Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-08-17

tContiued from Yesterdays Capital.) }
Mrs. Gunsdorr Iaugneu out Iuuu.
You're too good TO be true" she
added. You blessed innocentl"
we shall see said Tommy. He
started toward the window and stood
looking out
Your husband is coming home
now he said: hadn't you better let
me out7 You've only a moment to
make up your mind"
They heard the sound Of the front
door being opened and slammed shut:
and then voices In the hall.
Promise to be my fener." whis-
pered Mrs. Gunsdorf. and | let you
out"
IL was not easy for her TO face the
seorn in Tommy's eyes. For a mo-
ment she met his gaze, and then her
eyes fell before it. and began to glance
stealthily this way and that.
Don't ruin yourself" said Tommy:
think this thing over. Let me 20
now. Tomorrow If you still wish to
make a row | will come back, you can
lock the door. Everything win be as
1t is now. But for your own sake
don't do anything in a hurry. Take
"a hours TO think II over. Perhaps
what seems good enough today. won't
seem good enough tomorrow.
Her answer was a piercing scream
for help. Repeating this scream again
and again she began 10 storm about
the room. overturning a chair and the
washstand. Then. with an insane
swiftness for which he was ill-pre-
pared, she flung herself upon Tommy
struck him heavy blow on the mouth,
rumpled his hair. and then flung her
arms round his neck and half
strangled him. All the while her
screams for help pierced through the
walls OF the house.
Tommy was in a position at once
ridiculous and terrible. He strove to
free himself without hurting the wom-
an. Then came a rush of heavy feet
up the stair. and the bedroom door
was carried inward clean off its
hinges. and through the opening came
Gunsdorf. Rage had transformed
him into a beast. IL was fortunate
that he was unarmed.
To him It must have appeared as If
his wife had just torn herself free
from Tommy AT the threshold Of che
room stood Gunsdorf's three friends,
at once menacing and abashed
What is it?" thundered Gunsdorf.
He was hiding behind the door"
she said when I'd passed into the
room, he slammed It shut and went
for me"
'1s this true?" Gunsdorf faced him
and advanced toward him, with
clenched hands.
She'll tell you next" said Tommy,
that locked the door and put the
key in my pocket"
He spoke with so much scorn and
assurance that Gunsdorf hesitated,
and turned toward his wife.
IT'S Just what he did DO" she said;
"he locked the door and put the key
in his pocket"
Tommy's hands dropped into the
pocket of his jacket, and his right
hand closed upon the door key. He
did not need to speak. His face
told the story. Slowly he withdrew
the key from his pocket and tossed #
on to the thread-bare carpet.
This looks bad, Gunsdorf," he said;
but If you'll listen to me -
Il will listen to you in hell" said
Gunsdorf. Take him, boys"
Gunsdorf's three friends came slow
ly forward.
They're going to kill me if they
can," thought Tommy; "and don't
want to be killed"
He drew a long breath and clenched
his fists.
Don't kill him. cried Mrs. Guns
dorf suddenly, mot yeti"
Why not yet" growled Gunsdorf
Because, you fool, II you kill him
herein my room-people will
think"
What will they think?"
They will think-oh don't make me
say IT,"
Gunsdorf began to scratch the back
OF his head.
That is true" he said presently
We had better take him away some
where. For now We will tie him.
When It is dark we will take him
away somewhere In a carriage We
will take with US also a stick OF dy-
Mantle. A stick of dynamite with a
lighted fuse makes a fine gag to go
in mans mouth. II keeps him quiet
forever"
You don't need to take him away"
said Mrs. Gunsdorf; there's a fine
strong elm tree In front Of the house.
Take him downstairs, call in the boys,
and read them the telegram he's got
In his inside pocket. Nobody need
mention me-and the boys1l do the
rest The dirty spyl"
(1o be COntinued.)