The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-11-20
Her Husbands Widow
Chapter Lvl.

chaptsr Lvi.
The lamp had bsrned % low that
the twU men eou1d not geo each Others
e1pEessieas. Il seemed 70 the baronet
that Brdsley had stepped Breathing
for "a instant.
roughly: 'Do you suggest that /
sank the rotten old tub2"
"6uggestis The baronet cackled,
Il know It, dear boy. know It! I've
tept the proofs all these sears-in
that burssaI Proefs II black and
white. The letters you were fool
enough to write to pour sceompiice
who Il dead now. Never mind how l
got hold Of them. Let me see-there
were six hundred lives lost. oh, it's
q hanging matter, sure enough"
Hs locked PLEASANTLY toward the
other aud rsiiShtsd his cigar.
"0o," he went On ehesrfu1ly, "you
viii hsuosfoeward do exactly ~ / tell
you-exActly. YOU will, to begin with.
leave Leslie alone and never breathe
word about her marriage with
Steele, Otherwise, we'll, xpu will
swing, that's all"
with his syes fixed on his cigar. he
did not notice that Egds1ey had crept
round the table and was now stand
Ing tsnse and quivssinS before him. =
foot from his chair.
He sprang at the older man and
clutched with both hands at his
throat. The rickety chair gave way
and both men fell to the floor. Erds-
Icy uppermost. He was the younger
and stronger man, but for the time
being he was merely q brute.
In his murderous fury his one in
stinct was to choke the life out Of his
antagonist. The muscles which had
been the envy Of Ralph Gaveston's
schoolmates had long since grown
soft and slack, but something he still
retained Of the GOODNESS and presence
Of mind which he had learnt in the
playing fields. His face was purple,
his heart was bounding desperately.
but he wasted no strength in an effort
to drag his assailant's arms apart.
He still retained possession Of his
lighted cigar. He raised 1t, thrust It
into Erdsley's eye, and held It these.
Screaming with pain, the other re-
leased one hand to protect his eye.
Instantly Sir Ralph had seized each of
his wrists and, forcing him backward,
struggled to his feet. The older man
retreated toward the door shouting for
assistance, but no one heard him. The
shop below was deserted at night, and
the old woman who lived in the base
ment was enjoying her usual gossip
with her crony at the end Of the street.
Erdsley rushed on him again like a
mad bull. In that supreme hour the
old Harrovian did not forget his old
science, but shot out his left, catching
the Infatuated man on the point of the
jaw. Erdsley gave a curious. choking
cry and went down In a heap. his head
striking the edge of the table as he
went.
Sir Ralph kneeled beside him and
felt his heart. He's DYING" he NUT
tered to himself. He stood up and
looked with an expression of intense
hatred at the man at his feet. + 'sH
better end than he deserved" he MUIR
INJURED.
Some deeply rooted instinct of hu-
manity made him reach for the brandy
bottle and try to force some drops
down the dying mans throat The
teeth were clenched tightly; he was
obliged to desist. Suddenly Erdsley
drew a long breath, his whole body
seemed to shiver, and his heels beat
the ground. He was dead.
Serves him right" was Sir Ralph's
muttered comment. He felt himself
Keeling and, well-nigh fell PROSTATE
upon the corpse. His heart seemed
to stop beating for whole minutes to-
gether All! it was going
on again. That was right. Where
was the brandy? A good
glassful. That was better 1t must
be mounting to his head. The room
was swimming so. Brandy used not
to affect him that way He must sit
down and rest. So Erdsley was dead;
Leslie was safe. No one knew. The
coast was clear now.
He felt calmer now. He rested his
head against the back of the chair
and closed his eyes. my LIS girl"
he murmured MY Leslie Ny
grandson gets the property. after all"
Hullo-! His heart had stopped |
again. He would wait quietly; it !
would start again in moment
But it never did.
Leslie sleepily opened her eyes as
the maid set her early morning tea
on the little table beside the bed. She
was about to turn over and go to !
sleep again when she noticed that the |
girl, instead of withdrawing noise |
lessly, according to rule, fingered, as
II in doubt whether to address her |,
mistress or not.
What is it, Lister?" she asked, |