Middletown transcript., 1914-12-12
ne $ q years sgo. befora ] maArled

Don't, Bob. please, she cried soft
ly. Let me go.
She passed through the door quickly
and turned the lock. He stood looking
after her a moment, q pathetic picture
Of complete despair. He tottered to
the divan and sank upon It with face
buried in his hands. So he sat for sew
eraI minutes, only heaying shoulders
betraying the depth Of his anguish.
Then he dropped his hands suddenly
and Strengthened up. His face still
portrayed bitter hopelessness, but
there was mingled with It "a demoniacal
look Of resolve. The look did not es-
cape silent spectator on the stairs.
Reynolds stepped briskly now to a
little cabinet beside the plano and
bent over 1t, opening concealed slide.
A BIT Of shining blue metal flashed In
his hands and he turned the cylinder
quickly to make sure that it contained
its deadly load. He moved to the
table for his hat and as he did so Dick
slipped down the remaining steps and
stepped softly across the room. As
Reynolds looked up the reporter stood
before him.
Going out, Bob? 2" he asked uncon-
cernedly. Rather late, l should say"
only for a moment, Dick. / need
the air"
Can / trail along?"
you needn't. I'll be right back /,
He stepped forward. but the report
er backed along in front Of him. As
they neared the door Reynolds made
dash for it, but Dick was too quick for
him. He stepped slightly aside and
caught his friend from the rear, pin
ioning both his arms behind him. They
struggled to and fro until Dick had
dragged him to the center of the floor.
Let me goI" Reynolds shouted.
Damn you, Meade, I knew you'd do
that. Let me go, win you'll You don't
know what he's done to me or you'd
help instead of stop me. Let me go!"
The noise of the struggle brought
Jane from the dining room. She stood
half way a moment, watching the con-
tortions Of the breathless men, like
one charmed and bereft Of mobility.
Dick had dragged Bob to the divan
now and they fell on it together. With
a quick movement the reporter
reached for Reynolds hip pocket He
secured the revolver, but as he loosed
one hand to do so, Bob, with lurch,
broke from hts grasp and stood pant
ing before him.
"Give me that pistol" he ordered.
He got only a quiet smile and
shake Of the head from his friend.
Then, damn it, I'll do 1t with my
hands!" he cried and rushed toward
the door.
Jane staggered after him.
'Bob-Bob, dear! My boy! Ny hus-
band!" she called beseechingly. The
tenderness of her tone, the love note
in her voice, arrested him for mo
ment where the antagonism of his
friend had only accentuated his hys-
terra. He stopped and looked at her.
Bob, she cried softly. come back
back with me. l know I've been to
blame. It's all my fault"
He only looked and his eyes sudden
ly were befogged with tears. His
hands dropped again. The same In
ertia as before overcame him. He
started back toward her, tottered and
fell headlong to the floor.
The terror stricken wife stopped
and caught, his head in her hands,
showering It with kisses.
Bob! BobI Speak to mel" she
cried.
She pressed open his eyelids, her
own tears mingling with his, while
Dick, with more practical mind, forced
brandy through his lips and sent her
to the kitchen for ice. They packed
the broken ice about his head and
chafed his hands, but in vain. He gave
no sign Of returning consciousness.
Their physician lived only a few
doors away and In few minutes, hav-
ing been summarily aroused by Dick,
he was bending over his neighbor's
eide.
"A nervous collapse" he said SEN
tentiously. He mixed a stimulant and
administered some Of it Get some
OF this into him every Is minutes and
heT come around. His heart action Is
good" he added, bending an ear to
Reynolds chest. TITS only question
OF ttme-minutes maybe hours, but
there Is no immediate danger. Come"
he finished curtly, addressing Dick,
wen carry him up to his room"
Jane followed and, weeping silently,
helped to get her husband into bed.
The doctor, like all others, assured
that there was no pressing peril, pre-
pared to resume his broken rest, but
Jane would not let him go. He sat
down resignedly, feeling Of the strick-
en- mans pulse and from time to time
administering the stimulant as he had
directed. At last Reynolds lids parted
and he stared weakly about. He looked
vacantly at the doctor, but as Jane
knelt and pressed her lips to his he
recognized her and spoke her name.
THAT'S ALL" the physician said as
he arose. Never mind the medicine
now. I'll send a nurse in the morning
Your husband needs rest, Mrs. Rey-
nolds-a good one. AS soon as he is
up get him away from business. and
from other things"
He looked significantly at Dick, who
nodded a knowing assent Then he
bade him good night
Reynolds, his hand clasped In his
wtfe's, lay quiet, speaking softly now
and then to assure her Of his con-
sciousness, and then weakly indicated
that he would like to sleep.
'TTl bunk on the divan in Bob's den,"
Dick told Jane. You're all right, old