Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-10

xX1D >6HDf1oo4 - ~ own fpooluti0o.
tobantIe ~ he mixsle Of HE weap-
~ 1Epp iERsscAuEsly. bit Munson held
IN own covering the other.
Il nan switch Of the light he con:
tinnod- I'VE WIN wait until the clock
khs6lns - chime the hour. Then We
N1l1 ~ together"
~yua may q wen listen to reason. :
suggested Yremantlo.
Munson's hand went out and
spapped the switch. Tho room was In
complete darkness. The two men
faced each other, but each could see
nothing. Neither could hear the
other breathe. Munson wondered
II his pistol still covered his enemy.
There was minute still. and out of
the darkness came the voice Of Ere
mantle.
you may a. well listen. Munson. I"
he said. 1T won't prevent your shoot
ing. Mrs. Munson knew that you had
ceased to care for her. She did all
in. her power to win your love. At
last discovered what the trouble was.
You know we were like brother and
sister in the old days."
Munson set his teeth and strained
his ears for the chime. His pistol did
not waver in his hand.
Il suggested the scheme, Munson.
l told her that you were not bad sort
of man. that II you realized what you
might lose you would feel differently.
l designed to make you jealous; but
l did not mean anyone else to see.
That's ALL"
You lying hound!" snarled Munson.
And at that instant he heard the qua
yer of the clock as 1t prepared to
chime. and pressed the trigger.
There came no echo to the muffled
thud Of the discharge. For a fearful
instant he hesitated. Had he killed
Fremantle? He strained his ears, but
could hear nothing save the clock
striking.
Have you ired?" he demanded as
the, chimes subsidized.
| There was no response. Nervously
he stretched out his hand and switched
| on the light. Fremantle stood quite
still. watching him. his pistol dropping
in his hand.
| IF that's all. Munson-" he began.
Munson dashed his pistol down and
burst into tears from the reaction.
| You've had your triumph. curse
you'll" he whimpered. my life's yours.
Why didn't you shoot? Why didn't
you? I'm going"
He stepped out through the win
dows. He was going away. Fremantle
had won; he had refused to shoot
when he could have killed him. Doubt
less he meant to make the most of
his triumph, and life meant more to
him under the circumstances than It
would II he were . murderer and q
fugitive.
At the edge Of the lawn Munson hes
itated and looked back. Fremantle
was still in the library. He stood be-
meath the light Of the electric bulb
He had wrapped q handkerchief about
his hand and laid the pistol away. Az
Munson watched him he saw the door
open and his wife appear upon the
| threshold
Munson had never spied upon his
wife. but at the sight Of her . madness
rose in his brain. Fremantle would
tell her Of his triumph. A love scene
was imminent. Why should he not
kill them both?
He acted upon the thought. He
crept toward the window again, halt
ing in the shadow Of Q tall cypress
outside. As he did 20 he saw the pis-
toll that Fremantle had laid down. II
lay hidden from his wife's view. but
plain in Munson's sight. behind . pile
of books upon the library table. And
Munson remembered that Il had not
been discharged.
His hand went out toward It, but
was arrested by his wife's words.
Where's JIM" she asked.
II think he has stepped outside"
said Tremantle, unconcernedly.
Edith Munson hesitated, looked 1t
Fremantle. Then she put her hands
to her face and began to sob softly.
II can't bear it any longer" she
said. Harry, It has failed. He doesn't
care for me. You can't win love by
any such trick ~ that. He 10 tired
Of me. Harry"
NO." said Fremantle. bravely. 1T
was q misunderstanding on. both
Sides"
She looked up quickly. You have
been talking with him!" she cried.
How do you know that? How do you
know"
Fremantle stood before her. Edith"
he said, tell me one thing: Do you
love your husbandf"
with all my heart and soul" abe
answered.
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