Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-12-31

away from him. her dilating eyes fixed
in a Mortified stare upon the few stiff
hairs in her clutched fingers. Its
real! OH
MY word! should say it isl" he
mumbled, pressing hard on his lip.
"But-but how then-oh, dear! oh
dear! Take me in to doctor. / must
be crazy. You had it; then you didn't
have it; now you do have it"
"Have it?"
"Your mus-mustache! I thought
you had shaved. 1t was gone-Im sure
1t was gone-yet now
"Gone! When?'
"In therein the library-nOt five
minutes ago! Oh, dear! / must he
raving crazy! 1t wasn't there then
you've grown it again in five min
| utes!''
He stared at her wildly, infected
with the terror in her look and voice.
Insane-insane! That face in the mir
rOr! She, too, had seen it!
They glared at one another, over
come with dread and horror.
81 say" remarked voice behind
| him.
He wheeled about and found him
self looking into the muzZle of an au-
tomato pistol in the hand of BENIN.
Caught you mapping, eh?'' jeered
the detective. II learned that Kirk
| land was tracing in this direction. |
| did not rush up to the front door.
| Quietly slipped in from the rear,
| y'know; and-here we are. Quite
clever, I call it. No wonder you look
| tiabbergaSted."
In flash Amy flung herself between
| the two. Don't you shoot him! Don't
| you darew she cried.
Hastily he lowered the pistol and
sought to explain: Il had no intention,
none whatever-only in self-defensc.
| Can't you understand? If he is vio-
| lent--attemptS to resist But if you
| persuade him to submit | am sorry
| to have to use handouts"
"Handcuffs? Oh, shame. shame on
| you pretending 10 be his friend all
| this time. Shame on YOU"
BENIN bit his lip. His bright shall
low eyes deepened and darkened with
| profound emotion. But he stood firm.
II made no pretense," he rejoined.
81 offered to prove myself his friend.
| stood ready to save him, even at the
! cost of my professional honor"
Your professional honor she re-
| preached.
He is your brother. ! thought you
would understand. l am willing to
give q great deal to clear him, if you
! will-er-accept my"
But if | cannot?"
Then | shall do my duty. DO you
lake me for a fool, to connive at the
escape of an emDezzler, unless you are
| considerate enough to"
"Oh, you won't-you can't! Surely
! you'll not be so mean
Il can send him to the penitentiary.
What's more, l will, unless"
| "No-n-nO. do not :" cried the ago
inized girl. Let him go, please let him
go. | will do What-what you wish y
You will? You will marry me?' he
demanded. and he stepped forward in
| eager citation.
2, She shrank back with her hands
over her averted face. The prisoner
| slipped a protective arm about her
| shoulders and quietly remarked to
BENIN: Better step aside if you are
| nervous You might accidentally dis
charge your pistol. There are people
coming along the path behind you"
Suspicious Of ruse, BENIN edged
| around to the side of the opening and
glanced swiftly over his shoulder. A
few feet away two hats were visible
| over the shrubs, moving down the
| twisting path.
| Here they are. Hurry up" doomed
| the voice of Doctor Kirkland.
! He came nimbly around the turn in
| the narrow path, with another man
and Ellen and Mrs. Kirkland in line
close behind him. BENIN uttered a
| stified exclamation and staggered back
| still farther to the side of the opening.
| Doctor Kirkland strobe out of the path
| to confront him, saw the prisoner, and
stopped as if transfixed.
The prisoner did not see him. He
was staring at the man who had
| stepped from behind the dumfounded
physician. The man recoiled against
| Ellen and Mrs. Kirkland. He glared
at the prisoner. Ellen and Mrs. Kirk
| land looked at the prisoner and
| shrieked. Amy raised her head and
stared wildly from the man before her
| TO the man whose arm was about her
shoulders.
They We're the same! yet not
the same. 1t was not alone that one
had a mustache and the other was
| clean shaven; that one was thinner
| ond Mailer Now that theV stood face