The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-02-04
what purpose these contrivances
serve? To catch the bulletY

| serve? To catch the bullet"
"Silencers," said Munson briefly. He
threw open the French windows. 1.-The
winner steps out upon the lawn and
gets away. You will have no difficulty,
l have arranged my affairs. There liz
train in twenty minutes. One shot
apiece, at yards distance. in dark
ened room"
you seem to have thought II all
out" said Fremantle, sneering still.
But before you begin, you may as
well 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 off the light" he con.
tinued. "We 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
IL his pistol still covered his enemy
There was minute still, and out OF
the darkness came the voice of Ere.
mantle.
"You may as well listen, Munson, y
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. Al
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 chine. His pistol die
not waver in his hand.
81 suggested the scheme, Munson
/ told her that you were not bad sor
of man, that if you realized what you
might lose you would feel differently
I designed to make you jealous; bu
I, 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 t.
chime, and pressed the trigger.
There came no echo to the mufflet
thud of the discharge. For fearful
instant he hesitated. Had he killed
Fremantle? He strained his ears, but
could hear nothing save the clocl
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 an,
burst into tears from the reaction
You We had your triumph, ours
you'll" he whimpered my lifes yours
Why didn't you shoot? Why didn'
you? I'm going"
He stepped out through the win
had won; he had refused to shoo
when he could have killed him. Doubt
less he meant to make the most Of
his triumph, and life meant more tC
him under the circumstances than il
would If he were a murderer and 9
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 madnes!
tell her of his triumph. A love scene
was imminent. Why should he no
kill them both?
He acted upon the thought. H,
crept toward the window again, halt
Ing in the shadow OF tall cypress
outside. AS he did so he saw the pts
tol that Fremantle had laid down.
lay hidden from his wife's view. blu
plain in Munson's sight, behind a pill,
of books upon the library table. Ant
Munson remembered that it had no
been discharged.
His hand went out toward 1t, blu
was arrested by his wife's words.
where's Jim?" she asked.
81 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, II has failed ALE 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