Evening star., 1926-05-30

| WdItcO 10 hHOW WHY SVu
wouldn't need your money any more. u
"Well-you know now"
"Yes." the beggar agreed.
II have nothing else that's worth
anything. II that's what you're wait
ing for. Would you mind going
away?" Vincent Hall was not cordial.
but the beggar seemed unaffected by
his manner. He came forward.
You have no right to commit sui
cide." he said.
"No?"
mo :. ., When did you FIRST
Every one does, I guess"
"But when did you first think Of It
seriously?" asked the beggar. when
did you first consider applying It to
yourself as a sedative?"
Tonight"
II thought so. That's why I say
you have no right to do it." The beg.
gar came closer still. when you
have thought Of 1t as much as I have
please don't point that gun at me!
when you have thought as much as
I have about suicide. you will be quail.
fed to reach a decision"
Really" said Vincent, II don't see
how 1t concerns you at all. You have
made two or three hundred dollars by
1t already: should think you'd be
satisfied" The beggar laughed softly.
| "On the contrary" he said. IF you
kill yourself and your body Is found
stripped of money and valuables, the
case will be called murder. and will
F., be caught and electrocuted."
II see," said Vincent. There is
more to it than appears at the first
| glance. Then why don't you give
| me the watch and the cigarette Gaze
back and keep the money? Nobody
| will be able to identify the money"
The beggar saw At to laugh again.
Because" he said. II don't believe
any man should kill himself over a
woman" Vincent jumped.
"What--what makes you think a
woman has anything to do with it?'''
"A number Of things. For instance,
the fact that you have come way out
| mere in the park to do 1t. That's con.
siderate." The man insisted upon gig
Cling quietly.
Vincent did not like him.
Look here" he said. This is none
Of your business. You don't know
anything about 1t. And I'd appreciate
1t If you'd go away. II I want to
| shoot myself what's it to your"
You don't want to shoot yourself
You're just set on making a fool of
yourself
What do you know about it?" Vim.
cents Jaw protruded dangerously
But the beggar remained calm.
Il know a great deal about 1t.
know that no woman knows her own
mind, because no woman has a mind
Of her own. A woman has only emo.
tions, and h r emotions get too strong
for her. That's why I don't believe
any man should kill himself over a
woman
IVINCENT HALL was at the end of
his patience. He spoke crisply: "I
am not interested in your philosophy.
win you have the decency to go
away?"
Apparently the beggar did not hear
him.
Two years ago." he said softly.
my wife told me she hated the sight
Of me. She said she wished would
go away and never come back. I
went away. / went down to the river
instead of to the park. Then found
I did not want to die - Vim
cent was listening. The beggar con.
tinued:
II went to hotel and wrote her
suicide note and mailed it ITO her. /
said was killing myself as a favor to
her and that my body would never be
found"
The man pulled Vincent Halls gold
cigarette case from his pocket.
Have q cigarette?" he asked. Vim.
match and both men smoked. There
was silence.
"Well?" Vincent asked finally.
Two days later" said the beggar.
Il picked up a newspaper. On the
front page I found q piece about my
wife's suicide. She had left a note
that said she could not live without
me-" The man blew the ashes from
the tip Of his cigarette. II tell you"
he said, mo man should kill himself
over a woman
"Your wife didn't love another
man." Vincent Halls voice was bit
ter.
"I tell you that no man should kill
himself over q woman"
II tell you you don't know what
you're talking about" said Vincent.
Listen" said the beggar. "Would
you like to live some more? II things
were Strengthened out? If you found
your wife didn't love another man."
Vincent Hall hssitated. "Yes," he
said at length. "Of course"
"I1l make you a bet," said the beg.
gar. "ITl bet you your watch and
chain against your pistol"
"How do you mean" Vincent asked.
This way" said the beggar. II
give you your watch and chain. You
your wife and-use your head. Try it
for an hour. Then IL she still loves
the other man. come back here and
meet me on the bridge at II. If
you're not back by S minutes after II.
the pistols mine."
"But-but you could get a dozen
pistols for the watch"
The beggar giggled. II can get
dozen watches with the pistol"
Vincent considered. He admitted to
himself that he did not want to die,
that he was sick at the thought of
putting the pistol in his mouth and
crime was worth another try, even on
saw the disheveled heap on the sofa
again. He took the auto
matte by it's cool barrel and extended
the butt end to the beggar.
"You will be on the bridge at H."
he asked. ''You promise?"
"On my word Of honor as a--sentf.
mentalist," said the beggar. Vincent
scrambled up the earthly bank,
reached the path. and hurried away in
the direction from which he had come.
X \ X X
A 8 he unlocked the front door he
& n trembled from head to foot.
His coffee cup was on the table
where he had left It. Katherine's cup
was on the floor before the sofa. The
cushions at the end Of the sofa where
she had been were still crushed out
of shape. But there was no one there.
Vincent swallowed.
After q while he moved his feet
again. He turned himself about. He