The Washington herald., 1916-06-04

dered
He must give back the stock to me-
He shall give II baclS' she told herself
! fiercely. And then I'll never let him
speak to me again. And Tom" her an
cry eyes softening, Tom was right after
all! Darling old Tom! Our dream ia
coming true-our golden dream-his and
miner'
It seemed TO Leila an unbelievably long
time before Halsey Brent's name was an
nounced by the butler, although Brent
had started uptown again the moment he
received her message on reaching his Of
fee.
He mounted the flight Of hall stairs
and with tender smile hurried into
the living room where Leila awaited
him.
But at sight of the girls set face
and flashing eyes his smile faded into
a look of puzzled wonder.
What is it?" he stammered. What
is the matter? You look i'll. Are?-"
Here is your ten-thousand- dollar
check" she interposed hsrshly. Take
1t and give me back my stock certii-
Gates"
'"The-the stock certificates" he
faltered, dumbfounded. But"
The stock you swindIed me out
Of" she flared. losing her self-controL
The stock you stole from US. Give
it back! Give it back. 1 say"
But Leila. L"
Here is the telegram you dropped" {"
she hurried on. that will save you
the trouble OF a falsehood. know
the whole vile trick. And 1 want
back my stock"
Her voice had risen as she reiter-
taI A.- 4
prevented her from hearing a ring
at the front door bell on the floor be-
low and the opening and closing of the
door.
Take the check" she insisted.
And give me back my certificates, ="
Halsey Brent was known in Wall
street as a man who never lost his
head and who could not be staggered
by any sudden emergency. And he
well deserved his reputation. After
the first momentary shock OF Leila s
denunciation his quick brain not only
recovered its poise, but saw a way
to profit by the mischance.
I'll gladly give you back the stock.
little girl" he said. pleasantly, as he
drew the sheaf c" certificates from his
pocket But. you've got to earn
them"
Earn them" she echoed. perplexed.
Yes. You must promise TO make
me gloriously happy by marrying me,
just as soon as we get rid of Carter
for you. Do that and the stock is yours
for the asking"
He drew near to. her as he spoke.
Before the Mortified girl could guess his
intent, he had caught her in his arms
Just one kiss, TO seal the promise,
he begged. and"
Let me go" You brute. Let me co.
cried Leila, struggling in vain TO free
herself.
His clasped arms fell from about her
shrinking body and he reeled back-under
the thud o. a smashing blow in the
mouth.
Tom Carter, his tanned face distorted
with fury. had leaped into the room
and without a word had attacked his
wite's insulter.
Leila screamed at sight Of the rage
possessed man. But before she could
intervene Carter and Brent were close
locked in a death grapple.
Up and down the room the two COM
batants fought, o~rturning furniture
reelins against mirrors; striking and
wrestling-two primordial animals, mao
with blood-lust
By series OF savagely-dealt Short-arm
blows Tom at last drove his foe be-
fore him toward the hallway door Brent
strove in vain to hold his own against
the husbands terrific onslaught and TO
block or dodge the blows that were show
cred upon his face and body.
But even in his extremity Brents willy
brain was at work. He remembered that
the steep flight OF stairs from the front
hall ended almost at the living room
door. II he could get out into the hall
il he could get Carter's back to those
stairs-a sudden rally might force his
enemy backward and send him crashing
headlong down the whole fight.
So, even as he waged the unequal bat.
tie against the stronger man, Brent con.
trived to back directly toward the door
and thence out into the upper hall close
pressed by the victorious Tom
Once on the landing Brent changed his
tactics. Wheeling he so maneuvered as
to bring Toms back to the stairway Just
behind him. Then gathering all his failing
powers, he ceased to retreat and charged
mis- antagonist. A single backward ster
would now bring Toms feet over the ed ge
of the flight.
Leila. keeping as close to them as the
reeling bodies and failing arms would
permit, saw her husbands S sudden peril.
Tom" she shrieked, sprinEing to his
side. Look out! The stairs are jus;
behind you"
Carter heard. Instinctively, on the
very edge Of the stair-top, he sidestep-
ped, eluding Brent's rush.
But Leila was not so fortunate. Be
fore she could spring aside the full force
of Brent's forward-nung body strucl,
her.
Lifted clear of her feet by the i'm
pact she was hurled backward. Hal
sey Brent, clutching at the banlster
rail to save himself from falling. saw
her reel over the stair-edge, throw out
her white little hands in a futile effort
to regain her balance-and fall.
Down the steep stairs rolled the helm
less white figure, striking heavily
against the newel-post at the bottom OF
the flight and then lying strangely still
in huddled heap on the polished oor Of
the hallway.
'She-ehe is stunned" muttered Brent
lncoherently.
But Tom Carter knew better. He had
looked on death before now. KneeIine
beside the pitifully inert form and gaz-
ing down into the lifeless face, he grosn-
ed in dull horror:
mo. She is dead"
(END OF FIFTH STORY)
'fTha sto