The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-09-09

insly at him for an instant then
snarled:
"Ueaf out Of herer
He caught up 4 riding crop that had
been left lying on nearby table, and
slashed yiciously at Toms face.
Tom with his right hand caught the
larger mans wrist and wrsnched the
crop from his grasp. At the same time
he struck iercely and scientifically
with his left.
The blow caught Marc Lander
squarely on the point Of the Jaw. The
backyard collapsed with n grunt
Tom leaned over him saying IN, the
same ominously cool voices
III you want any more you know
where to get 1t. And II ever I hear Of
your maltreating Janet again you'll get
1t good and plenty, whether you want
it-or not Remember that" y
Without so much ~ another yiancs
at the scrambling and swearing man
on the floor he left the apartment.
Slowly and ragingly Marc Lander
got to his feet. d.
"Are-are you very badly hurt,
Marc7" asked Janet family.
The solicitous question awoke him
to fresh access Of fury.
"Hurt7" he beloved. TIN not any.
where near as badly hurt as Mr..
Thomas Mercer will be before I'm done
with himi I'll get him. II It takes my
last cent or sends me to the chairl III
get him!"
'.:Marc!" she exclaimed. shocked BY
his wild-beast ferocity. HE struck you
In self-defense. You attacked him."
"shut upl" he roared. "And now
that I've kicked him out, you can 70,
too. I'm sick Of you. Get out"
II can't divorce you in New York"
she made answer. "But in Connecticut,
cruelty is q ground for divorce. And"
"Divorce me II you want toI" he
snarled. But I'll get him yet. And
You, too. I'll make you both wish you'd
neither Of you ever been bornr'
Janet followed Tom Nercer's advice
In every particular. She went to Fart.
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
year he and Janet saw little Of each
other.
At last Tom received word that he
had been promoted to q high-salaried
post at the firms general Offices In
New York. And the same week ia.
nets divorce was granted.
The Joyous lovers hastened to Same.
set. and there, in Hiram Gordon's
home, they were married.
Thence they went to New York. Tom
found q beautiful house in the SUBJ
urbs, 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
rising faster and faster In the business
world.
In fact he had ever been d tireless
worker, SO tireless that ut last nature
claimed her due from his years Of
overwork. And Tom was confined to
his house for several weeks by Q seri-
Gus nervous breakdown.
Janet nursed him tenderly back to.
ward health. But she was stlll far
from satisfied with his condition. Es-
pecially was she troubled when the
doctor one day drew her to one side
and said: ~
HE is on the highroad to recovery
now. But there is one thing you ,ust
look out for. That Is his heart. The
heart has been under a terrific strain
throughout all these years of overwork
and overworry. This illness has left
It weak. Any sudden shock or excite.
ment or physical exertion might per.
haps-"
The doctor did not finish his sen.
tence. But Janet understood. And she
was afraid.
That same afternoon rs she and Tom
were sitting In the library the two chill.
dren came in from q walk with their
nurse and began to play on the We
randa. ~
The youngsters had heard their
elders tell Of the war. So now, while
their nurse went indoors on some
errand they undertook to play 'sThe
Battle Of the Marne" on the front
steps.