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

Down the Channel Sped the L'<t.e
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
ladder! 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
a cat
"WhatY"
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 IA 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 Bens head. With a
CLEAN in her eye the woman went
over. filed the rusty tin cup and de-
Iiberately 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 it 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 at the sleeping man with vim
dictive hatred.
Take it urged Big Ben. land if
FIub 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 it of
slowly and gave it back to the man.
Nothing doing" she sadly decided
then she slowly turned and looked al
her husband and walked away. There
was 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
Iy 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
, il 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 Biz
, 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 anC
. put her hands on the loose clapboard
, of the roof Ben jerked the cigarette
holder from FLUIDS pocket. You stol
itr'
Flub seemed daZed by the accusation
but suddenly he let out yell. Me
chanicaIly he had reached in his yes
pocket. as was his habit when tn
channels bag was there, and had discov
cred his loss
MY diamondr' he yelled. "It'
gomez And his face turned white a
, he looked around the tense GROUP
! Slowly comprehension came to hin
i you framed me!' he suddenly shout
ed. pointing a trembling finger at Eff
r Ben. "You COPIED my diamond; the
;. you planted this cigarette holder
!. you could
!. You're a liarr' beloved Big Be
and sprang for his accuser.
y A knife cleaned in FLUIDS hand, an
:. he slashed savagely at his onrushin
:. opponent. With a roar of rage Bi
Ben caught the descending wris
|. wrested the weapon from it and plum
Ir ed 1t to the hilt in FLUIDS breast
V There was a piercing shrek fro
" the attic and a tearing of boards. IT
d woman. quick OF mind as she was I
Ie body, was the first to compreher
IS what that might mean. She sprang
e the ladder. but as she went she cast
3 backward glance at the lifeless mf
on the floor. There was no shudder
er her, only cold triumph.
le Its a girl! She's on the roof?' crit
10 the woman as she gained the attic.
Lean Jake was the first out OF {
door, and Big Ben just after hi
=. They rounded the corner of the h
- Just in time to see June jump fro
:, the roof and dart for her boat 1t W
m the woman who caught her.
- LET me gop' implored June.
IL won't tellr'
to Those last three words would 81
,d her fate In the mind of any murdero
tie thief. Big Ben had caught her rough
~ by the arm, and now he looked
as quiringly at the others
10 Drown her." advised Lean Jal
is who was more full of fear than tn
", should be- "She knows too much"
be All three OF them looked at the v
en- ter. 1t spread far into the marsh
In and 1t held its secrets well and lol
without a work Big Ben swung Ju
oil IN in his arms and started with her
ely the waters edge. while she uttel