The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-03-29
Xe eGLOgYl s s s. !.
m2e R!UBIES'
By FRANCIS PERRY ELLIOTT
% ILLUSTRATIONS ~V NAYWAA=1s
Is IIkI0EXL CClIZSA/pI

gasped, advancing toward him. Are
you trying to murder me?" But
was so hoarse, the only word that
came out plainly was murder"
Jenkins uttered howl. Help, Mr..
Lightnut! Murder!"
You old fooI!' cried, exasperated.
"Come here!"
He was coming. He seized light
chair and swung it behind his head.
Then he rushed me with a shout.
"Oh, Mr.. Lightnut!"
Gone clear off his mutt" was my
thought. AS he swung the chair,
ducked low, and man and chair went
crashing to the floor. But he was up
again in a jiffy and dancing at me.
"Mr. Lightnut, sir, why don't you
help me?"
Help you-you jolly idiot?" I NUT
tered Indignantly. Then my voice
raised: I've a mind to kill you!"
With yell, he made kangaroo
jump and swung at me again.
"He says he's going to kill ME, Mr..
Lightnut!" he painted as I lodged
again. Help me-wake up, sir"
Wake up? Wake up, indeed, when
I had never been so deVil1sh wide
awake in all my life! l was sure
now about that. I moved toward him
cautiously.
stop your row!" I cried angrily;
you'll have somebody in. Think l
want the police up here?"
With a glare at me, jenkins darted
past me to the bedroom 1 had just
left. It's light switch clicked, and
then back through the frightened
doorway he sprang and dashed for
wall cabinet at the side. He began
tugging at it's little drawer. And sud-
denly 1 remembered the revolver
there, an old forty-five from a friend
in Denver-and loaded!
My spring to intercept him was
quick, but not quick enough! Half
way to him 1 pulled up under the
compelling argument of the long blue
barrel pointed at my head.
Here! Look out, you fool-it's
loaded!" I warned, backing away to
the window.
Jenkins advanced. "What have you
done with him?" he painted hoarsely.
Where is he?"
where's who?" I asked savagely,
for was getting devilish tired of it
III DIT Fo, Tho T,,,b1joiTv cho11l6
have yelled from the window.
where's Mr.. Lightnut?'' he de-
manded.
"Oh, he's all right" I decided to
adopt that soothing tone that had
read somewhere was the proper caper
with Iunatios.
'Where?" Jenkins insisted, pushing
nearer
And dashed if I knew what to an
swer; for, if I made mistake, it
might be serious, by Jove! Perhaps
some jocular reply would be safest
might divert his attention, you know.
The open window gave me an idea.
seWhy, do you know" I said pleas
antly, 81 just chucked him down into
the street"
It sounded like cannon cracker,
that gun! The shower of splintered
glass from the picture between the
windows barely missed me. But L
never waited a second-for this last
devilish straw was too much, don't
you know, and something had to be
done. / leaped for the weapon as it
struck the hardwood floor between US,
jerked from Jenkins hand by the un-
familiar upward kick. Another in
stant and 1 was poking the muzzle
into his side.
''I've just had enough of this, you
fool!" l cried impatiently. Here,
take good look at me-" pushed my
face closer. Look at me, 1 tell you!"
By Jove, he shuddered! His eyes,
wide distended with terror, rolled to
the ceiling.
'I can't" he whispered; 81 just
! can't-anything but that! Only, please
please don't kill me, too"
Kill you?" I said, 'frowning sternly
as he gave furtive glance. Il GER
tainly will, if you don't take a good
look at mel"
! He gave a sort of despairing sigh
and closed his eyes SO tightly the
lashes disappeared. "All right, then, -
he said sullenly; you may kill me-"
The way with these lunatics,
thought Next thing, he would be
begging and insisting that 1 kill him.
1 motioned to the door of my guest
room and gave him push.
IN there" I said, "and keep per-
fectly quiet
And as he shot inside, closed the
door and locked it. just had to take
the chance Of his hurting himself
against the walls and furniture;
didn't believe he was so crazy he
would undertake the six-story leap to
| the ground Listening, heard some,
| 4b;,,. 1;I,o eoh Tbon ooyphT nv