The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-07-01

than because he cared 60 Join the oily
attorney i'm the cup tha. cheers
\ momeutary CLEAN OF satisfaction
showed in stones eyes as h. laugh
ingly asscnted They found a den and
sent servant for wine.
And now perhaps it would be- best
TO draw the curtain over the scene
that followed. would be best I! il
We're possible to hide from the reader
the undoing OF young Clay-spend-
thrift, bankrupt and disciple Of folly.
Wine was to his inherited weakness
much az blood 10 the nostrils OF the
hungry tiger And in Stone he had "A
companion who played upon that
weakness
Too bad about old West" ven
turcd Stone.
"Ycsh. he'sh dead. poor fellow" hic-
CouEhed Clay
Had some peculiar notions" con
tinued Stone He always thought |
was robbing someone"
Wei! and weren't YOU" Clay re-
turned with all the solemn gravity OF
a man well in his cups
Il never robbed man in my life -
This latter from Stone, quick and
sharp. like the crack of a whip.
"Shorry old man. shorty to doubt
what YOU shay. but We got you've
got you right--COnfessiOn you know"
Stone started as if struck. And as
he gazed at the swaying pitiful figure
before him. he realized that his worst
fears had been we'll founded.
He made another effort 10 question
the drunken man but was only an
swered by foolish laugh. He had
done his work too well. In an effort
to loosen Clay's tongue he had urged
feet was as unsatisfactory as if he
had not had enough. Unable TO get
anything Rrther from him he
searched his pockets thinking he
might find the confession.
April fool. 'Fession's home hid
1t in little wife's jewel safe. Clay's no
fool-Clay's no foo" The sentence
died away into a deep long snOre.
Clay was asleep. standing up.
Stone stared searchingly at the va
for a moment and then started to re-
place the papers in his pocket.
You thief"
He heard the words and felt the
firm grip on his collar before he
realized that Irwin. anxious about his
partner and searching for him. had
come upon them in the lonely den.
You thief" Irwin repeated First
you fill a man with drink and then
you rob him"
You know better than anybody
that Clay requires no help when it
comes to drinking" sneered the at,
torney.
Irwin answered with an oath and
there was struggle as the younger
man broke aT~v from him. Leaping
back with an tNlity remarkable in
a man who had son tle outdoor train
ing, Stone seized or OF the empty
bottles and raising it. Nhed at Irwin
as If to brain him. QuiA as his op-
ponent had been. Irwin W. quicker
and his silver-plated revolver spoke
before Stone had covered half IN dis
lance between them. With a cNsh
the appraised bottle Numbered to the
floor and Stone. smothering an oath
grasped his wounded right hand with
his left. Clay slowly sank. an inert
mass across the table. And then il
was that the curtain was violently
pulled aside. and then it was that the
Mortified and startled dancers at Mrs.
Van Lind's ball gaZed in spellbound
wonder at the unfinished tragedy that
was to mean ruin TO so many lives.
1t was the beginning OF the end
v.
Twas the day after the Van Linds'
ball
Stone had left this dance immediate
~ after the startling scene in the den,
and had spent the time until daylight
with a party OF his gay companions.
And now. looking fit and debonnaire.
despite his revels OF the night before,
he was calling on Mrs. Blake
She could not hide the infatuation
she felt for him. and solicitously she
examined his bandaged hand
"!.'s a mere scratch" he lightly as
sured her. and adroitly he turned the
conversation TO Mrs. Clay and her
losses
You still have the l. O. L. she gave
YOU" he asked.
She showed II TO him.
You must go TO her." he said. and
demand payment"
But this Is Sunday. Horace. And.
besides. she has no money"
Solicitously he leaned towards her.
NOverlike his arms stole about her as
he moved closer TO her on the garden
berach.
But this is important. dear" His
yoic was soft and caressingl In
her jewel safe she has a paper-a
confe ssion-that / must have. Go 70
her observation-disclosures your money.
And when she refuses. ask for a jewel
as security. Get her TO show you her