The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1916-02-18

gus away. LOA viii uhNO AS 0AH~NANf'
/ have arranged my affairs. There is
a train in twenty minutes. One shot
apiece, at a yards distance. In a dark
ened room"
You seem to have thought II all
out" said Fremantle. Bueering 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 weaD-
on drop irresolutely, but Munson held
his own covering the other.
II shall switch on 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 well listen TO reason"
suggested Romantic.
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
II 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 we'll 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 l 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 a bad sort
of man, that if 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 it prepared to
chime, and pressed the trigger.
There came no echo to the mufled
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 fred?" 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!" he whimpered. my life's yours
Why didn't you shoot? Why didn'
you? I'm going
He stepped out through the win
dows. He was going away. Fremantlt
had won; he had refused to shoe
when he could have killed him. Doubt
less he meant to make the most o
his triumph. and life meant more t
him under the circumstances than 1
would IL he were q murderer and
fugitive.
At the edge OF the lawn Munson hes
itated and looked back. Fremantlt
was still in the library. He stood be
meath the light of the electric bulb
He had wrapped a handkerchief abou
his hand and laid the pistol away. Al
Munson watched him he saw the doc
open and his wife appear upon tn,
threshold.
Munson had never spied upon hi
wife. but at the sight Of her a madnes
rose in his brain. Fremantle woul
tell her Of his triumph. n love seen
was imminent. Why should he nc
kill them both?
He acted upon the thought. H
crept toward the window again, hal
ing in the shadow of a tall cypress
outside. AS he did so he saw the pir
tol that Fremantle had laid down.
lay hidden from his wife's view, bu
plain in Munson's sight, behind a pil
Of books upon the library table. An
Munson remembered that 1t had NJ
been discharged
His hand went out toward it, bl
= was arrested by his wife's words.
where's Jim?" she asked.
I Il think he has stepped outside
said Fremantle, unconcernedly.
2 Edith Munson hesitated, looked
Fremantle. Then she put her hanC
9 to her face and began to sob softly.
q Il can't bear It any longer" 81
said. Harry, 1t has failed. He doesn
8 care for me. You can't win love |
any such trick as that. He is tlr,
{ Of me, Harry"
mo" said Fremantle, bravely. +"
" was a misunderstanding on bo'
Sides"
She looked up quickly. you ha-
d been talking with him!" she erie
" How do you know that? How do y,
" know"
Fremantle stood before her. Edith
Q he said tell me n thing: Do y