The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-04-07

Down the Channel Sped the Lee
Cutter.
What she had was a gift from him,
and, as June had heard him put it him.
self, he gave her what was good for
her.
The woman! She was coming up the
IadderI The fugitive hidden in the at
tic was stunned by this unexpected &C.
ton.
Nearer and nearer came the woman's
head. and nearer and nearer to the
edge of the trapdoor extended June's
strong young hands!
"Babe?" Flub stirred uneasily.
The woman was down the ladder like
cat
"WhatT"
No answer. The man was still sound
asleep. The woman stood over him for
awhile to make sure of this and started
for the ladder again Halfway across
the room she hesitated. turned. walked
swiftly to the end of the hut and hid
the little chamoiS bag beneath a loose
stone behind the stove.
She was putting away the last of the
dishes when suddenly she stopped.
turned. and a slow smile spread upon
her lips. Her eyes burned with SON.
Der fire. She went over to Big Ben
and deity secured a long. slender
| cigarette holder. She crossed swiftly
| to her husband and inserted the holder
in his top vest pocket. so that its
shining tip protruded. The water cask
| stood by Big Ben's head. With
| CLEAN in her eye the woman went
over. filed the rusty tin cup and de-
liberately poured a fourth of its con-
tents over Big Ben's face
| Excuse me-" she laughed as he
jumped up and with the same motion
| jerked a revolver from his pocket
He grinned at her sheepishly as he
saw the sparkle of mischief in her eye,
and he wiped his face with his sleeve.
You done 1t o purpose" he speculat-
ed. chuckling.
Think so?'' she dimpled
Big Ben's eyes frightened.
81 believe you're after that shawl"
"Flub'd sell it And she glanced
across ut the sleeping man with vim
dictive hatred.
Flub sells it tell me-" He picked up the
shawl and clumsily threw it around
the wOman's shoulders. She looked
down at the shawl and tOyed with its
long, delicate fringe She took II off
slowly and gave it back to the man.
Nothing doing" she sadly decided;
then she slowly turned and looked at
her husband and walked away. There
was n softening in Big Ben's eyes as
she walked away. and then he, too.
glanced at the sleeping Flub. He stroll
ed to the door and came back. Sudden
ly he stopped The CLEAN of something
yellow had caught his gaze. He walked
close and bent low. He pulled the Gig
arctic holder out far enough to identify
1t and pushed 1t back: then he gave the
sleeper a kick.
Get up. you thief" he roared.
Flub sprang up, daZed
whats that?"
81 said get up. you THEIR roared Big
Ben as lean Jake abruptly stopped
snoring and jumped up. He was half
way to the ladder before he realized
that this was not raid. and June. di-
vining his intention. rose swiftly and
put her hands on the loose clapboards
of the roof. Ben jerked the cigarette
holder from FLUIDS pocket "You stole
itr'
Flub seemed dazed by the accusation
but suddenly he let out yell. Me-
chanically he had reached in his vest
pocket. as was his habit when the
channels bag was there. and had discov-
cred his loss
MY diamondr' he yelled. "Ifs
gone" And his face turned white as
he looked around the tense group
Slowly comprehension came to MIN.
you framed me- he suddenly shout.
ed. pointing a trembling finger ar Big
Ben. "You COPIED my diamond; ther
you planted this cigarette holder 81
you COULD
You're a liarr' beloved Big Ber
and sprang for his accuser.
A knife cleaned in FLUIDS hand, and
he slashed savagely at his onrushint
opponent. With a roar Of rage Biz
Ben caught the descending wrist
wrested the weapon from it and plung
: ed 1t to the hilt in FLUIDS breast
There was a piercing shrek from
the attic and a tearing of boards. Th'
| WOuldu.. VI % oAC was "
; body, was the first to comprehend
} what that might mean. She sprang Il
, the ladder. but as she went she cast ;
! backward glance at the lifeless mai
on the floor. There was no shudder u
: her. only cold triumph.
, 'Ies a girl! She's on the roofP' crie'
, the woman as she gained the attic.
Lean Jake was the first out of tn
door. and Big Ben just after him
i, They rounded the corner of the hu
J just In time to see June jump fror
, the roof and dart for her boat 1t wa
\ the woman who caught her.
!. LET me gop implored June.
2 won't tellP'
o Those last three words would sea
4 her fate In the mind of any n1urderou
e thief. Big Ben had caught her roughl
+ by the arm, and now be looked II
s quiringly at the others
, Drown her." advised Lean Jak'
J. who was more full of fear than THE
I, should be. "She knows too much"
e All three OF them looked at the WI
n ter. 1t spread far into the marsbe
+ and it held its secrets well and loni
without a work Big Ben swung Jur
y up in his arms and started with her
y the waters edge. while she uttere
L shrek upon shrek