Evening star., 1922-09-03

| nef n2nQ9 IOr JOyI one hA0 Ucot
promised anything she liked from the
top shops at Tidborough and a musi.
cal box. like one Of her friends had
had been what Hector was asked to
buy.
***
MRS. JENNINGS ran OF to her cot.
Ad tage. He seated himself down in
the chair specially chosen for Ends
comfort. Tiny Laura at his feet
fumbled the musical box out of its
wrappings.
Now you're right; Laura. Turn
the handle. Let's hear the pretty
tunes"
He smiled to see tiny Laura's
( tongue come out and move from side
to side under the strain Of her melody
making. The tinkling tune was
vaguely familiar. Some popular ma
tional air. He wondered II Enid
could play the piano. and how much
would one cost? Imagine sitting here
Of an evening while she played! The
musical mox clicked. The music
stopped.
Go on. Laura. Wind on. Another
one coming"
Yes, a piano How beautiful she
would look seated at the keys. How
she would love this room. Tomorrow
at this hour she would be here. How
| wonderful, indeed, that he had done
all this. He was twice, he was a
dozen times, the man he used to be.
Stepping -stones-of those dead selves.
He was climbing up. He was certain
of it!
Go on, Laura. Wind away. Still
another. Here, let me do this one"
He stopped forward and took the
box. Yes, climbing UP Would
never look back now He wound
the handle.
Some talk Of Alexander, and some Of Hercules,
OF Hector and
Take it, Laura. Take it away!
| You'd better go home now. Don't
you hear? No. don't play it. You're
not to wind it. Time to so now.
Don't you hear"
| Laura was frightened.
| The day was Thursday: early clos
ing day at Tidborough and chosen for
that reason. He left the Office at one
o'clock He went first to his lodgings
to spruce himself up in it before going
on to tine cottage to await her. The
night had been bad. That tune, that
internal, hateful tune, coming like that
upset him.
| But with the morning his oppres-
sion had gone. After all, what test OF
his courage could there possibly be?
When she was safely arrived here she
would be as secure here and he would
be as secure here as If they were on
another continent.
He let himself into his lodgings and
passed up the stairs to his room. Every.
thing was wonderful and glorious. He
was miles removed from the timid
thing he had been. He could wish
there might be some test of his man.
hood that Enid could see. If the horse
that would be drawing her cab were
to run away and he rush out from the
cottage and. stop it. Something like
| that!
But it was not anything like that
1t was something quite different
As he opened the door of his room
eyolent form of her husband rose to
greet him.
shut that door," said Mr.. Wilks.
He turned and shut it.
One Of those enormous fists OF Mr.
Wilks presented a revolver straight II
his face. The other fist shot out and
into his chest like battering ram
staggering him backward. But the ns'
clutched him, gathering up the better
part of his waistcoat and OF his shir'
in its enormous paw, and shook him
ferociously so that his teeth knocked
together. Where's my wife?'
His tongue, in his sheer terror, Glove
to the roof of his mouth. He could moi
speak.
where Is she? Out with it!'
Not here"
Again that frightful shaking. jerking
his head to and fro. mot here! 1 car
see that with me own eyes, can't L
Is she in this house?
NO"
Coming here?'
NO"
He was shaken to and fro for full
half minute. Listen to me. l know
you've got her away" He called he'
by a gross epithet. The left hail
your letters behind. know you've go
her." Mr.. wilks returned the revolver
to his pocket and put up the fist thai
had held it, clenched. terrific. Am
going to start this on Jour face or art
YOU going to tell me? Quick with it
I'll tell you"
i "Quick with it."
He told.
Mr.. Wilks flung him away with
violent motion. He spun along the wall
crashed into the washing-stand and tel
over it to the floor. The ever capsizet
and shattered. The water drenchet
him.
4 Get up" commanded Mr.. Wilks
You louse. Run away with q man.
wife! You! Get up and show the wa!
and me ladyn see what I'm going t.
do with you, and you'll see what In
going to do with me lady. Up will
you!"
lTHEY were in the cottage. waitint
i for ner Mr.. Wilks lolled in an arm
chair, a cigar in his mouth, his legs ol
the table. Hector Bywash sat OPPOSITE
him, the table between them, his heat
bowed in his hands. In the little room
adjoining was tiny Laura. Hector ha'
smuggled her out of view and shut tn
door upon her. ...-.
| While they, waited was the stead!
ticking Of the clock upon the wall