Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1916-11-18

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Yes. Dead Broke. We've Gone as Far
az We Can on the Cash we've Cot"
or She tayrd. losing her sclf-coutrol
The stock You stole from US. Give
II back. Give it back. ! say"
But Leila /"
Here is the telegram you dropped,
she hurried on. that will save you
the trouble OF a falsehood know
the whole vile trick And want
back my stock"
Tier voice had risen ar she reiteT-
ated her wrathful demands It's sound
prevented her from hearing q ring
at the front door bell on the floor be
low and the opening and closing of the
door.
Take the check" she insisted
And give me back my certificates"
Halsev Brent was known in Wall
street as man who never los' his
head and who could not be staggered
by any sudden emergency
I'm gladly give YOU back the stock
little girl" he said. Pleasantly. rs ne
drew the shNaf of certificates from his
pocket "Rut-frst. you've got to earn
them"
Earn them" she echoed per
Yes. You must promise 10 make
me glOriously happy by marrying me.
just as soon as We get rid OF Carter
for you. DO that and the stock is
yours for the asking
He drew near to her az ne epoke
Before the Mortified girl could guess
his intent. he had caught her in his
arms.
Just one kiss, to seal the promise. Sc
he begged. and"
Let me go, You brute, Let me
co." cried Leila struggling in vain to
free herself
Not till get the kiss" laughed
Brent Then I"
His clasped arms fell from about
her shrinking body and he reeied
back-under the thud of a smashing
blow in the mouth.
Tom Carter, his tanned face distOrt
ed with fury. had leaped,into the room
and without a word had attacked his
wife's insulter.
Leila screamed at sight of the rage
possessed man. But before she could
Intervene Carter and Brent were close
locked in a death grapple.
BY series of savagely-dealt short
arm blows Tom at last drove his foe
before him toward the hallway door.
Brent strove in vain to hold his own
against the husbands terrific on
slaught and to block or dodge the
blows that were showered upon his
face and body.
But even in his extremity Brents
willy brain was at work. He remem-
bered that the steep flight OF stairs
from the front hall ended almost at
the living room door.
So. even as he waged the unequal
battle against the stronger man. Brent
contrived to back directly toward the
door and thence out into the upper
hall close pressed by the victorious
Tom.
Once on the landing Brent changed
his tactics. Wheeling he so maneu-
vered as to bring Toms back to the
stairway Just behind him. Then.
gathering all his failing powers. he
ceased to retreat and charged his an
tagonist A single backward step
would now bring Toms feet over the
edge OF the flight.
Leila. keeping as close TO them as
the reeling bodies and failing arms
would permit, saw her husbands sud
den peril.
Tom" she shrieked. springing to
his side Look out! The stairs are
Just behind you"
Carter heard. Instinctively. on the
very edge of the stair-top. he side
stepped. eluding Brent's rush.
But Leila was not so fortunate. Be
fore she could spring aside the full
force OF Brent's forward-flun body
struck her.
Lifted clean OF her feet by the I'm
pact she was hurled backward
Down the steep stairs rolled the
helpless white figure. striking heavily
against the newel-post at the bottom
of the flight, and then lying strangely
still in huddled heap on the polished
floor OF the hallway.
"She-she is stunned" muttered
Brent. incoherently.
But Tom Carter knew better. He
had looked on death before now.
Kneeling beside the pitifully inert
form and gazing down into the life
less face, he groaned in dull horror:
NO She Ia dead"
(END OF FIFTH STORY.)