Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1916-12-30

OiCdt oul VI mere
he caught up riding crop that had
been left lying on nearby table, and
slashed viciOusly at Toms face.
Tom with his right hand caught the
larger mans wrist and wrenched the
crop from his grasp. At the same time
he struck fiercely and scientifically
with his left.
The blow caught Marc Lander
squarely on the point Of the jaw. The
BLACKBOARD collapsed with a grunt.
Tom leaned over him saying in the
same OminOusly cool voice:
If you want any more you know
where to get it. And if ever hear of
your maltreating Janet again you'll get
1t good and plenty, whether you want
1t or not. Remember that"
Without so much as another glance
at the scrambiing and swearing man
on the floor he left the apartment.
Slowly and ragingly Mare Lander
| got to his feet.
"Are-are you very badly hurt.
MarcT asked Janet family.
The solicitOus question awoke him
to fresh access of fury.
"Hurt?" he beloved. I'm not any,
where near as badly hurt as Mr.
Thomas Mercer will be before I'm done
with him! I'll get him, if it takes nv
last cent or sends me to the chair I'll
get him."
'Marc!" she exclaimed, shocked by
his wild-beast ferocity. HE struck Won
in self-defense. You attacked him."
shut up!' he rOared. "And now
that I've kicked him out, you can go,
too. I'm sick of you. Get out"
Il can't divorce you in New York"
she made answer. But in Connecticut,
cruelty is a ground for divorce. And"
Divorce me if you want to-" he
snarled. But I'll get him yet. And !
you, too. I'll make you both wish you'd |
neither of you ever been bornl'
Janet followed Tom MERGERS advice |
in every particular. She went to Hart
ford.
Tom arranged with a business &C.
quaintance to take Janet into his en-
ploy while she was learning stenog-
raphy.
Then, with new zest, he threw him
self into his own work. And for q
year he and Janet saw little of each
other.
AT last Tom received word that he
mad been promoted to high-salaried
post at the firms general offices In
New York. And the same week ia
nets divorce was granted.
The joyous lovers FASTENED to Samo-
set, and there, In Hiram Gordon's
home, they were married.
Thence they went to New York. Tom
found a beautiful house In the SUBJ
1rbs, where he installed his bride. {
And so the happy years went on.
Two children were born to the couple.
Their home life was perfect. Tom was
Using faster and faster in the business
world.
In fact he had ever been a tireless
worker, so tireless that at last nature
claimed her due from his years of
'verwork. And Tom was confined to {
lis house for several weeks by a seri-
JUS nervous breakdown.
Janet nursed him tenderly back to-
yard health. But she was still far t
rom satisfied with his condition. Es-
'ecially was she troubled when the
octor one day drew her to one side f
nd said:
He is on the highroad to recovery a
ow. But there is one thing you must S
BOX out for. That is his heart. The
cart has been under q terrific strain /.
throughout all these years Of overwork {
nd overworry. This illness has left c
weak. Any sudden shock or excite a
lent or physical exertion might per-
apps"
The doctor did not finish his SEN d
ence. But Janet understood. And she y
as afraid. h
That same afternoon as she and Tom
ere sitting in the library the two chill h
rem came in from a walk with their II
urse and began to play on the We
anda. ~
The youngsters had heard their "
ders tell Of the war. So now, while A
leir nurse went indoors on some
rand they undertook to play "The So
attic Of the Marne" on the front b.
cps. e'
This alluring game proved somewhat &C
,isy. And Janet feared lest 1t might to
sturb Tom. So she slipped out upon al
lie porch to ask the baby warriors to In
'nduct their battle" more quietly. M
As she was about to re-enter the tn
,use, she saw a man turn In from the /
rect and come up the walk toward 81
n. Thinking 1t was some neighbor T.
me to inquire after Tom she moved
rward to welcome him. Then she or
fused. tn
With a thrill Of terror she recog- ce
zed Marc Lander. in
Lander mounted the steps, raising on
s hat with an insolently jaunty air. 4.
"How is my dear little wifeT he "
ked, in mock tenderness. st
II am not your wife," she retorted. 70
"NO?" he queried in apparent sur ia
Use. THAT'S news to me. I was told
at you WERE"
"Please go away" she said icily. I'd
But he did not stir. Instead he con- wi
lued in the same friendly fashion: no
"Old SOfield, my lawyer, told me so.
2 told me so when went to him for
vice in getting back at Tom Mercer &C
r my licking. Sofield said then: Let ce
r get her divorce in Connecticut. is