The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-21

! a train IN twenty minutes. One shot
apiece, at yards distance, in dark.
ened room"
You seem to have thought it all
out" said Fremantle, sneering still
But before you begin, you may as
we'll know"
Are you ready?" demanded Munson.
He saw his enemy's face whiten. He
was surprised at his own resolution.
Fremantle let the muzzle of his weap-
on drop irresolutely, but Munson held
his own covering the other.
Il shall switch of the light" he con-
tinued. I'VE will wait until the clock
begins to chime the hour. Then we
will fire together"
"You may as we'll listen to reason"
suggested Fremantle.
Munson's hand went out and
snapped the switch. The room was in
complete darkness. The two men
faced each other, but each could see
nothing. Neither could hear the
other breathe. Munson wondered
if his pistol still covered his enemy.
There was a minute still, and out Of
the darkness came the voice of FIRE.
/ mantle.
you may as well listen, Munson,"
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 we're not bad sort
of man, that if you realized what you
might lose you would feel differently.
l designed to make you jealous; but
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 it prepared to
chime, and pressed the trigger.
There came no echo to the mufiled
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 fired?" 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 If he were a 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 handkerchief about
his hand and laid the pistol away. As
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 a madness
rose in his brain. Fremantle would
tell her of his triumph A love scene
was imminent. Why should he moi
kill them both?
He acted upon the thought. He
crept toward the window again, halt
ing in the shadow of a tall cypress
outside. AS he did SO he saw the pis
tol 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 1t had MOI
been discharged.
His hand went out toward 1t, bu
was arrested by his wife's words.
where's JIM" she asked.
II think he has stepped outside,
said Fremantle. unconcernedly.
Edith Munson hesitated, looked a
Fremantle. Then she put her hand
to her face and began to sob softly.
81 can't bear it any longer" sh
said. Harry, 1t has failed. He doesn'
care for me. You can't win love b,
any such trick as that. He is tire,
Of me, Harry"
mo-" said Fremantle. bravely. 81
was a misunderstanding on bot
Sides"
She looked up quickly. you hav
been talking with him!" she cried
How do you know that? How do 20
know"
Fremantle stood before her. Edith,
he said, tell me one thing: Do 20
love your husband?"
with all my heart and SOUL" sh
answered.
The fingers of the man OUTSIDE
which were cropping for the pistol. fe
as II palsied to his side. He shran
back from the window as Fremantl
came out. Fremantle turned, an
their eyes met
Harry" Jim Munson began.
go to her." said Fremantle. seem