Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-03-29

He Sprang to the Wall.
aged to pick up a few tricks, you
know. So with the decision to chuck
the dream theory, / shot my leg for
ward with a mix-up and twist that
made Jenkins loosen his clutch and
stagger backward.
Whats the matter with you?" l
gasped, advancing toward him. Are
you trying to murder me?" But l
was so hoarse, the only word that
came out plainly was murder"
Jenkins uttered howl Help, Mr..
Lightnut! Murder!"
You old fool" cried, exasperated.
"Come here!"
He was coming. He seized light
chair and swung it behind his head.
Then he rushed me with 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.
MIR. Lightnut, sir. why don't you
help me?"
Help you-you jolly idiot?' l NUT
tered Indignantly. Then my voice
raised: I've mind to kill you!"
With a yell. he made kangaroo
jump and swung at me again.
"He says he's going to kill NE. Mr.
Lightnut!" he painted as | lodged
again. Help me-wake up, sir"
Wake up? Makeup, indeed, when
I had never been SO deYilish wide
awake in all my life! 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 | had just
left. It's light switch clicked, and
then back through the frightened
doorway he sprang and dashed for a
wall cabinet at the side. He began
Juggling at it's little drawer. And sud
denly I remembered the revolver
there, an old forty-iive from a friend
in Denver-and loaded!
My spring to intercept him was
quick, but not quick enough! Half
way to him | pulled up under the
compelling argument of the long blue
Here! Look out you fonl-it's
loaded" | warned, backing away to
the window.
Jenkins advanced. "What have you
done with him." he painted hoarseIy.
Where is he?"
where's who?" I asked savagely,
for l was getting devilish tired OF it
all. But for the publicity, l should
have yelled from the window.
where's Mr.. Lightnut?" he de-
manded.
ooh, he's all right" l decided to
adopt that soothing tone that | had
read somewhere was the proper caper
with lunatics.
"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.
"Why, do you know" l said pleas
antly, Il 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. I leaped for the weapon as 1t
struck the hardwood floor between u.s.,
jerked from jenkins hand by the I'M
familiar upward kick. Another In
slant and I was poking the muzzlel
into his side.
i've just had enough of this, you
fool" I cried impatiently. Here,
take good look at mel" pushed my
face closer. Look at me, tell you'll"
By Jove, he shuddered! His eyes,
wide distended with terror, rolled to
the ceiling.
IT can't" he whispered; Il just
can't-anything but that! Only, please
please don't kill me, too"
xiii your" I said, frowning sternly
as he gave a furtive glance. Il GER
tainly will, if you don't take good
look at mel"
He gave sort of despairing sigh
and closed his eyes SO tightly the
lashes disappeared. "All right, them"
he said sullenly; You may kill me-"
The way with these lunatics, |
thought Next thing, he would be
begging and insisting that kill him.
l motioned to the door of my guest
room and gave him push.
I'm there" l said, land keep r.s.
font1y n,liot - .