Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-05-06


can't let the obligation rest entirely
upon me. We have been friends, An
thOny, and l am going to give you
something in return which l have
| priced highly 1t would be counted of
great value by some" Once more he
! paused and drew his lips back in that
grimace OF mockery. 1t could no long
er be termed smile. ct is this-I am
! going to give you-my wife You have
! had her from the first, and now She is
! yours"
For one frightful moment there was
no sound; even the mems breathing
was hushed. and they sat slack jawed.
stunned, half minded to believe this
some hideous, incredible jest. Cort-
landt turned away gloatingly.
Kirk was the last to recover his DOW.
ers, but when they did revive they
came with a prodigious rush. He
! plunged upward out of his chair with
a cry like wounded animal. and the
others rose with him. The table rock
ed, something smashed, a chair was
hurled backward. The room broke into
instant turmoil. Kirk felt hands upon
him, and then went blind with fury,
struggling in a passion too strong for
coherent speech. He was engulfed in
chaos. He felt things break beneath
his touch, felt bodies give way before
him.
How or when Kirk left the room he
never knew. Eventually he found him
self pinned in his chair, with Runnels'
white face close against his own and
other hands upon his arms. His first
frenzy quickly gave way to sickening
horror
cts a lie! The mans craZy!' he
cried hoarsely; then, as his compan-
ions drew away from him, he rose to
his feet. "Why are you looking at me
like that? 1 tell you it's a ID lie!
never
Runnels turned to the table and
with shaking hand put glass to his
lips and gulped its contents. Wade
and Kimble exchanged glances, then,
avoiding each others eyes, took their
hats from the hooks behind them.
wait! Bring him back" Kirk
mumbled. 'I'll get him and make him
say it's a ie." But still no one an
swered, no one looked at him. God!
You don't believe it,"
I'm going home, fellows. I'm kind
of SICK" Kimble said. One of the
others murmured unintelligibly, and,
wetting a napkin, bound up his hand,
which was bleeding. They continued
to watch Kirk as if fearful of some in
sane action, yet they refused to meet
his eyes squarely. There was no SYM
pathy in their faces.
The knowledge of what these actions
meant came to him slowly. Was it
possible that his friends believed this
incredible accusation? AS he began to
collect himself he saw his plight more
clearly. His first thought had been
that Cortlandt was insane, but the
mans actions were not those of a
maniac. No! He actually believed
and these fellows also. He wanted to
shout his innocence at them, to beat
it into their heads.
One by one they took their hats and
went out, mumbling goodnight to one
another, as if intending to go home
singly in order to avoid all discussion
of this thing that had fallen among
them. RunnelS alone remained.
"You don't believe 1 did-thatY' An
thony asked in a strained voice.
Ell think l do" There was a mis-
cradle silence. and then: cit isn't the
thing itself, you know, so much as the
Observation-Disclosures advantage you
Honestly, isn't it true?'
Kirk shook his head listlessly. II
wouldn't lie to you"
Runnels drew a deep breath. ooh.
come, now, the man must have known
what he was saying. Men don't do
things like that on suspicion"
"He misunderstood our friendship"
said Kirk heavily, then reused himself
for a last plea. "Look here!" he cried.
'You know Cortlandt, and you know
me. The man was insanely jealous.
know it sounds weak, but it's the
truth, and it's all I can say. I'll go
mad If you doubt me. And tonight of
alp He broke off sharply. "My
God! I'd forgotten that I'm married.
Suppose Gertrudis hears Of this!" An
thony seized his temples in despair.
Runnels took a sudden illogical deci-
sion. He never knew exactly what
had Influenced him, but his whole past
knowledge surged up in him with
force that he could not resist He laid
his hand on Kinks shoulder. ''Take
it easy, old man." he said. ST believe
you. I've always known that they
didn't get along together, although
we'll, won't try to understand it. He
may not do anything further, and
these fellows won't mention what hap
pened here. They can't"
"Women are apt to be jealous, aren't
they, Runnels? What do you suppose
she'd do?"
Don't worry about that. I'm think
ing about COrtlandt. If he finds out