Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-02-20

His hands slipped down from
Thorne's shoulders and grasped the
butt of the revolver. The two Crap
pied fiercely, but the struggle was be-
ginning to tell on Thorne, who was
not yet In full possession OF his ply
steal vitality. His long Illness had
Slapped his strength.
Don't, don't, for Gods sake!' he
whispered, and then shouted desper-
ately: Here's your man, corporal,
what's the matter with your"
Give me that gum said Dumont,
and in spite of himself his voice rose
again. There was nothing suspicious
in the words, 1t was what he might
have said had the battle been real
one: as he spoke by a more violent
effort he wrenched the weapon from
the holster and away from Thornes
OBTAINING hand. The latter sought
desperately to repossess himself of it,
Look out, Harry! You'll hurt your
self" he impored, but the next mo-
ment by n superhuman effort Dumont
threw him back. AS Thorne stag
/
himself Recovering himself with in
credible swiftness, Thorne leaped at
| his brother, and the two figures went
down together with a crash in the
midst OF which rang out the sharp re-
port of the heavy weapon. Instead OF
shooting himself harmlessly in the
side, in the struggle Dumont had un-
/ fortunately shot himself through the
/ lung.
Not at first comprehending exactly
what had happened. Thorne rose to
his feet, took the revolver from the
others hand, and stood over the body
OF his MORALLY wounded brother, the
awful anguish of his heart in his face
Fortunately, they were near the far
end of the room, next the wall, and
no one could see the look in Thorne' s
eyes or the distortion of his features
In his horror.
Harry" he whispered. my God,
you have shot YOURSELF"
But Henry Dumont was past speak
ing. He simply smiled at his brother
and closed his eyes. The next instant
the room was filled with light and
sound. From every window and door
people poured in; the soldiers from
the porches, from the hall, Mrs. Var
ney, Arrelsford and Edith; from the
other side of the hall a hubbub OF
screams and cries rose from behind
the locked door where the sewing
women sat. Martha brought up the
rear with lights. which Arrelsford tool
from her and set on the table. The
room was again brightly illuminated.
AS they crowded through the vari
Gus entrances. their eyes fell upoI
Thorne. He was leaning nonchalant
ly against he table, his revolver II
his hand, look of absolute indffer
ence upon his face. His acting wa
superb had they but known 1t. HI
could not betray himself now ant
make vain his brothers sublime &C
was a tumult of shouts and suddel
cries
Where is he? What has he done
This way now!"
Most of those who entered had eye
only for the man lying upon the fool
blood yelling darkly through his gra
shirt exposed by the opening of hi
coat which had been torn apart /
the struggle. Three people had eye
only for Thorne, the man who hate
him, the girl who loved him. and tn
woman who suspected him. Betwee
the soldiers and these three stood tn
corporal of the guard, representing a
> it were, the impartial law.
. Thorne did not glance once at tn
girl who loved him, or at the man VIII
hated him, or at the woman who SUI
! pected him. He fixed his eyes upo
= the corporal of the guard.
There's your prisoner, corporal
he said calmly, without a break in hi
, voice, although such anguish possesse
. him as he had never before exper
: enced and lived through, but his col
troll was absolutely perfect.
: And his quiet words and quiet d.
, meanor increased the hate of on
man, and the suspicious Of one won
an, and the love and admiration of tn
other
. There's your prisoner" he salt
slipping his revolver slowly back int
it's holster. I'VE had a bit Of strul
gle and had to shoot him. Look o,
for him"