The spectator., 1921-03-18

There seemed an instant recession of the blood from Gardner's face. 1t 1t was for the instant only. My nat is off he said, with smile. 'Is that sufficient?"
 Make him take them off '" Beulah insisted.
 "There is no rule against wearing gauntlets in q coroner's court" said the coroner. 'I do not see the point of your objection"
 Make him take them off" said Beulah
 "As the young lady insists" said the coroner, turning to Gardiner. "l suggest that you comply with her re- quest"
 ''I should be glad to-" said Gardi- ner, but the fact is I have a SOTO hand. When I was giving the horse medicine the night Travers left me alone the brute nipped me a little, and I have been keeping it covered 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 the fight Tn 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 his"
 For a moment 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.
 Not 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 wSss fresh scar on the right thumb.
 The coroner examined 1t carefully. When he spoke it was in the voice of judge delivering sentence. That is not horse bite" he said. Those are the marks of human teethl"
 Gardiner smiled a faint smile, Well, what are you going to do about it?" he said.
 We are going to put you in Trav- CTS place and tender him our -apolo- 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 you can at least do something to square yourself Where is that money?"
 That's right. Jim. Everyone thinks of what is nearest his heart"
 You scoundrel! You know why it is near my heart. You have robbed Mir. 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? It seems as little as you can do."
 ''There may be something in what you say" said Gardiner. "I have slip of paper here with the key to the secret"
 He reached with his finger and thumb in his vest pocket and drew out n small folded paper. This he un- folded very slowly and deliberately before the eyes of the onlookers. It contained small quantity of white powder. Before any hand could reach him he had thrown his head back and swallowed It.
 "Too ate," he cried, as Grey snatched the empty paper from his fingers. "Too late! We'll. I guess beat you all out. eh? And. as said before. what are you going to do about it? Twenty years, eh, Jim! You'll he 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 I wouldn't trade with you, damn you! beg the pardon of the ladies present. One should never for get to be gentleman. even when when"
 But Gardiner's breath was begin ming to come fast. and he raised his hands to his throat. A choking spell seized him. and he would have fallen had not the policeman and the coAo- ner held him on his feet Let me lie down." he said, when he got his breath. Let me lie down, can't youl Have got to die on end. like a mur- derer?"
 TSey led him 10 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 CONT1NUED)
 The Fast Age.