Imperial Valley press., 1936-10-18
Sixty Seconds F From Life
"FAT E"

said from time to time began to come back to
him. Kurt Won Holtz had never been anyones
fool For the first time he looked at Anna in
the light of a witness on the stand. He was try
ing Anna, and he knew the verdict any jury
would bring in AS he stood there in the shop
entrance his castles crumbled. Anna was de-
signing woman, a very lovely and auring one
to be sure but she was certainly after his money.
He had been fool to be so blind as to think she
really loved him-a man old enough to be her
father. And he was about to cast aside, per-
haps bring scandal into the life of the woman
who had stood by his side for nearly 80 years!
No, no-he wouldn't go through with it! He
realized suddenly that he loved Clara. He didn't
want to give her up. The letter! He must stop
that letter-get hold of it before Clara!
He hurried out into the street The rain beat
against his glasses, binding him. Only one
thought ran through his mind-to get back the
letter he had written to Clara, He stumbled to
the curb franticaly looking for cab. He hailed
several but they were occupied. He must get
home in time to intercept that letter! He
thought he could distinguish a cab parked
across the street. He stepped from the curb,
hurryng toward the car. Suddenly, a siren
screamed close beside him. He turned Just In
time to see car skidding along the wet pave
ment There was terrified look on the face of
the man at the wheel he jammed on the
brakes. Then there was sickening impact and
Won Holtz went down.
~LARA Won HOLTz answered the door her.
~ self when the police officer rang. He noted
a restrained excitement about her as he re-
spectfully removed his helmet.
Frau Won Hotz ?" he asked
She nodded,
II have some bad news for you. There has
been an accident. Your husband"
HE has been hurt 2" Her voice came mechan-
icaly.
"Im sorry, Frau Won Holtz He is dead'
II knew it could never happen Something
told me it never would" she murmured scarcely
above a whisper. Then "Where is he I will
come with you' she told the officer. Without
waiting for his reply she walked slowly across
the room and took her coat from the top of
a trunk which packed and waiting for the
express man.
"You were planning on going away?" the
officer asked her, solicitousy
Yes, away" she answered
few moments later they sped toward
the morgue where Kurt Holtz lay dead on
a marble slab Clara sat in silence beside the
officer In her hand was tightly clasped the
letter her husband had mailed to her that morn
ing. Two tears slipped out of the corners of
her eyes and ran down her cheeks. She opened
the letter and read it agan-for perhaps the
twentieth time.
my darling Here's the surprise I've been
hoping to give you for long time. We are GO
ing away together, you and l, at once. Today
turned my practice over to my partner. I'm fin
ished with work. Now we are going to play
We will leave this very night for the Riviera
then Egypt the Orient, far places. Happiness
lies ahead. Forget everything else and pack
I'll call for you late this afternoon. There is a
reason why we must get away at once which
I shall explain when l see you. I wonder if
you really know how much you mean to me?
l am going to devote the rest of my life to maxi
ing you happy. love you. Kurt"
Not the letter that he had meant for Clara.
not the letter which the hope of intercepting
had caused him to rush into the arms of death.
but the letter he had meant for Anna, and
had placed in the wrong envelope had been de-
livered to Clara If Kurt Won Holtz could only
know this perhaps his spirit would be less tor
mented.
CRP.