Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1915-04-29
kEHT'S LAST THROW
~ ELLA pEAN RICHMOND.

Copyright. i9f. by w. q. chGpman.J :
From early boyhoOd Kent Marvin
had been a ''tiIfower." Quick Of eve.
sure OF nerve, just as certain persons
were born with some predominating
skill. his lay In accuracy OF aim No
one had ever excelled him In throwing
bean bag, or In duck-on.the-rock.
or at quoits. later ON he became the
champion pitcher Of the local baseball
team. He did not make q profession
or trade OF 1t, but be could knock an
apple OF a tree branch with pebble
every time. lie threw q bouquet
straight into the arms OF pretty Lima
Wentworth when she graduated and
that led 10 their rare and charming
love romance.
OF late Kent had got TO throwing
something el-s-dice. at the village
billiard hall This had led to his asso-
ciating with a pretty rapid crowd
Among them was a prohigate idler
with plenty of money named Harper
Winston. II Kent had analysed affairs
he would have found that Winston
was scheming to discredit him witn
Lima so as to win her for himself.
Two nights previous down at the
billiard hall Winston had introduced
Kent and his friends TO a city friend
Mr. HalpIn ne called him. They had
drank considerable and Kent escorted
Halpin TO the hotel The next morn
ing a friend OF Kent came TO him and
told him that Halpin had lost dia
mond ring and accused Kent OF steal
ing IL, as he was the last person with
him the night previous
Things looked pretty black tor Kent
He hid In the room OF friend all that
day. He made up his mind that Lima
would have nothing further to do with
an accused thief In fit OF despera-
ton Kent decided to leave the village
for good and started to do SO At mid
plight, when he saw the town marshal
approaching him.
Kent rushed down a side street out
OF sight OF the marshal. Then a
square farther on as he saw q pedes-
trian approaching him he leaped a
fence and ran through a garden. Hig
hiding place. He made out large
dog house. 1t waS empty. Kent
erawled into IT,
What 10 do next?' he painted help
less!y. "Oh, am in a terrible FIX"
AS he hay among the straw, hunt.
ed fugitive, Kent reflected how his
careless habits had probably cost him
LII
previous a friend had suggested that
he apply to the railway mail service
In the city for an appointment. Kent
did so. and wonderfully attracted the
attention and admiration OF the agent
OF the government with the accuracy
and swiftness with which he was able
TO throw mail. He wSs advised that
his references would be looked up
and IL he passed muster he would De
offered a good position. Now. an ac-
cused thief. they would scarcely con-
slider him.
Kent fell asleep. He was awakened
perhaps two hours later by the sound
of low voices Peering out, he saw
two men, strangers to him.
Look here one of them was say
ing, we've held up one man and loot
ed four houses There's one more In
the block. You rest the booty and
guard Il while l see IL there's anything
else worth getting. Then we'll go to
our automobile in the woods and
speed for the city. Wen do up Theses
country yahooks in gc9d style. while
we're about It."
"Burglarsl and their booty Is In that
satcheli" breathed Kent.
One OF the men disappeared. The
other set his foot on the satchel and
kept guard. A sudden impulse flashed
through the mind of Kent Marvin. He
would outwit these bold schemers.
He reached out and seized the limb
of the sentinel burglar. At the same
time he initiated the snarling bark OF
a dog. Naturally the burglar was
startled and fell back.
In an instant Kent was out of the
dog house and ON his feet. He
snatched up the satchel.
Drop that Whe are your" and the
burglar. partly recovering himself.
flashed a revolver.
Just then Kent saw a light In an
upper room of the despoiled mansion.
Some one was awake there. He gave
the satchel n swing. AS "a thrower"
he was nj his best. II described an
accurate parabola curve.
Crash, hangi clatter.-through the
window 1t went. while Kent shouted
Justify:
"Burglars-phone for the police!'
The burglar fired at Kent. The shot
missed him. lie stopped and picked
up heavy piece OF wood. Again a
fling. Down went the burglar sense
less, and as his companion appeared
Kent grappled with him and held him
till two servants came rushing from
the mansion.
His part in recovering SEINE $4,000
stolen booty would have helped Kent
in public estimation anyway. but dis
covery cleared him of all faint OF
crime.
The man the burglars had robbed
on the street was Harper Winston.
ana among their booty was found the
missing diamond ring. evidencing q
conspiracy and clearing Kent.
The next day there came a Motif
cation from the railway postal service
awarding Kent the coveted position.
His repentance. earnest and sincere.
softened fair Lenas heart He was
through throwing dice. his chances
away. and other foolish actions. Lima
believed him, and threw herself in his
arms and forgave him