The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-01-29

iAbatAOhS- ne WAS ike a starving Wdn
In the presence OF food. for he knew
Mcbride had the money In his safe
and the safe door was open. His need
seemed the only need In all the world,
and II came TO him that since Nc
Bride would not lend him the money
he wanted. why not take Il from him
anyhow? He couldn't see conse
quences. he could only realize that he
must have two or three thousand dol
lars! Perhaps he got a glimmer OF
reason just here. and IL he did he was
pretty badly frightened TO think that
he should even consider violence; he
! turned away TO leave Mcbride and
the old man followed him a ways
down the store. explaining why they
couldn't do business"
Gilmore paused His cigar had gone
out; now he struck match, but he
did not take his eyes from Langhanf-s
face. He did not speak at once even
when his cigar was lighted.
Great beads OF perspiration stood
! thick on Langham's brow. his hair
: was damp and clammy. He was Nv
/ ing that unspeakable moment over
again. with all its madness and horror.
/ He saw himself as he had walked
scowling toward the front OF the
store: he had paused irresolutely with
his hand on the door-knob and then
had turned back. The old merchant
was standing close by the scales, a
tall gaunt figure in the waning light
OF day.
why do you tell me you can't do
it?" he had demanded with dull anger.
You have the money. know that"
II didn't tell you | couldn't do it.
Mr.. Langham. merely intimated that
wouldn't the old man had rejoined
dryly.
You have the money in your safe"
What il | have? It's mine TO do
with as think proper"
"A larger sum than want-than l
need"
quite likely"
A furious gust OF passion had laid
hold of him, the consciousness OF his
necessity, allcompelling and relent.
less. swept through his brain Money
he must have his success, his hap.
piness, everything depended on II. and
what could money mean to this feeble
old man whose days were almost
spent?
II want you TO let me have two
thousand dollars" he had insisted.
as he placed his hand on the old
merchants shoulder. Get II for me-
| swear I'll pay IL back. I'll give you
such security as can-my note"
Mcbride had laughed dryly at this,
and he turned on his heel as though
] TO re-enter the ONCE. Langham shot
a quick glance about hiI7; the store
was empty, the street before II de-
serted; he saw through the dingy
windows the swirling scarfs Of white
that the wind sent flying across the
Square. Now was his time II everl
Bitter resentment urged him ONT
was a monstrous thing that those who
could, would not help him!
Near the scales was an anvil, and
leaning against the anvilblock was .
heavy sledge As the old merchant
turned from him, he had caught up the
sledge and had struck him a savage
blow on the head. Mcbride had
dropped to the floor without cry or
groan.
his eyes TO blot out the vision OF
that still figure on the floor. and dry
sob burst from his lips.
"Eh, did you speak. Marshr' asked
Gilmore.
NO said Langham in a whisper.
Gilmore laughed.
you are seeing just how 1t all hap
pened, Marsh. There was a sledge By
the anvil that stood near those scales
and when the old fellow wouldn't come
to time, my man lost all restraint and
snatched 1t up. and a second later Mo
Bride was dead. After that my man
had things all his own way. He went
through the safe and took what was
useful to him--and those damn bonds
OF Eorths which weren't useful-and
skipped by the side door and out over
| the shed roof and down the alley, Just
as Joe said"
Gilmore paused, and fiicked away .
bit of cigar ash that had lodged in 9
crease OF his coat.
That's the whole story OF the Mo
Bride murder. Now what do you
think OF my theorizing, Marsh; how
does II strike your,
But Langham did not answer him
The gamblers words had brought II
all back; he was living again the
agony OF that first conscious moment
when he realized the thing he had
done. He remembered his hurried
search for the money and his flight
through the side door; he remembered
crossing the shed roof and the panic
that had seized him as he dropped
into the alley beyond, unseen, safe as
he supposed. A facilitating reaction,
such as follows some tremendous
physical effort. had quickly succeeded
He had wandered through the desert
cd street, seeking control OF himself
in vain. FINALLY he had gone home.
1 Evelyn was at his fathers and the
servant absent for the day. He had
let himself in with his latch-key and
had gone at once TO the library. There
he fell 10 pacing to and fro; ten
twenty minutes had passed, when the
sudden noisy clamor OF the town bell
had taken him, covering. TO the win.
I dow; but the world beyond was a
vaguely curtained white.
( He raised his |cavy bloodshot eyes
and looked into the gamblers smiling
lace He realized the utility OF h-s
act, since II had placed him irrevoo-
ably in Gilmore's power. He had en-
dured unspeakable anguish all to no
purpose, since Gilmore knew; knew
with the gertrude of an eye witness.
, And there the gambler sat smiling
and at ease, torturing him with his
tcunning speech.
e (continued.)