Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1912-02-22

The man looked up and nodded.
| We'll. 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-confessional soliloquy mo-
notonously, repeated over and over
with the same falling infection. Coast
detected not a word, not even a note
OF regret for his crime, save inasfar
as IL affected Blackstocks fortunes
blasted them.
A shrill clamor OF the telephone
bell electrified them all. Dundas cried
out Blackstock jumped up and
stumbled into the hall. Coast, rising,
heard his voice.
Yes. Tell them 10 come up"
He returned almost Keeling Here,
Dundas," he said, slowly, you let EN-
In, will you, like a good fellow"
Mute in his panic, Dundas went TO
the door
Coast could hear the whine of the
ascending elevator. the clanking of
It's safety chains
Abruptly he was conscious that
Blackstock's temper had undergone
change. From passive surrender TO
his fate the man had passed to a mood
OF active 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 look of low cunning
and desperation.
He saw Blackstock in a pose of at
tention. listening. every sense alert,
every muscle fexed--a man gathering
himself together as a cat about to
spring
The elevator was very near the
floor.
by Cod" Blackstock whispered,
wetting his lips; and again his eyes
were blazing. 'I'll fool em yeti"
The man turned swiftly. Outside
the elevator gate changed. Coast
heard confusion of footballs and
voices, knocking on the door And
suddenly he understood what Black
stock intended. Already he had re-
gained the side table and snatched up
the pistol. He turned with 1t lifted
They shant have mel" he cried. and
reversed It to his temple.
you fool" Coast screamed uncon-
sciously. With almost incredible
swiftness OF action he flung himself
upon Blackstock and seized the pistol.
DETECTED 1t toward the ceiling. II
exploded
For moment longer he was strug-
Cling frantically with Blackstock TO
save the man from self-destruction
Then, without warning. he was seized
and dragged away. holding the pistol
A strange hand snatched that away
Other hands pinioned his arms to
his sides. He fought for freedom TOR
an instant. then ceased to resist, thun-
derstruck with amazement.
Blackstock lowered over him, point.
ing him out. That's your man-take
HIM" he cried. He's done murder
and was trying suicide. managed to
keep him quiet until he heard you
coming. then he made a grab for the
pistol Thank God, you're in timel"
Something stuck In Coasts throat
his tongue trying to articuate In a
mouth dry with fear and consterna-
ton. you liar!" he managed to say.
You"
shut up. you" One of the police
men holding him clapped a hand over
his mouth
Why" he heard Blackstock say,
you saw him yourself, gentlemen. II
there's any question in your minds.
here's Mr.. Dundas. who saw II ALL
Dundas, who shot Van Tuyl? Mr.
Coast, here?"
Dimly as through a haze Coast saw
Dundas emerge from the press Of men
in the room. ghost of man. eyelids
quivering. limbs shaking. features
working In his small. pasty face. And
In bis anguish of anger, fear and re-
sentiment. Coast detected the look. up.
observed by any other. of secret un-
Outstanding that passed between the
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