The Lamar register., 1922-07-26

ruthcrs was JOes best friend So that
was your game when you come here last
night. eh? You'll get broke for this
yOb already. both OF you fellers. / tell
you.'
Molly was grasping at Myers hand
as the constable still fumbled nerv-
nusly with the handcuff won't you
men listen to common sense?" she
cried "Mr. Carruthers is the chief
engineer Of the line. All his interests
are bound up with It, Why should he
want TO murder Joe7 He was JOe's
hest friend. Everyone In Clayton can
tell you that. Why. he risked his own
life To save him! Somebody's put
you on the wrong track. They're try
ing to make use of you to keep him
ont OF the way while they ruin the
line. And you'll pay for your mistake
that's sure,"
And with frenzied desperation. she
succeeded In pushing Myers away
from Wilton, and interposed between
him and the sergeant. whose revolver
pointed steadily at his forehead.
Peters scowled viciously at her
"You can tell all that at the inquest
he snapped. I've got orders to bring
you In, too. Get out Of the wayl"
AT that the superhuman tension that
held Wilton's rage in bounds seemed
TO snap. His ears were ringing, and a
spotted mist fioated before his eyes.
Through this he saw Peters an infinite
distance away. the revolver, now hard
ly larger than a pencil, pointing at his
head. Behind the sergeant he saw An
dersen, a doll-like figure with toy
pan In his hand. He leaped at Peters.
heard the weapon discharged and was
conscious of the sting Of powder on
his forehead and a commotion In his
hair.
Peters had shot TO kill. but the
weapon, the least bit diverted by Mol.
ly's Intervention. had been re-aimed
at Wilton's forehead a little hurriedly,
and he had forgotten that the strong
ammunition. of which complaint had
frequently been made by the police su-
perintendents. was apt to throw the
bullet high at short distances.
Wilton shot his uninjured arm for
ward with vicious swing that caught
the sergeant on the cheek and sent
him staggering backward. But the
force of the blow. communicated to
Wilton's left shoulder. wrenched the
wound and forced a groan OF pain
from his lips. Peters reeled, regained
his balance. and rushed forward again.
swinging the revolver aloft. butt for.
ward. In his hand.
With his powerful build he could
have delivered a blow that would have
crushed wilton's skull. But before the
blow fell Andersen had raised his pan
and brought 1t down edgewise upon
the sergeant's head. cutting the scnlp
TO the bone and drenching the man
with the boiling grease.
With n scream OF pain Peters STUN
bled forward. letting the revolver fall
from his hand. slipped In the grease
that had begun to ooze along the floor,
and fell full length on the pianks.
where he lay writhing In anguish. and
trying to clear his eyes Of the melted
fat and the blood that streamed down
his forehead.
Instantly Molly stopped. snatched up
the weapon. which had fallen at her
feet. and covered the constable. who
had flung himself upon Wilton again.
Myers stopped dead and threw his
hands up automatically.
Get over there!" said Molly briskly.
pointing toward the wall behind the
sergeant.
Myers obeyed Immediately. and took
his post against the wall. the picture
OF confusion. Peters struggled slowly
to his feet. Has face and pea jacket
were covered with a film of grease.
over which the blood from his wound
was trickling. The tables were turned
with dramatic completeness.
You know what this means p splut-
tered the sergeant. trying to clear the
fat from his eyes.
81 do. and I'll take my chance" an
swered Wilton. gritting his teeth at the
pain from his injured arm. The wound
did not seem to have reopened. but
either his blow or the grasp of the
constable hsc displaced the broken
ends Of the bone. and he could feel