The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-04-27

lions and answers between these three
follow ed as swiftly as thrust and parry
between accomplished swordsmen, and
yet between each demand and reply
they had time TO entertain these swift
thoughts-as the drowning compass
life experiences in seconds.
Il may not be her friend" said Arm
strong steadily, but she left me in
these mountains a month ago with
more than a half way promise TO mar
~ me, and l have sought her through
the SHOWS TO claim the fulfllment"
You never told me that" exclaimed
NewboId sternly and again addressing
the woman rather than the man
There was nothing to TELL" she an
swered quickly. Il was a young girl,
heart free; l liked this man, perhaps
because he was so different from those
to whom / had been accustomed, and
when he pressed his suit upon me, I
told him the truth. l did not love
him, did not know whether l might
grow to care for him or not; if / did,
l should marry him and if I did not
no power on earth could make me.
And now-I hate him!" She flung the
words at him savagely
Armstrong was beside himself with
fury at her words, and Newbold's cool
Indifference to him personally was un-
endurable. In battle such as he waged
he had the mistaken idea that any
thing was fair. He could not really
tell whether it was love of woman or
hate Of man that was most dominant:
he saw at once the state of affairs be-
tween the two. He could hurt the
man and the woman with one state
ment; what might be it's Interior effect
he did not stop to consider, perhaps If
he had he would not then have cared
greatly. He realized anyway that
since Newbold's arrival his chance
with Enid was gone; perhaps wheth-
er Newbold were alive or dead it was
gone forever; although Armstrong did
not think that, he was not capable of
thinking very far into the future in
his then condition, the present bulked
too large for that.
81 did not think after that kiss in
the road that you would go back on
me this way, Enid" he said quickly.
The kiss in the road" cried New
bold staring again at the woman.
You coward" repeated she, with
| one swift envenomed glance at the
other man, and then she turned to her
lover. She laid her hand upon his
arm, she lifted her face up to him
GAS God is my judge" she cried. her
voice rising with the tragic intensity
of the moment and thrilling with in
| dignant protest, "he took 1t from me
like the thief and the coward he was
and he tells it now like the liar he is
We were riding side by side, | was
utterly unsuspicious, | thought him 6
gentleman, he caught me and kissed
me before l knew it. | drove hin
| from me. That's all"
II believe you," said Newbold gent
", and then for the first time, he ad
| dressed himself to Armstrong. "Yol
came doubtless to rescue Miss Matt
land, and in SO far your purpose wa:
admirable and you deserve thanks ant
respect, but no further. This Is M,
cabin, your words and your conduc
render you unwelcome here. Mis-:
Maitland is under my protection; i
you will come outside l will be glat
to talk with you further"
Under your protection?" sneeret
Armstrong beside himself. After {
month with you alone l take it sh'
needs no further protection"
no
for that mordant insult to the woman
his approach was slow, relentless, ter
rible Eight or ten feet separated
them. Armstrong met him half way
his impetuosity was greater, he sprani
forward, turned about, faced the full
light from the narrow window.
Well" he cried, have you got any
thing to say or do about it"
But Newbold had stopped, appalled,
He stood staring as if petrified: recog
milton, recollection rushed over him
Now and at last he knew the man
The face that confronted him was tn
same face that had stared out at hin
from the locket he had taken from tn
bruised breast of his dead wife, whicl
had been a mystery to him for al
these years.
Well" tauntingly asked Armstron
again, what are you waiting for, ar
you afraid?"
, From Newbold's belt depended
holster and a heavy revolver. AS Arm
strong made to attack him he flashe
it out with astonishing quickness an
, presented it. The newcomer was III
! armed-his Winchester leaned agains
the wall by his fur coat and he ha
no pistol.
"If you move a step forward or bacl
ward" said Newbold with deadly calm
, Il will kill you without mercy"
$50 you'd take advantage Of a veal
onless man, would your" sneered Arm
strong.
, "Oh, for Gods sake" cried the w
man, don't kill him.
> you both misjudge me-" was the al
swer. 81 shall take no advantage {
N11.1III|