Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-01-31
Thirty Years
Bv JEWELL H. MOCFORD
G. Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

front Oh HlIl, NchhCIh
picked up the gun. With his free
hand he pulled his evening coat BACK
and with calm, calculating movement
placed the muzzle over his heart
His handsome young face was set
and colorless, his fine body tense. lie
looked at the watch. In the soft nght
Of the shaded gas jet the minute hand
marked five minutes to eleven.
Five minutes to wait. He relaxed
slightly. He must pull the trigger at
exactly eleven. That had been Kath-
leen's last caution an hour ago as they
stood on the little balcony of the coun-
try club.
1--WE must go together, darling-at the
same instant" He could hear again the
half-sob with her whispered words as
her small head nestled against his
shoulder.
He rested the hand with the gun on
the table. Four minutes yet.
He had held her close-the first time
he had ever taken her In his arms.
for. young as she was, she was another
mans wife.
81 shall not see him again." Kath-
leen had said, after moment. I'll
leave note on his desk" He did not
like to think Of Chauncy Grimes. Yet,
they were taking the only way out,
he and Kathleen.
He felt again the ecstasy Of her
beauty and the rounded curves of her
small body against his as his arms
had crushed the silken puffs of her
sleeves and folded easily around her
amazingly slender waist.
He held the gun against his heart
again. Three minutes now.
1--WE must both be sure Of the time"
she had cautioned again. "and very
careful" He had known in the STILL
ness that followed that she was trying
to Danish the fear of possible slip
In their plans. For could never bear
being without you, darling, no matter
where"
He forced his mind to register the
time. One more minute. InvOluntari-
ly he turned the gun and looked into
the muzzle The cold ugliness Of 1t
startled him. Kathleen, at this mo-
ment. too, must he frightened. But in
a few seconds now bullet-vainly he
tried to force back this thOught-a
bullet would go tearing through her
soft flesh-and his own. His hand. his
whole body shook, went prickly with a
damp fever, then was drained of any
feeling at all.
The minute hand again. 1t plainly
marked eleven-three!
Frantically he reached the wall tele-
phone and turned the crank. Then, at
last, the Grimes butler, excitedly:
"Mrs. Grimes? She's gone! Came
back from the club. must have gone
out again by the side door .
husband frantic, just found note on
his desk suicide, yes, at ex-
actly eleven, the note said. but didn't
say where gun gone, too :"
The scattered words. each definite
flame, burnt into his brain.
Too late! She had gone alone!
On the boat bound for the Orient
Kenneth ROwell knew little peace
The waves swishing against the sides
Of the vessel. shrieked Kathleen's last
words to him, 81 couldn't bear being
without you, darling, no matter where
The thrOb of the engine grOaned them
the wind Kissed them. He had failed
her, had let her go alone into that
vast unknown
1t was the same everywhere he went
Running from his conscience. he trav.
eled for five miserable years, from
country to country, but never back to
America. Finally, in Honduras, his
money gone. he worked on a coffee
plantation, common labOrer. Always
that insistent cry; never away from it
Thirty years passed.
He returned. stOwaway. to Amer
lea. STOPPED. ragged man, old be-
yOnd his years. he moved like a for
lorn spirit across the soft sward In
front of the country club-the ole
building. enlarged. He stood beside 6
shrub under the same little balcony
the same moon. the same soft breeze
The orchestra was playing a sweet
gliding waltz. They had danced Il
that same tune thirty years ago. h.
and Kathleen.
He took a step into deeper shadow
as a woman. followed by a boy. cam,
out He saw her distinctly as sh,
stepped through the lighted french
doors. the large puffs of her silker
sleeves. her blond curls Holding tigh
to his senses. he told himself that thi.
was no ghostly apparition. He remind
ed himself that American papers ha(
said much of late about woman's re
turn to the fashions Of the COS.
She was heavier. with curves NOR,
ample. older. OF course. Then he saw
that she was smoking a cigarette.
But Kay" the boy was saying. "Tl
die II you don't leave old Grimesy an(
marry me! Tll-I'll kill myself"
Don't try 1t, sweetums." she an
swered in a heavy contralto voice, bu
with something of the old sweetness
IL tried it once. Thought I couldn'
live without a certain man. Left thu
usual note on Grimesy's desk, had tn,
gun ready and everything. But. we'll
caught last minute boat to Calai.
instead"
But Grimesy. how did he know ?
the boy asked breathlessly.