Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-08-02

even. r. too late now. That's done
Tor GOOD ana ill W. needn't quarrel
about H.
He went back 70 his seat
GOOD Lord, how long they are!"
He began 70 talk. to maunder to
himself OF what might have been and
what had been, speaking Of his aims,
ambitions, achievements in an oddly
detached way. - he might have 70.
viewed another's life. only emotional
when forced to realisation Of the fact
that this was the end OF It all. The
phrase. "This ends III" punctuated
the semi-confessional soliloquy mo.
notonously, repeated over and over
with the same falling infection. Coast
detected not . word. not even a note
OF regret for his crime. save inasfar
a. It Affected Blackstock's fortunes
blasted them.
A shrill clamor Of the telephone
bell electrified them all. Dundas cried
out. Blackstock jumped up and
stumbled into the hall. Coast. rising.
heard his voice.
"Yes. Tell them to come up"
He returned. almost Keeling. Here.
Dundas." he said. slowly. you let 'em
in. will you, like q good fellow"
Mute In his panic. Dundas went to
the door.
Coast could hear the whine Of the
ascending elevator, the clanking Of
its safety chains.
Abruptly he was conscious that
Blackstock's temper had undergone q
change. From passive surrender to
his fate the man had passed to mood
Of active resistance. Somehow In
stinctively, Coast seemed to divine
this in the surcharged. tense atmos.
phere Of that moment. He shot .
swift. suspicious look at the man. and
caught In return look Of low cunning
and desperation.
He saw Blackstock In a pose Of at
tention listening. every sense alert.
every muscle fexed-a man gathering
himself together as q cat about to
spring.
The elevator was very near the
door.
"By God!" Blackstock whispered,
wetting his lips: and again his eyes
were blazing. "Ill fool 'em yeti"
The man turned swiftly. Outside
the elevator gate changed. Coast
heard q confusion Of footballs and
voices, knocking on the door. And
suddenly he understood what Black
stock intended. Already he had re-
gained the side table and snatched up
the pistol. He turned with 1t lifted.
They shan't have mel" he cried. aud
reversed It to his temple.
"You fool!" Coast screamed uncon-
sclously. With almost Incredible
swiftness Of action he flung himself
upon Blackstock and seized the pistol.
DETECTED 1t toward the ceiling. 1t
exploded.
For q moment longer he was strug.
Cling frantically with Blackstock to
save the man from, self.destruction.
Then. without. warning, he was seized
ana dragged away, holding the pistol
A strange hand snatched that away.
Other hands pinioned his arms to
his sides. He fought for freedom for
an instant, then ceased to resist. thun.
derstruck with amusement.
Blackstock lowered over him. point
Ing him out. That's your man-take
him!" he cried. '1ese done murder
and was trying suicide. I managed to
keep him quiet untfl 10 heard you
coming. then he made . grab for the
pistol. Thank God. you're In time!' ~
Something stuck In Coasts throat
his tongue trying to articulate In Q
mouth dry with fear and consterna-
ton. you uar!" hs managed to say.
you"
shut up. you!" One Of the police
men holding him clapped . hand over
his mouth.
why" he heard Blackjack say.
you saw him yourself. gentlemen. II
there's any question In your minds,
here's Mr.. Durdas. who saw 1t all
Dundas. who shot Van Tuylf Mr..
Coast. here?"
Dimly as through q haze Coast saw
Dundas emerge from the press of men
In the room, a ghost Of a man, eyelids
quivering, limbs shaking. features
working In his small. pasty face. And
In his anguish Of anger. fear and re-
sentiment. Coast detected the look. un-
observed by eny other, OF secret I'm.
derstanding that passed between the
two men.
"Yes." Dundas said, his voice tremu.
lous. ''Why-why, Of course. MI.
Coast did It,"
Coast felt the chill Of handouts on
bis wrist-a chill that ate into his
soul.
ITO be Continued.)