Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-16

Continued from preceding page

drink AL because IT'S the only way you live with your
self Something else didn't make last night and does
now Your lying to me and saying you never had date
with Rita Gilbert. remember seeing you with her.
'Okay," Al said harshy. But as much as hate to
admit ii, she wouldn't have me. Ben was her boy.
'Is that why you killed him, AIT"
The absolute conviction in his voice startled Shan
non As for Al he recoed and there was sudden pallof
under the whisky glow Then the palor gave way to the
flaming red Of anger and he reacted. as Shannon had
eambled he would, with temper and impulse.
And he carried his reaction further than Shannon had
expected him to carry it, With incredible speed his big
hands flashed into drawer in the table and reappeared
clutching gum 'Yes that's why killed him" he said.
at happened TO me the - the same way you said It
happened 10 Ben fell in love with her. But didn't have
a chance She was Bens all the way. Ben didn't have
date with her that night though phoned him and asked
him to meet - said had something very important
to tell him. parked by Trevlans cabin and padded his
canoe across the lake. Ben was waiting for me"
Al waved the pistol as If for emphasis, and Shannon
noticed that the blind anger had disappeared from his eyes,
I'm telling you this because want you to know exactly
how happened. didn't intend to kill him. thought
could scare him with the gun. He laughed at You
know how he was He laughed at me and went crazy.
THE lights Of your along the hill and went out
and thought was that had gone the hill Ben
laughed at me again. Then he said, and can still hear
him. You haven't got the to shoot You're still
acoward with gun in your hand He shouldn't have
said that. because that's when shot him."
ii would have happened that way, Shannon thought
with those two Ben should have known better than to
scor Al He glanced respectfully at the pistol and was
careful to deliberately when he placed his hands
the table. "What happens now Al?'
I'VE make DEAL" Al said instantly. Il can Get my
hands on twenty thousand in cash. Phil Either that -"
1--WE don't make any DEAL AL"
Then III kill you and remember I'm not coward
with gun in my hand"
Shannon made up his mind. He lifted his right hand
deliberately turned palm up, and extended toward Al
He waited. A long time he waited with patience he had
not known he possessed An ache began in his elbow and
ran down his forearm and through his wrist Suddenly Al
groaned Shannon raised his hand higher and Al dropped
the pistol in it. Shannon put il in his pocket.
Al the doorway he looked back and saw Al with his
head in his hands, No feeling Of pity touched Shannon
that might might come later but he did feel then
a lack Of hate and he glad that this was
IL think you'll find him still there he told Lieutenant
Cash. you won't have any trouble. Anyway here's his
gum"
When he reached the Covngton house, Nancy was not
in sight, but her mother sitting on the shady old
fashioned front porch As Shannon climbed the steps, she
came her feet and walked to meet him with her hand
extended. She was not happy, but this only served to
emphasize her graciousneSs
Humility touched Shannon then. She did not know the
events had TAKEN she did not yet know the truth, but
when she did know il she would be forever glad that she
had walked to meet him with outstreched hand lmpul-
sve he made up his mind that she deserved to know even
before he told Nancy. - The Emo