River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-03-20
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tionY' the man cried. ~You-you
you hear met And I've been COM
manded bEAiQd Almighty.to end this
trouble by ending your
AS Stuart held the glittering eyes
levelled at him across the blue black
barrel he coutd see the mans nervous
and uncertain finger -twitching at the
trigger With sudden panther like
spring be leaped across the five feet
which separated him from the man
who held the revolver. His left hand
gripped the weapon and threw it into
the air as it was fred. while his right
hand closed on the throat of his assail-
ant With his knee against the mans
breast he hurled him down the steps,
wrenched the revolver from his hand
and with a single blow knocked him
into insensibility.
The spell was broken The mob that
hated him saw their chance. A yell of
rage swept them. and a dozen men
sprang toward him with curses For
q moment he held his own, when sud-
denly we'll directed blow from behind
knocked him down. In blind fury he
felt the smash of blows on his face
and head A stream of blood was
trickling down his forehead and it's
salty taste penetrated his mouth.
A sudden crash from space seemed
to send the world into mass Of fam
ing splinters and the light faded. He
heard the soft rustic Of silk and felt
the pressure Of a woman's lips on his.
Surely he must be dead. was the first
shought that flashed through his mind
And then from somewhere far away
in space came Mans voice low and
tense:
Come back. Jim. dear. I've some
thing TO tell you. You can't die. you
shall not die until I've told your
He opened his eyes and found Nan
bending over him His hand rested on
her soft arm. and his head lay pillowed
on her breast.
why. Nan. it's you What's hap
rened? What on earth are you doing
aere?'
He looked about the room and saw
hat he was in the inner Office of the
president Of the bank. alone with Biv.
ens wife He was lying on the big
Gather couch.
Il heard that you were going to speak
his morning | wanted to hear you
md came | arrived just as you be.
gan and managed to get into the bank.
saw that man try to kill you, Jim.
md that crowd of wild beasts tram
bling you to death Two detectives
pulled you out and dragged you into
he bank"
A doctor entered and quickly dressed
Stuart's wounds. aud turned to Nan.
He'll be all right in week or so,
Mrs Bivens, provided he doesn't insist
on breaking the run on another bank
by the spell of his eloquence. hope
you can persuade him not to try that
again"
Il think I'm fully persuaded. doctor"
great light today"
When the doctor had gone and Nan
was left alone with Stuart an embar-
raised silence fell between them
She was quietly wondering if he were
fully unconscious when she was Sob
bling and saying some very foolish
things Above all. she was wondering
whether he knew that she had kissed
him.
When her car stopped at South
Washington square and Stuart insisted
on scrambIing out alone. she held his
hand tight moment and spoke with
trembling earnestness:
You will see me now, Jim. and be
friendsY
He answered promptly.
Eyes. Nan, will The world is new.
er going to be quite the same place fol-
me after today, There was one moment
this morning in which | think ] lived
a thousand years
A hot flush stole over the goman's
beautiful face as she looked Steadily
into his eyes and quietly asked:
What moment was that?'
1.-THE moment | looked down that gun
barrel. saw the stupid hate in that
fools eyes and felt the throb of the in
sane desire to kill in the people behind
him. 1he people for whom I've been
giving my life joyous sacrifice"
Nan smiled a sigh of relief
"Oh, / see. Well. you've made me
very happy with your promise. know
you will keep your word"
He pressed her hand firmly.
"You are more beautiful than ever
Nan. Yes. I'll keep my word. Goodby
until | call"
And the woman smiled in triumph.