Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-27

spite of all the damned scoundrels on
earth like this 'un."
Are these letters addressed to my
dead wife," asked Newbold.
They are" answered Enid Matt
land. Look and see."
And did Mr.. Armstrong write
them?"
He'll deny it, suppose" answered
Kirkby.
But am familiar with his hand
writing" said Maitland.
Taking the still unopened packet
from Newbold, he opened it, examined
one of the letters and handed them all
back
There is no doubt about it, he
said. Its Armstrong; hand, I'd
swear to it,
''Oh. I'll acknowledge them said
Armstrong, seeing the absolute fulfill
ity of further denial. He had forgot
ten all about the letters. He had not
dreamed they were in existence.
You've got me beat between you; the
cards are stacked against me. I've
done my damndest'-and indeed that
was true
! Well, he had played a great game,
/ battling for high stake he had stuck
at nothing. A career in which some
good had mingled with much bad was
true colors at last. She would have
nothing to hope from him II he was
the victor; and she even wondered in
terror what might happen to her If the
man she loved triumphed after the
passions aroused in such battle? She
grew sick and giddy, her bosom rose
and fell, her breath came fast as she
followed the painting, struggling, cling
ing grinding, figures about the room.
At first there had been no advantage
to either, but now after five minutes
or was it hours?-of fierce fighting.
the strength and superior condition OF
her lover began to tell. He was fore
ing the other backward. Slowly, inch
by inch, foot by foot, step by step
he mastered him. The two interwin-
ing figures were broadside to her now,
she could see their faces infiamed by
the lust of the battle, engorged, blood
red with hate and fury, but there was
look of exultation on one and the
shadow of approaching disaster on the
other. But the consciousness that he
4 was being mastered ever so little only
increased Armstrong; determination
1 and he fought back with the frenzy.
the strength of maddened gorilla.
and again for a space the issue was In
doubt. But not for long.
The table, a heavy cumbersome,
! four-legged affair, solid almost as q
|. rock, stood in the way. Newbold at
last backed Armstrong up against IL
and by superhuman effort bent him
over it, held him with one arm and
using the table as a support, wrenched
his left hand free, and sunk his fin
q gers around the others throat. It was
Q all up with Armstrong. 1t was only
d question of time now.
a Now" Newbold guttered out
e hoarsely, you slandered the dead wo-
y man l married, and you insulted the
s living one l love. Take back what
r you said before you die"
e 81 forgive him." cried Enid Matt
land. "Oh, for Gods sake don't kill
d him before my eyes"
Armstrong was past speech The
v inveteracy of his hatred could be seer
even in his fast glazing eyes, the Undo
mitableness of his purpose yet SPOKE
D. in the negative shake of his head. H,
le could die, but he would die in his hat
1t and in his purpose.
Enid ran to the two, she grapple,
n NewbolC's arm with both her own an,
strove with all her might to tear
10 away from the others throat. He
ID lover paid no more attention to he
ly than If a summer breeze had touches
him. Armstrong grew black in tn
. face, his limbs relaxed, another secon
or two it would have been over will
him.
IA Once more the door was throw
open; through it two snow-covered me
b, entered. One swift glance told then
all. One of them at least had expect
,o ed it. On the one side Kirkby, on tn
he other Maitland, tore Newbold ava
from his prey just in time to saw
-, Armstrong; life. Indeed the latte
- was so far gone that he fell from tn
% table to the floor unconscious, choking
=, almost dying. 1t was Enid Nathan
30 who received his head in her arms an
- helped bring him back to life Will
=, the painting Newbold stood starin
~ duly at the woman he loved and tn
man he hated on the floor at his fee
ie- TO be Continued