The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1912-07-05
ILLUSTRATION,
CaoNTEHZ 11v 6ykaENc -


idued voice.
''lf that's your way, you'd have to
murder me also, you know, before you
could have married Miss Thaxter."
The man looked up and nodded
"Well, it's too late now. That's done
for good and all. We needn't quarrel
about it."
He went back to his seat
Good Lord, how long they are!"
He began to 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, as he might have re-
viewed another's life, only emotional
when forced to realization of the fact
that this was the end of it all. The
phrase, "This ends it," punctuated
the semi-confessfona so1iloquy mo-
fnotonously, repeated over and over
with the same falling infection. Coast
detected not word, not even a note
of regret for his crime, save inasfar
AS 1t affected Blackstock's fortunes
blasted them.
n III VI ln6 lClCphObO
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 EN-
In, will you, like good fellow"
= T. %
the door.
Coast could hear the whine of the
ascending elevator, the clanking of
ats safety chains.
Abruptly he was conscious that
Blackstock's temper had undergone a
4 change. From passive surrender to
his fate the man had passed to uoQd
Of actfv9 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 a look of low cunning
and desperation.
He saw Blackstock in a pose of at
tention, listening, every sense alert,
every muscle hexed--a man gathering
himself together as a cat about to
spring.
The elevator was very near the
door.
"By Cod" Blackstock whispered,
wetting his lips; and again his eyes
were blazing "TIl fool 'em yeti"
The man turned swiftly. Outside
the elevator gate changed. Coast
heard confusion of footballs and
voices, a knocking on the door. And
| suddenly he understood what Black
I stock intended. Already he had re-
s gained the side table ana snatched up
! the pistol He turned with 1t lifted
''They shan't have mel" he cried, and
reversed 1t to his temple.
You FOOL" Coast screamed uncon-
i sciously. With almost incredible
swiftness of action he flung himself
4 upon Blackstock and seized the pistol.
Il DETECTED it toward the ceiling. 1t
n exploded.
For a moment longer he was strug-
d Cling frantically with Blackstock to
save the man from self-destruction.
Then, without warning, he was seized
and dragged away, holding the pistol.
I A strange hand snatched that away.
z Other hands pinioned his arms to
his sides. He fought for freedom for
3 en- instant, then ceased to resist, thun-
derstruck with amazement
Blackstock lowered over him, point
& Ing him out That's your man-take
q him!" he cried. He's done murder
end was trying suicide. / managed to
Il keep him quiet until he heard you
coming, then he made grab for the
pistol. Thank God, you're In time."
Something stuck in Coasts throat
S his tongue trying to articulate in a
mouth dry with fear and consterna-
ton, "You liar!" he managed to say.
Mou-' sssfgszgS s''' -
shut up, you'll" One of the police,
men holding him clapped hand over
his mouth.
why" he heard Blackstock say.
"you saw him yourself, gentlemen. Ii
s there's any question in your minds,
here's Mr. Dundas, who saw 1t all.
Dundas, who shot Van Tuyl? Mr..
a Coast, hare?"
Dimly as through a haze Coast saw
Il Dundas emerge from the press of men
4 IN the room, ghost of man, eyelids
auivering, limbs shaking. features
81 working in his small, pasty face. And
In his anguish of anger, fear and re-
sentiment, Coast detected the look, I'M
& observed by any other, of secret I'M
s Outstanding that passed between the
" two men.
eyes," Dundas said, his voice tremu-
ious. "Why-why, of course, Mr.,
{ Coast did it"
3 Coast felt the chill of handouts on
his wrist--a chill that ate into his
soul.
81 CHAPTER III.