The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-11-30

Janet's Husband Attacks Tom.
wife" sneered Lander, ain spite Of the
presence Of those two brats. We don't
want you to interrupt our loving chat.
So +"
Toms fist, driven with the force of
a sudden anger gust, stopped the slur-
ring words by landing heavily against
the speakers mouth.
Lander, running in, grappled.
Up and down the veranda they
swayed and reeled in their primordial
battle.
Tom, %wrenching free from his oppo-
nent's grip, drove his left first again In.
to Lander's face and followed 1t with
his right.
Under the double impact Lander was
knocked clear off his balance. His big
body flew backward. His feet sought
tardily for the veranda floor and
clawed in futile effort at the top step.
Then he hurtled over the edge Of the
veranda, down the entire flight q
wooden steps, and his head smote
sharply against an iron jardiniere ON
III al DCio"s II iiCl4i NCooCi q
cracked by the force of the collision.
Lander lay mOtionless and unconscious
on the lawn.
Tom Mercer made as II to descend
the steps toward his fallen and sense
less foe. But, at the same instant, his
features became distorted with agony.
He clutched at his heart with both
IonIc N rrDap nF v,nrtoI nni, ht,rSvfnD
from his white lips.
Janet cried aloud at sight of Toms
ashen face, and ran to catch him as he
staggered blindly backward.
She was In time to seize the sudden
ly helpless and inert body In her arms.
But all her love and all her prayers,
could not stay for one brief minute thu
flight of the soul from that body.
It was on the day after the funeral
that Caius Lefferts, Tom MERGERS law
yer, called at the once bright Mercer
home to see Janet.
She came into the library to receive
him, looking very beautiful, but pitt
fully tragic in her deep mourning.
SWELL" she asked, In tense eager
ness as he rose to greet her. Have
you looked up the law In the matteri
And--and 1t isn't true, is it,"
"Tm afraid, Mrs. Mercer" he replied
sadly, .that I must answer Yes to
both those questions. I have consulted
every authority. Marc Lander was
correct. You were soiemnly married
to Thomas Mercer. In the sight Of God
and of the LAWN Connecticut. But
in New York you were never Thomas
! MERGERS wife. In fact" he hesitated,
then forced himself to go on. "In fact,
/ learn today that Lander Is in~stituting
suit for divorce against you, naming
Thomas Mercer as correspondent"
II must tell you everything" went
on the lawyer, although 1t is like tor.
turing a helpless child. Thomas Mer-
Ger left no will. 1t was doubtless his
intent that you should thus receive
one-third Of his property and each of
his children one-third. But-none of
you three, by New York law, has any
status as his wife or children. There
fore none Of you can inherit his es-
tate"
"What? Surely his own children"
"New York state" replied Lefferts
"does not recognize you as MERGERS
widow. You and your children have
no claim on his estate"
But"
Ellis sister," continued Lefferta
called on me this morning. As Aer.
GERS next Of kin, as he left no will, she
Is his sole heir. She came to notify
me that she intends to evict you and
your children from this house and that
she refuses to contribute n penny to-
ward the support Of any of you. She"
He broke of. Janet had fallen back
In her chair In q dead faint.
And only the principal actors In the
event are the ones to blame, but law.
makers must share the odium and hear
their part of the burden when the &C
cusing finger is pointed at them and
they are asked the question who's
Guiltyr
(END OF ELEVENTH. sTORYl