The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-04-07

IneTe Seelneu an lHSlunt recession
of the blood from Gardeners face. cut
1t was for the instant only. MY hat
is or" he said, with smile. .Ia
that sufficient"
Make him take them off !" Beulab
insisted.
There is no rule against wearing
gauntlets In coroner's court" said
the coroner. II do not see the point
of your objection"
"Make him take them or" said
Beulah.
"As the young lady insists" said
the coroner, turning to Gardiner. ~
suggest that you comply with her re-
quest"
II should be glad to-" said Gardi.
ner, "but the fact is / have sore
hand. When ] was giving the horse
medicine the plight Travers left me
alone the brute nipped me a little.
and / have been keeping Ii GOV cred
up since"
make him take them Off" said
Beulah.
"Why should you be so insistent?"
said the coroner. "Surely 1t makes
no difference"
"Only this difference. You have
heard my fathers evidence of this
1ght in the old house. The man
with whom he fought will have tooth
marks in his hand. Make him take
them Off. Or If you won't-look at
these hands" She seized Jim's hands
in hers and held them up before the
coroner and the jury. ANY tooth
marks there? Now make this other
man show hiss
For momen: all eyes were on
Travers' hands. In that moment Gar
diner rushed for the open window,
and in another instant would have
been through it, had not the quick
arm of the policeman intercepted.
mot so fast, my man." said Grey
"Now we will see this horse bite OF
yours" Gardiner made no further re.
sistance, and he drew the glove from
his hand. There was a fresh scar on
the right thumb.
The coroner examined ii carefully.
When he spoke it was in the voice Of
a judge delivering sentence. "That
Is not n horse bite" he said. "Those
are the marks of humar teeth ~
Gardiner smiled n faint ruile, "Well,
what are you going to do abvt,t it?" he
said.
I'VE are going to put you in Trav-
ers' place and tender him our apollo
gies," said the coroner.
But Travers had crowded into the
center Of the circle. Gardiner" he
said, 'if you weren't under arrest I'd
thrash you here and now. But ynu
can at least do something to square
yourself. Where is that money!"
That's right, Jim. Everyone thinks
of That is nearest his heart"
you scoundrel! You know why II
is near my heart. You have robbed
Mr.. Harris of all that he had spent
his whole life for. You will have no
chance to use that money yourself.
You are sure of your living for the
next 20 years. Why not show that
you are not all bad-that you have
some human sentiments in you? II
seems as little as you can do"
"There may be something In what
you say" said Gardiner. IL have a
slip of paper here with the key to the
secret"
He reached with his finger and
thumb in his vest pocket and drew out
small folded paper. This he un-
folded very slowly and deliberately
before the eyes of the onlookers. 1t
contained a small quantity of white
powder. Before any hand could reach
him he had thrown his head back and
swallowed It.
TOO late !" he CRIED as Grey
snatched the empty paper from his
fingers. "Too late! Well, i guess
beat you all out, Ell? And as i said
before, what are you going to do
about it? Twenty years, Ell, jim?
You'll be scrawny and rheumatic by
that time, and the beautiful Beulah
Will be fat and figureless. Twenty
years for you, jim, but 20 minutes for
me-and l wouldn't trade with you,
damn you'll l beg the pardon Of the
sTeStnI. OHe never
get to be a gentleman, even when
when"
But Gardeners breath was begin
ming to come fast, and he raised his
hands to his throat. A choking spell
seized him, and lie would have fallen
had not the policeman and the co>o'
ner held him on his feet. "Let me
lie down." he said, when he got his
breath. "Let me lie down, can't your
Have got to die on end, like a muir.
derer?'
They led him TO the adjoining room,
where he fell upon the bed. The mus
cles Of his great arms and neck were
working In contortions, and his tongue
seemed to fill his mouth.
(TO BE CoNTINUED)
The Fast Age.
II r.. q.