New Britain herald., 1925-10-08

An ugly expression crossed his face. He dropped the note into pocket and shook Claudio till he was breathless.
 You young monkey you! So this Is the little game, is it! I'll teach you--I'll---"
 He lifted the riding whip which he invariably carried with him in the country and brought 1t down heavily on the child's shrinking body
 "Ill teach you to defy me and hate me. I'll-"
 "Oh, you brute-you brute!'
 It was kan's voice--Nan, who came flying through the wood and caught his arm just as 1t was de- fcending for the second time. She was as white as death; she hardly seemed to know what she was doing. She struck at Harley Sefton's face like a mad woman.
 You brute-oh, you brute! Let him go-let him go!'
 Sheer surprise had made Sefton relinquish his hold of the boy. ana Claudie dropped sobbing and shak- ing amongst the bracken and under growth,
 sefton tried to catch Mans arms and hold her, but for the moment rage made her stronger than he.
 She struck at him again and again. She saw the world red. That he should so have dared to hurt Claudio. She could have killed him in her passionate anger and hatred.
 You wild cat, you!" he said say agely. His face was ugly, but there was look of unwilling admiration in his eyes. He held both her wrists with one hand; the other he passed agitatedly across his face.
 It was red and bruised, and his lip had been cut by the diamond ring which he himself had given Nan.
 She stood panting and struggling with him. She loathed the touch of his hand on her. She was sick with shame that she could ever have thought 1t possible that she could marry such man.
 Claudio had got over his first deep terror and was bowling now in real earnest, raising his voice shrilly till | it must have been heard half over the wood.
 Sefton looked round uneasily, He was g coward at heart, as are most bulies.
 "Stop that little devils noise." he said savagely. If you think I'm going to put up with his nonsense and yours as well - He L. oke off, releasing Nan and wheeling sharply as someone crash ed through the undergrowth. and the next moment Peter Lyster was there. not yard from them. How much he had heard or seen none of them knew. but there was look in his face which Nan had never thought to see there again--a l look in his eyes as he turned from her to Sefton that made her heart sWoon In her breast for sheer happi- ness. She put out her arms and drew 1 Claudie into them and away from the two men who faced one another | in the narrow pathway.
 sefton laughed insolently as he looked at Peter.
 "Ah! the play-actor!" he said with detestable infection. "The man who lost his memory to avoid further service, or to escape an unwelcome engagement. The man who forgot conveniently forgot"
 But he never finished that sen- tence; Peter made a lunge forward and caught him fairly between the eyes.
 Claudie cried out. but with delight now rather than fear, and Nan hid her eyes.
 But in a contest between brave man and a coward the ending is a 1 foregone conclusion, and Tn two mo- ments Lyster had broken the riding l crop across its owners back, and 1 Sefton had disappeared--a limping, raging thing, to hide his shame in | the heart of the wood.
 Peter was breathing heavily and | his face was very pale,
 There was a dazed sort of look | about him; big man as he was, he l trembled like girl now his rage | had died down.
 And, then, quite suddenly. with out comment uf any sort Lyster | turned on his heel and began to walk slowly away.
 His steps dragged-his head was | downbent-he walked like a man who is thoroughly exhausted.
 Nan gently released Claudie's | clinging fingers and flew after Peter | down the narrow path, her light | steps hardly making any sound on | the messy ground; she caught him up-she spoke his name breathlessly, | fearfuliy.
 "Mr. Lyster."
 But he did not stop, or look at | her: he just said hoarsely:
 Let me go--let me go." as If he could bear no more, and Nan fell | back silently.
 She took Claudie's hand and they ] went home without speaking. Joan met them in the doorway. She gasped when she saw the tearstains and agitation on both faces, She
 Gro Be Continued)