Charlevoix county herald., 1917-11-16
CHAPTER XIV.
A Desperate DESIGN.

ss,. Never before nor since have ! seen
such absolute CONSERVATION depicted
on human countenance as there was
on Lysander Melons as he saw me
standing in the center of his room. He
stopped as II suddenly paralyzed. and
his jaw fairly dropped. He certainly
never dreamed that his enemy would
seek refuge in his mothers house.
Now. though might have been jus.
titled in killing him Gas could easily
have done), am not OF the kidney to
deliberately slay an unarmed man In
cold blood, and the idea OF putting an
end TO him only occurred TO me. All
/ wished 10 do was TO render him
harmless until Agnes and ! could get
AWAY, for our bacon was now fairly in
the Are And thought saw how this
might be done. Closets are aplenty in
that house, and all doors are heavy
and strong.
so, sir" I said. speaking quite
calmly. you have made your way
back"
There was no immediate answer,
his chest heaved as he realized the
predicament he was In. For ii were
useless for him 10 shout; there were
no domestics on the place. and his
mother would never hear him. His lit
tie gasps showed how his heart was
racing.
"How-how did you get here% he
finally asked.
why should not a man come to his
own house?" / returned.
"And-and you-you listened?
Il did. ! heard enough. You are
not going to Clinton today"
His lips twitched; his hands clench.
ed and unclenched; but he made no
other movement. / conceived he had
nothing to say. Throw up your
armsD' commanded. He did SO when
/ advanced with my rapier. Turn
around" He obeyed meekly.
perhaps you have sufficient COM
prehension to realize that am a des-
~rte man and cannot waste valuable
he. Step into the closet"
l Thought he would obey me as read
fly as he had done before. but ] did
not know him. He took step In the
direction OF the closet, the door OF
which stood open; but instead OF 60
ing on, he ducked. turned like flash,
and sprang for me. In an instant he
had me In the grasp OF wrestlers
underhold.
was so taken by surprise that for
q moment l was wellnigh helpless,
but Il was for a moment only. Weak
ened though / was. the man was hard.
~ match for me, and could not
throw me az he hoped to do. In an
instant We were careening around the
room. and presently we both fell
across the bed, on top.
And 1t was then that ! got the bet
ter OF him, for | finally fastened my
grin on his throat and hung to 1t. He
tore at my wrists, his legs thrashed
wildly. his eyes bulged; but did not
ease my hold until his face had turned
purple and his tongue protruded from
his frothy lips.
When he was fairly limp and appar-
emily unconscious, stood up. AT that
myhent Agnes came hurrying into the
room, wild.eyed and breathless. ] was
GREATNESS myself.
What are you doing? My God!
what has happened?" she exclaimed.
You may easily guess" ] said,
pointing to the body on the bed. That
devil came back!"
Have you killed him."
81 hardly think SO; he will probably
Il recover in an hour" And in few
words / explained the whole situation.
IF he had gone TO Clinton, there
would have been no chance for us.
Now what is TO be done?" concluded.
You have the pass" she returned.
sect away at once!"
Agnes" said. for the first time
calling her by her first name. IL
thought you had better opinion OF
me. will not go without you. Your
danger Ia as great as mine. Lysander
knows your position. You can drive
TO Hanover Square and get pass for
yourself within an hour"
mo. II IL impossible. The govern
or 10 sick-broken down; no one IL
allowed to see him."
-Then fuse my pass. will make
ahift--"
81 will not" she interrupted. draw
inS herself up. Il will not leave you
to- certain death. could not. And
where would go?"
God knows! Any place would be
Better than this. Lysander's mother Is
going to Clinton. The carriage Is at
the door-and. by Heaven, she must
not COL Could you not take her place,
see Clinton, and ask him for a pass?
YcR know him."
And knowins him, I know that he