Henderson daily dispatch., 1937-04-17
CHAPTER 70
CoPYRIGHT-RGLEASED BY.
CENTRAL PRESS ASSOCIATION

CHARLES STOOD blocking the
door of his Office. not permitting
Lutman to go out.
eff you can imagine you car
back out now and butt in and up
set everything-you can't" Lut-
man told Charles heatedly. '"The
marriage is going through-it's
got to go through. There's mat
ter Of $1,5O0.00O at stake, and if
it came to the point I'd marry her
to a drunken sailor to get away
with it. Now come away from
that door. You're not getting the
deed.
Suddenly Charles sprang. His
hands found Lutman'S throat, and
the Colonel, with Charles on top
of him, crashed backward onto the
floor. For perhaps half minute
they struggled furiously, and then,
with a tremendous effort, Lutman
wrenched himself free, and the
next instant Charles, springing to
his feet, found himself staring at
the muzzle of a revolver.
"Stay where you are" snapped
Lutman, cor I'll kill you stone
dead"
Charles stood still, but his hands
were clenched and he was crouch
ing slightly as if he were about to
spring at Lutman again.
"You lunatic!" exclaimed Lut-
man. "Do you want the river po-
lice in? No-don't move. You're
as near death now, Charles, as
you'll ever be-"
His hand went to his breast
pocket and he gave a nod of salts
faction.
"Still there" he said. There
seems no object in prolonging the
interview"
With his gun still in his hand he
back to the door, found the handle,
turned it, and pushed the door
open.
Good night, Charles" he smiled,
slipped into the outer Office, and
closed the door.
The next instant, however, the
door was opened again and Lut-
mans head appeared for a mo-
ment through the opening.
eff you'd thought for a couple
of seconds, Charles" he said,
you'd have realized that I
shouldn't have dared to risk shoot
ing"
Mrs. Smith evidently had the
good nights rest which she had
anticipated. She was still fast
asleep at 10 o'clock the next morn
ing when Jacqueline, looking rath-
er as though she had not slept at
all, peeped into her room. She
noiselessly closed the door again
and went into the sitting room to
breakfast off cup Of tea and a
cigaret. She told herself that. to
wake her mother then and blurt
out the unpleasant news as a morn
ing greeting would be- a heartless
sort of thing to do-rather like
waking a prisoner to announce to
him that it was the morning of his
execution.
It was IL o'clock before Mrs.
Smith put in an appearance, de-
manded a cup of tea, and, as she
drank it, began to chatter.
"Such a happy day ahead, JAG
queline," she began. Shopping.
You must have something respect
able to take away with you. You
must certainly have some new I'M
derclothes. So important. We
don't want Jim to think we're quite
paupers."
Mother, there is no need :"
began Jacqueline, but Mrs. Smith
cut her short.
my dear, I know what a girl
needs when she's going to get
married, and you must leave it to
me-. I've been married and you
haven't. OF course, we can't pay
for anything, but if we mention
Colonel Lutman's name I'm sure
they'll give us all the credit we
want. And of course, dear, I'm
going to give you present.
really good present. I can afford
it now. At least, 1 shall be able
to afford it very soon. IF there's
anything you especially want. :"
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