The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-08-02
By Randall Parrish



against the window, for he lurched for
ward. giving vent to an exclamation
Of relief.
HI. so you are here. waiting for
mel DID II ! didn't think maybe
you'd taken a chance outside. Too
blame sensible. aint your thought
likely you'd come 10 your senses II I
left you here alone awhile. Going TO
be good to me now. you little eati
Say what you got TO say for your
self. anyhow
only this: don't you come another
step toward me-"
He burst into grusf laugh. Shaping
his knee.
THE HI you sayi Who do you
think | am. anyhow Some kid afraid
OF womani Say. listen. that's no
way for a wife 10 welcome her hus-
band. got right here. and you bet
Tn going TO stay. Got an idea you
can blum me. I reckon. Well. Amt
that kind. an you might as well learn
II now as later. This Is our wedding
night Here's where I ought to he.
amt III Say. why don't you say some
thlngf What you going 10 dor
Il am going to XIII you. Bob Mea-
ger" she said coldly. "uniess you leave
this room
XIII mel Why. you blame little
fool | could crush the life out o. you
with one hand-see. just Ike that.
And by Cd. I got the right n you
get too gay. I'm your husband. amt
II That's what the law says. and I'm
going 10 be your husband. you can bet
your life on that. Think you'll scare
me. do your" he burst into an ugly
laugh. "Not this time. you won't He
turned and closed the door: then
crossed the room toward her. reeling
drunkenly. yet quite able TO retain
bis feet. The starlight rendered his
features visible. Her motionless n
lence caused him TO pause.
pretty d-n still. amt your he ex-
claimed. peering at her suspiciously:
why don't you talk7 When I speak
10 woman want her TO say some
thing"
There Is nothing more for me to
say"
''Oniy that you're going TO kill me
II ! touch you. hey7 All right. then :
here's your chance"
He took two steps toward her. his
hands reaching out eagerly. his face
thrust forward Then he stopped sud
denly. with startled eyes staring into /
the leveled muzzle OF the "A. his lips 4
giving suppressed utterance to a swift /
ejaculation.
I'll be d-df"
PUT your hands up. Bob Meager-
the words were icy cold up, say 1
Don't fool with me now. Turn around
and go out that door. ! am not play
ing; this means your life or mine. Cor
He cringed back. cowRrdiy. yet with
drunken cunning. Desperate as she
was. there was hesitation In the girls
action. Dimly he grasped the truth
that she shrank from the necessity Of
shooting; that she would actually pull
The trigger only as a last resort lie
look the chance.
"Sure.- he muttered. "you got the
irop and ] cave. So long. honey"
He half turned away. Keeling drunk.
,nly. then suddenly. Unexpectedly.
lung his body directly at her. crush
ng her back against the wall. both
alling together. the weapon undls- ,
'harged beneath her body. Swift. sur
'rising "a the assault was she had yet
escaped the grip Of his hands and was
N her knees again before he could .
move. The revolver was her only !
reapon. but IN the fall she had lost .
rip OF the stock. II lay there glitter
ng In the starlight. and. desperate.
laddened by the danger, obeylng the 4
rst Wild instinct u the instant. she
matched II up by the barrel and !
truck With al her force ~ the mans
cad. The fellow gave uiterance 10 4
o moan. his limbs fwitched. and then \
g lay mofionless. his face against the a
COR.
Deborah slowly llffed her body. y
Drinking hack from the darkiv out. b
ned form. beginning 70 comprehend u
I'm horror what she had done She O.
30 held tight 10 the weapon with Z,
hich she had dealt the blow. nitiiough {,
'aiizinE that she no longer required 8
: protection The silence was terri. r
ing; her nerves finEled painfully.
ie found difficulty IN breathing. Was =,
IL man dead7 IiHd she actually killed a
m with that one hasty blowf She ~
'uld scarcely realize the possibility r,
ID yet she had struck with al hes .,
roe. driven 10 II BY terror uncoufrol. :,
bic She shrank now from even :,
uching him; nurse ~ she was. hsv- =
( witnessed death IN every form Of 4,
'rror. and minixfered 10 wounds Of \,
cry degree. she Mould not place hand !.
this man. whether be lived or died -
? represented % her mind All thar .,
- base and evil: she was glad she =.
q struck him down.
But what nowf This question over. =,
allowed al else The thing she had "a
IN imagining for 80 long had ~ lau -
me "a pass Tie had come 10 he's 4,
he 'iaiming her Will Insult and ss,. A
=