Hyder weekly herald., 1931-12-05
Eavesdropping on the Other Man
By ALLEN JOHN ADAMS

sneaked in quietly-as if he were a burglar, instead of the owner. Open- ing the back door softly, he peered about and crept down the hall to the living room. His return from town was two hours earlier than he had planned. He felt thrilled as he thought of the surprise 1t would give his bride of a week.
 He grasped the handle of the living room door and started to turn it slow ly, but a strange voice from within the room stopped him. The words that he had heard seemed impossible; he doubted his own hearing. But there Is was again--that low masculine voice that radiated such assurance; now 1t was saying suggestively, II knew you'd come back to me. You couldn't love anyone else that way, as long as we were together" And then silence damnable silence!
 It was unbelievable! Ruth! Of all the women in the world-untrue to him. Only this morning. she had clung to him tenderly, and she whispered that she had never loved anyone else.
 But there was the irrefutable evi- dence again coming to his ears-that low vibrant voice that sounded just as the perfect lovers should! Now, 1t was becoming more dramatic and at times tritle untitled as If they had their faces close to- gether. He could think only of the lovely face that he had thought be- longed to him.
 It was more than he could stand. He felt very sick inside, as if he want ed to fall to the floor, and never rise again. He was aroused by the sound of that same insinuating voice again thrusting itself into his suffering mind. Strain as he might, he could not hear his wife's voice. The torturlng thought, that she seldom spoke above a whisper when he held her in his arms, scared his feverish brain. She must be In this other mans arms now, whisper ing endcaring phrases to this new-old lover as she had to him.
 He felt dazed and helpless Who was so all-powerful as to come in and take his wife away from him? His blood seemed to go cold at the thought of the thing. It was maddening!
 Then, he heard the mans voice; 1t was soft, persuasive; 1t seemed like a very intimate whisper. but he caught, "and we'll run away together, dear tonight"
 Rodger Manning suddenly saw red; and the blood that had seemed chilled in his veins began to feel as if it were on fire. He reeled away from the door, staggering with blind rage that knew no bounds. The long restrained temper had burst it's leash, and his mind was filled with fiendlsh thoughts ot revenge action! . . anything to destroy this soul-torturlng visionl
 He went into their bedroom and opened the right-hand top drawer of the dresser Yes It was still there, all right. He picked up the cold and dark-looking automatic. that now seemed like such strange device to snuff out mems lives-and even women's! Turning 1t over in his hands. he stared at this black metal thing that could deal death so quickly.
 He was in the supplied daZe of a person whose mad rage has reached temporary insanity. Seeing his refiec- tion in the mirror in front of him startled him. He saw a man with di- lated eyes and slightly open mouth, who looked very pale and ghastly--a strange man. who held a weapon of death in his hand. and prepared him. self for murder.
 He thought slowly murder death-meant separation from the only thing Tn this world he loved; he didn't want to live without her. he'd kill himself, too. But the man. the other man; as he thought of the one who had wrecked his dream of happiness, his jaw frightened fiercely: and the lips that had been open, set In a hard line of determination. He would carry his plan through to it's bitter end.
 After the shots people would come in .> and they would find three bodies-all dead; and the gun that had spoken revengeful justice and death, would still be tightly gripped by his hand.
 He examined the automatic very slow ly, and carefully-like man who had eternity. Yes it was fully loaded, and in perfect order: so he moved the safety-catch and took a fir mer grip. They say that, Every man kills the thing he loves.
 As he turned the knob of the living room door, he heard slight sound from within. but not a word They must be in each others arms now to be so silent.
 He put the gun in his coat pocket with his finger on the trigger-and pointed 1t forward. In a moment fire would come from that pocket.