
DO as you please. When I have
served my sentence for threatened Of
fence or whatever it is called, 1 will
carry out my threat anyway. I am
ready to go to the electric chair for
your sake, Penrose, if you marry Mar
garet- And If you marry her while 1 am
in jail, I will shoot her. too
What you need is good thrash
ing said Penrose land you might
as well have 1t right here and now"
He stood up and Morris ran to the
fire place and picked up the poker.
Il have thought of it ALL" said he.
Il am not going TO trouble you with
details, but you, cannot escape me, and
if necessary you will both die"
He opened the door. and. while he
didSso, Penrose snatched the poker out
of his hand. punched his face and
kicked him out of the room.
You jealous. crazy fool" he NUT
tered.
Then Penrose went to bed and soon
fell asleep.
Then be went downstairs early next
morning to spend a few moments alone
with his sweetheart, he found Marga-
ret looking very pale and nervous and
when ne took her into his arms, he
felt that she was trembling.
Whom are you expecting?" he
asked
Il thought perhaps Morris was COM
ing down early" she stammered.
'Oh, Morris. I believe 1 know what
is the matter, darling" he whispered.
Tell me what he said to you last
night"
She told him. It was about the same
threat he had mde to Penrose
Don't let that worry you, dearest
he said. Don't mind what he said. He
was all out of his mind last night. but
am sure he has got over it by this
time"
But evidently a nights reflections
had made no difference At the break
fast table, Morris was silent and in
the office Penrose noticed that he Of
ten stared at him with a CLEAN of ha-
tired in his eyes
When he came back from lunch. he
walked up to Penrose's desk.
Look here" he said and produced a
new revolver of large caliber. b" You
will, perhaps. now believe 1 am in
earnest"
Without another word he slipped the
revolver into his hip pocket and went
over to his own seat
Penrose felt a little uneasy. The
fool evidently meant business Jeal-
ousy had turned his brain and this
explained the strange expression in his
eyes and made the matter difficult On
all other points he was sane enough
and no doctor would declare him in
sane. He would be sly enough TO saw
that he had meant nothing with his
Iii SdlS- ana u SSllQ HIN 10 prison for
his threats would only make matters
worse, for he would brood over his
plans while he was there and come out
more determined for revenge than
ever.
The whole thing was ridiculous. II
would be foolish to let him scare you.
But what was he to dor
Penrose began to worry. He had no
right to expose Margaret to any dam
ger and he had read enough to know
that a fixed idea might remain in a
mans brain for years and this would
happen with Morris If he did not cure
him Of his madness once and forever.
Noiselessly Penrose sneaked Into
Morris's room and found him sound
asleep. He locked the door behind him
and turned on the light.
Morris woke up with a start
what does this mean?' he ex-
claimed.
Don't move" Penrose commanded.
Lie down again." he added, aiming
revolver ct his head.
Morris turned pale
What do you want" he gasped
Just wait and see Where is the re-
volver you bought TO shoot me? Hur-
ry up! If you don't tell me before