Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-06-21

his head from side TO side, something
in the manner OF wild beast At
last. with a sigh. he began to pace the
floor again. his eyes down. his lower
lip hanging.
Five minutes passed and neither OF
us spoke. Ten went by, and still there
was silence in the room except for
the pacing step of the man as he
walked TO and fro. his eyes CHANGING
downward his lips moving now and
then, but wOrdless. Once he stopped
and looked at the clock
Not long now he said,
jim | was really pleading now
with all thS heart and soul that a
woman can muster-'you wouldn't
add that to other things, WOULD you?
Say you wont-for me. Wen find
way out of this somehow. well
He only shook his head Sudden
ly he looked up and laughed.
I'm tired of being called jim My
name is Clayton Rogers
Let's forget that | answered.
You are only jim to me-
He stopped. patted my hands again
and then began hts pacing once more.
Now he was silent as before, his head
was once more lowered. Five minutes
remained. clenched my teeth TO
/ keep them from chattering and then,
my brain cleared. The chance had
/ come. As though he had forgotten
me- he had turned, walked to the win
/ dow and was standing with his hands
/ tightly cienched behind him. 1t was
| time for work-Quick work, A pOr-
/ there cord was hanging near. Noise
/ lessly | released II and fashioned an
| end into a moose. Then slowly. talk
ing to him all the time, l began to
/ approach.
He did not seem to hear-at least
/ he gave no evidence. | was within
/ five steps of him now. My revolver |
! had slipped into my pocket where the
/ butt could hang in easy reach of my
/ hand. The moose was extended. ready
/ to be slipped over the waiting hands.
Two steps more and | would be
with him. coughed. that | might
cover the sound Of my steps | dared
say nothing that would cause him to
turn now. The folded hands showed
before me. ! made my spring, quick
jerk. and bound the wrists,
Like an animal. snarling, cursing,
he turned. His great shoulders heaved
as he struggled to release himself
from the bonds which secured his
. hands His eyes glistened now with
the fires of fury.
You-you traitress' he whipped
out at me You
" 1 am trying to save you from muir
der | cried.
with a sudden movement he lunged
forward and rushed at me, his bound
hands still struggling. | sprang to one
side. | jerked forth my revolver,
whirled it high and sent the butt
crashing down upon his head as he
passed He hurtled to the floor, he
struggled a moment, then lay still"
The freighter was gone now, Alice
Clement looked about her with the
manner of someone pleased at the
passing of an unwholesome expert
[ ence
That's about ALL she concluded,
except that by some quick work got
a policeman into the room soon enough
to catch the blackmailer, take the
credit for both arrests and keep my
name out of connection with the thing
And I've got this to say for Rogers
he was game enough to go on through
with his confession, once he had made
it to me. Oh, for goodness sake,
never"
What" l asked with turn of my
head.
ITO late now" said Miss Clement
with that old. happy smile on her face;
but 1t was funny. That fellow on the
green bench over by the statue just
kissed his girl and she gave him slaI
in the face"