The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1920-05-24
q. THE HAND e
OF FATE
=: r
By AUGUSTUS G. sHERwIN

Copyright. 1890. Western Newspaper Unionl
Pretty Rita Fowler shook her finger
In playful warning and censure az
group Of schoolboys halted. each one
armed with a dozen or more snow.
balls. One side of the house roof had
pendant from the caves a glittering
array Of icicleS. They formed grilles,
festoons. canopies, thick spirals. tar.
get array bringing delight to the de-
structive juvenile soul.
1t was the Gathering Of flying broken
particles Of the icy pendants against
the panes that brought Rita to the win.
dow. Immediately the lads scampered
away, but not until they had bulked
collective fusillade on the great
hanging bulk which had attached it.
self to the caves trough pipe and, fed
by constantly CONCEALED drippings, had
acquired formidable volume.
If Rita's heart had not been bub.
bling over with happiness and joy, she
would have gone out, have obtained
clothes pole and disconnected the men.
acing monster Of ice. SO much was
there to do about the home, however,
and so engrossed was she in viewing
the engagement ring on her finger and
in thinking Of Its donor, Wade Burton,
that she forgot all else for the time
being. 1t was getting on toward dusk,
and at seven o'clock her mother and
sister would be home, needing a little
snack. after long, cold walk. Then.
too. an hour later Wade would drop
In to see how the flance Of "A hours
was getting along.
Rita hustled about, and when she
went into the cozy living room where
a cheerful fire was blazing In the CRATE
and seated herself on the rug with q
small pasteboard box which contained
photographs Of dear friends, notes,
letters, beribboned mementoes, and one
by one she took them up in half sad,
half smiling reverie, reviewing the
memories they suggested Some she
saved. All those that applied to close
boy friends and later suitors Rita cast
into the flames. She shuddered as
she took up a package Of letters on
the top Of which was the photograph
Of slnister-eyed, bold-looking young
man. 1t was labeled ralph Tru-
dale"
With nervous movement she thrust
the package out Of reach and it was
quickly consumed.
Ralph Trudale The name thrilled
hor with cOr,hor Che bod
never liked him, but because he was
the brother Of an old girl friend she
had tolerated him. His headstrong, but
unsuccessful wooing had been brief.
He had been arrested for forgery and
sentenced to penal servitude. Only
twice year had Rita heard from him,
through letters written to her from his
prison cell. They breathed love- but
vengeance, too; and he told her with
emphasis that she should yet be his.
Trying to forget his fierce, unworthy
acquaintance of the past, Rita abruptly
started and glanced at the window.
Outside, his face pressed close to the
pane, was q man. In flashing in
slant she recognized her old persecu-
tor-an escaped convict-Ralph Tru-
dalel
He vanished as she sprang to her
feet. A great terror possessed her.
, She ran to the corner Of the room and
snatched up the telephone receiver. No
signal was given, and Rita knew that
the wire outside had been severed. The
next moment Trudale crashed in the
side door and was In the room, and
past him in the yard roadway Rita
made out an automobile with it's
lights lowered.
II have come at a risk, and I must
leave quick" spoke Trudale, his eyes
cleaning with a settled purpose. "And
you go with me. new lover, Ell? and
me forgotten? But not out of the race!
Make no noise or resistance. 1t will be
| useless. You are to go with me-you
will be placed with a woman friend at
| a distance. Then give you a week
| to consent to a marriage, or l will
kill you, and myself as well. l am
! O desperate man, and mean every word
! say"
! The intruder snatched up cloak
and threw it over the head Of the
shrieking appealing Rita. She was
Frustrated by his threats and her re-
sistance was weak and futile as he en-
circled her arms and body with stout
silken cord:
Zone minute, and I will be back to