The Washington herald., 1921-09-25
BY GEORGE BARR McCU7CHEON

ths -opissAotsnes- Ii aDd hs hsss
firmly against the footseard. ana. y1ns Eat
on his back without pillow tndsr his hsaA,
waited for the inevitable couvulssou that
would end with his bead snd hsss alone rsst.
ing on the mattress. tn rsmainder Of his
rigid body being bowed upward Win quite
space between It and the bsd Nothing hap
pened-
The next evening she raped him over ths
head with q heavy end Of q whisk- broom
1t was then that he went down to the river
Pondering. he continued to stare at ths
black. almost invisible water. A. last, with
. long sigh, he pulled his hat down tight
upon his head. placed one foot on the iova
rap. grtpped the upper rail with his handa
and prepared to vault over into the unknown.
A hand feu upon his shoulder HIS knsss
gave way beneath him. be sasged nmpH
against the rail Caught
whats the trouble. strangsrf. inquirsA
. voice. . low. masculine voica.
-Where-where did you come from. chat
tered Mr.. Crumley. . ! didn't hear you
I've been standing here behind you for
ten or fifteen minutes. I've been thinking
about you. too. al that time. You've been
figuring on jumping over there into the river,
Ell? Is it 20 bad - an that7"
Il can't discuss II with you ssid Mr..
crumiey. reg.inins some Of his dignity.
This is = purely personal affair. Please 70
away
I don't know what the trouble is strzn-
ger said the man In the darkness, but u
seems TO me you ought TO give yourself q
sporting chance. How Tar IL 1t down to the
water?-
About forty feet Have you never been
on this bridge before?"
Never. Forty feet eh7 water pretty
deep?"
1t is a matter DO not feel inclined To-
Don't get huiy. pardner. Now, II strikes
me that you are not giving fate much Of q
chance to prove to you that you are wrong
in taking this step. Sometimes things turn
out better than you think Take me, for
instance I've been on the point Of blowing
my brains out half a dozen ttmea / didn't
do It. and here am alive and wen and a.
happy as q clam I haven't q worry IN the
world The only thing that troubles me Is
the occasional pinch Of poverty-and that
reminds me- You won't need any money, or
q watch. or anything Ike that In the place
where you are going. % please hand EN-
over to me- don't know a. I've ever known
anything to work out 30 satisfactorily as this
Usually II 10 up TO me to stick gun against
q mans ribs TO get him TO loosen, or 70
crack him one on the bean but here's an ideal
situation. ind q man getting ready to
DO you mean to say you are going to rob
met" demanded Mr.. Crumley. For the first
time he turned TO peer over his shoulder at
the shsdowy figure.
well, now. that's q matter am not In
clined to discusa Put up your hands-it
won't take me a second to frisk you Then
we viii discuss the future. I've got a susyes-
ton to make To you-a good sporting propo
sition-"
Mr.. Crumley had an Inspiration by
Jove. suppose-suppose refuse to put up
my hands-what then? Would you shoot
me?"
Mot SOS you'd notice It. I'd simply nab
you and turn you over to the police as an
attempted suicide. oh. you needn't think
couldn't do It. I'm as big as an elephant
You wouldnt-"
Ny God, don't speak to me about ele-
phants." groaned Mr.. crumley
Been seeing 'em?" inquired the stranger,
sympathercaly. Think twice, old scout,
before you take any chances with me- Put
'em up!"
Il don't In the least mind allowing you 10
rob me-" said Mr.. crumley. holding up his
hands. You will not md anything about
me except . little loose change In my pants
pocket dollar and a half perhaps A for
my watch-well, was very careful to leave
everything at home that might serve To
identify my body when It 10 found"
well, there's no sense in taking even q
dollar and a half with you when you rop ovA
into the river. is there? Better keep Il IN
circulation, I'd say. Quarters and dimes, I
can tell by the feel OF EN-" The coins ,,nsied
as they dropped into the strangers coat
pocket Now. let's discuss your cas-.
What's troubling you? Money mattersi IN
healthl Disappointment In lover
Neither Of these said Mr.. crrmiey.
you may put your hands down now. Tn
through Are you . married manI-
-Yes-in way"
~Long?-
can't remember when was stnS5es
eroaned Mr.. Crumley.
An now h,v. %