The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-16
4 Thrilling Short Story

me all the time since you went away to make her forget that girlish in- fatuatlon and to bring her round to me She wouldn't look at me at first. was Just the humdrum fellow that had been good to her father and had been perhaps little kind to her"
 And you think I shan't make her happy said the other slowly. Well, she's got to take the chance. There's your revolver. Do what you will wslh It, 1t doesn't concern me- He tossed the weapon on to the desk, where 1t lay within reach of Martins hand
 Thank you" said Martin a little unsteadily. He turned the weapon over and looked at 1t curiously with the air of man who had not seen 1t before. And what are you going to do?"
 "Oh, I'll get the thing over and have it settled" said Cathcart. It's not to late; I'll go across the grounds now and rouse up the old man and see Bertha. She may as well have the news broken to her to- night; it might be too late to-mor- row"
 You might have known it was use less to try conclusions with me-" he said and went out.
 Martin got back to the desk and stood there quite long time finger
 
 out, and an easy way, too
 He had made provision for her She would never want unless, as might happen. Cathcart got hold of the money and squandered 1t. She had forgotten all about Martin Lambard by this time; she was in the other mans arms, and they were making their hasty plans for a future that she would believe to be rosy-tinted. The shock of his death would be but a small matter after all; she would soon get over that.
 He heard a noise again in the room That must, of course, be merely fancy And then suddenly he heard the quick movement of feet upon the carpet and Cathcart stood there. He came forward into the room with a little laugh.
 By love-" he said. I'm gladr,
 He made an uncertain movement with his hand towards the revolver lying on the desk, and Martin looked at him in amazement.
 Did you see herr" asked Martin.
 The other shook his head. "No." he said. All the time l seemed to hear what you had said to me- I seemed to know that she would come out with her eyes shining and would give herself to ma and I knew. too. just what the end would be. I'd have broken her heart; so much was cer- tain. And then in this room I had left you, and l suppose if you've got heart I should have broken yours, too. And couldn't do it."
 You mean"-
 T mean that I shan't see her" answered the other slowly. Lock away your pistol, you won't need if She won't know I've been here at all; tomorrow I shall be far away. l won't prate to you or ask you to be good to her; I know you'll be that I'm the dog with the bad name, but 1 haven't come down quite So low as I thought. Will you shake hands?"
 It was. after all. a very pretty wedding, though simple one. on the morrow when Martin Lambard married Bertha Hallam in the old village church simple wedding because the bride and bridegroom and their friends walked throurh d country lane in the sunshine to tba church. And up above the country lane. lying hidden in the woods and yet watching, was a man who was presently to go out into the world again and be forgotten.
 He lay there peering down at them and when they turned the corner of tne lane and were out of sight, he dropped his head on his arms and lay for some time motionless. And when he raised his head his eyes
 But the bells in the old r,,s-o,,