The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-06-25
Talbot's Death
Documents
BY FREDERICK CLARKE
q. l92l, Western Newspaper Union )

guardlhS the crossing from one of
those islands of safety" planted at
the street intersection.
"A pretty narrow escape, that" re-
marked the officer. Good for you,
young man." he added enthusiastically.
He slapped Talbot on the shoulder
in an appreciative way, but the latter
was not responsive. Talbot assisted
the dark-featured. large-eyed girl he
had saved to recover her fallen hand
bag, raised his hat as she thanked him
gratefully, and went on his way, grim,
pale and wretched.
1T has come" he kept saying to
himself in strained, dreamy under
tone-"the appointed hour Why did
! ever make the contract? Why have
l dallied in fancied security all these
years?'
He had history, this man. Ten
years agone he had wasted a fortune
in reckless extravaganza. Then the
last resort of ennui, the capricious
playing cards. Then reform. hard
work, some fair savings and-Bertha
Clare. He was to marry her in week.
That morning a letter had come,
mfssive that chilled him TO the mar
row, that made of welded bliss a
mockery and faced him, an accusing,
avenging wrath from the wasted past.
He glanced at his watch, arose.
went out into the street and then
started for populous but poor sec
ton of the city. Finally he reached
thoroughfare given over to cheap
clothing stores and pawn shops. He
walked more slowly as he began to
read the numbers on the buildings. at
last his destination 1853.
He chilled as he added the num-
bers: Thirteen
'Toujours la mort !" he murmured-
1.-The appointed hour. will face it,"
Behind the counter in the squalid
shop sat stern-faced. venerable man.
He glanced up as the caller entered.
II am Bryce Talbot" said the latter
simply.
ut is WELL" nodded the Jew, arising
and plotting the way into rear room.
| The pawnbroker motioned his Wis
| itor to chair at a small table and sat
| down opposite to him. where he could
keep his eve on the shop.
"You received my letters" he spoke
in chilling, business-like tone II
have here the papers in the case
wrote you about Here" and he emp
| tied out the contents of box-like en-
| velope. "are the documents-the in
surance policy, your note for $4,000
| the contract you signed. 1t says pay
| ment on call I am acting for others
you understand. What have you t.
say?"
Talbot's face had grown deathly
white, but his lips were firmly set. his
| eyes fixed in a desperate stare.
You demand pavnent?" he spoke
| in grating, unnatural tone.
Elise ruin for the family of Samuel
| Isaacs. 1t is a plain business propo-
| sition. Ten years ago Isaacs, your
friend, advanced you $4,000 to pay a
debt of honor. a month since Isaacs
died. That envelope was discovered.
Unless within forty-eight hoJ.fs that
$4,000 is received by his family the
mortgage on their home will be fore
closed and they will be beggared-an
invalid widow, three helpless children
and an old blind grandfather"
Some one at that moment came into
the outer room. The old man proceed
ed thither Bryce Talbot dropped his
head on his arms outstretched across
the table
This, then, the appointed hour of
feckoningi
At that moment he came erect with
a shock. Suddenly from the living
apartments there echoed a wild, ring
iEg feminine shrek. Then there was
a metallic jangling, hurried light foot
steps, followed by heavier ones, and
then a girls frantic form filled the
doorway.
She bore in her hands tray filled
to the brim with diamonds and other
gems.
The next instant two men, low
browed and desperate looking, crossed
the threshold. One of them held re-
volver. He leveled it at the girl.
In flash Talbot sprang before her.
There was quick explosion a ting
lfng sensation at his breast. and he
sank back. He had sheltered the fee
ing girl from death, had received the
bullet intended for her.
1t was hours afterwards when Tai
bot opened his eyes to find himself re-
clinng on couch, the girl whose life
ne had saved seated beside him. Near
at hand was the old pawnbroker.
you will not die, blessed be the
prophets!" he spoke solemnly, arising
and approaching the revived patient.
"Father father!" cried the girl,
coming close to the couch, tell him!
tell him Twice in day he saved my
life. Do you not remember me?"
Bryce Talbot nodded weakly. 1t
was the girl he had rescued at the
street crossing.
But for you," spoke the old man,
my daughter would have been killed. |
my jewels gone. She discovered the
at my private safe. You