Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1921-07-14
Talbot's Death
Documents
BY FREDERICK CLARKE
70, ls2l, weatsrn Newspaper Tnion1

kHoi uiils TIE 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 saving TO
himself in a strained. dreamy under
tone-"the appointed hourl Why did
ever make the contract? Why have
/ dallied in fancied security all these
years?"
be had history, this man. Ten
GEARS 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
Glare. He was to marry her in a week.
That morning letter had come,
missive that chilled him to the mar
row, that made Of welded bliss
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 a populous but poor sec
ton Of the city. Finally he reached
q 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 Observation-Disclosures 1863.
He chilled as he added the num-
hers: Thirteenl
"ToujOurS la mort :" he murmured-
"the appointed hour | win face It,"
Behind the counter in the squalid
shop sat a stern-faced, venerable man.
he glanced up as the caller entered.
II am Bryce Talbot" said the latter,
simply.
1T is WE'LL" nodded the Jew, arising
and plotting the way into a rear room.
The pawnbroker motioned his Wis
itor to chair at small table and sat
down opposite to him, where he could
keep his eve on the shop.
you received my letters" he spoke
in a chilling, business-like tone. 81
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 / am acting for others,
you unders tand. What have you to
say?"
Talbots face had grown deathly
white, but his lips were firmly set, his
eyes fixed in a desperate stare.
"You demand pa~nent?" he spoke
In a 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 hours 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 I'D man proceed
ed thither Bryce Talbot dropped his
head on his arms outstretched across
the table.
This, then, the appointed hour Of
reckoning
AT that moment he came erect with
a shock. Suddenly from the living
apartments there echoed a wild, ring
ing feminine shrek. Then there was
a metallic jangling hurried light foot
steps. followed by heavier ones, and
then 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
proved and desperate looking crossed
the threshold. One of them held a re-
yolver. He leveled it at the girl.
In a flash Talbot sprans before her
There was a quick explosion, ting
ling sensation at his breast, and he
sank back. He had sheltered the flee
ing girl from death, had received the
bullet intended for her.
II was hours afterwards when Tai
bot opened his eyes TO find himself re-
clining on q couch, the girl whose life
ne had saved seated beside him. Near
at hand was the old pawnbroker.
"You will not die, blessed be me
prophetsr he spoke solemnly, arising
and approaching the revived patient
"Father! fatherl" cried the girl
Gaming close to the couch, tell him
tell him! Twice in q day he saved my
life. Do you not remember meF
Bryce Talbot nodded weakly. II
was the girl he had rescued at the
street crossing.
"But for you, spoke the OLD man
my daughter would have been killeo
nv Jewels gone. She discovered the
burglars at my private safe. You
sprang before her. The surgeon says
a In q