The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-06-01

low. he bull jumped into the
wall close by Lucinda,sh head
She heard voice crying out
again and again Bel. Bel 3 tel
Her own voice. z. and for a
long time hung in dread upon the
issue of that swaying combat:
while Bel chung to the woman s
arm, muttering and painting in
futile efforts to wrest her weapon
away; while Nelly clawed. bit,
kicked, pounded her free fist re-
peated1y into Bells face, and
wrenched mad1y at her captive
wrist.
OF sr5lden, from her. hand a
spitefu1 tongue OF fire licked out
at Bel, his right arm failed back
and fell useless, agony convulsed
his features. Free, the woman
bounded away and with laugh of
maniac glee swung the pistol to
bear upon his head.
Without knowing what she did,
Lucinda flung herself upon Nelly's
arm and bore it down. With de-
fected nuzZle the pistol exploded
for the last time. Dropping it,
Nelly turned on1Lucinda and dealt
with her as. might a madwoman.
Impressions grew confused beyond
assortment. Of Topping wildly this
way and that, of hot breath beat
ing into her face, of her bare flesh
suffering a rain of cruel blows.
Thrown off without warning
how she couldn't guess. she felt
herself reeling back, tripping.
falling. Something struck the back
of her head a stunning blow, and
she knew Pickering nausea while
dense night like a moving cloud on
every hand closed in upon her.
Choking and coughing, she I'M
closed her eyes upon the vision of
Bells face. A hand holding a bottle
of smelling salts dropped away
from her nose. Bel saiuted her
reyivinG intelligence with an even
growl: You'll do now, 1 guess.
Try to pull yourself together. No
time to lose"
my head aches--------" She saw
Bel in his shirt-sleeves, with the
cuff turned back above his right
elbow, the forearm rudely bandas-
ed with torn linen on which a
deep stain was spreading. But
.Bel-your arm
Hurts like hell. Bullet plough
ed through the underside from
wrist to elbow, nearly. I'd be
dead if you hadn't jumped for
her.
land I, if you hadn't come
through the window when you did.
But..-.-.-Lynn?"
Bel laughed shortly. The ex-
celIent Mr.. Summerlad's still
breathing. That's all we can tell
till the surgeon gets here"
What became of-her?"
"Got away clean, worse luck!-
ducked past me and through the
window like a shot"
Summerlad lay where he had
fallen, on the far side of that piece
of furniture. His face, upturned
to the staring light, was like a
thing of sculptured ivory. express
sionless and blanched. The shirt
beneath the Powered dressing
gown was hideously blotted.
"You think.O Bel! do you
really think he will live?"
mo fear" Bel sneered. "He1l
make a fool of many another
woman before he's finished. My
chauffeur will run down to the
hotel. I think he's to be trusted.
Wish I felt sure of that jap
Sure of him?'
why do you suppose I'm
hurrying you away? Do you want
the papers to get hold of the fact
that you were keeping an assiSna-
ton with this actor when his wife
caught you and shot him?'
Lucinda let her wrap fall. II
my relationship to Lynn is what
you imply-then my place is here
with him"
PLEASE yourself. But Lremem-
Der, the papers are going to make
big capital out of this scandal in
the movie colony. They've been
itching for it for years. knowing it
was bound to break out some day
How long do you imagine it'll
be before the reporters will ferret