Daily British Whig (1850), 30 Mar 1926, p. 11

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become their cheery little selves again until it is removed. the: takin, in way io There's no fear of ** geenes with Kruschen. dose gently but surely waste matter the small insides. Next day ddies wake up with "that feeling," energy irits com ly resto od Health for Half a Cent a Day for adults is "as as will INSTALL } Chamberlin GONE IN ONE NIGHT Sportsman is "as good as new" after one treatment and stiffness from exposure THE DAILY BR - ¥ E YELLOW STUB +..;QREAT NEW MYSTERY SERIAL . By Ernest Lynn Chapter LIV. If ever murder was in 8 man's eyes, it blazed in Church's. And there was a maddening deliberate- ness to him, too, as if he' found much to enjoy in the situation and was reluctant to have it end so soon. But for a man threatened with sudden death, Rand was surprising- ly cool. He said: "And you stlil ad- mit it, Church?" "Sure," the other gneered, 'but little good it will do you, you young pup." "I just wanted to make sure," re- marked Jimmy with a shrug and went on' calmly smoking his cigar- ette, And now bafflement was written on the othe: man's face. How could this fresh young upstart be so pro- vokingly cool? How could he jest with death in that manner? A sud- den sinkipg fear assailed him that, somehow, something was Wrong-- that there was something he didn't know. His finger tightened on the trigger. 5 "Why don't you shoot, Church?" and Jimmy, facing him squarely, took a step toward him. "Go ahead; get it over with." "Damn vou, I will!" - His teeth were set. Grimly he pulled the trig- ger, and instead of the barking shot he heard a mocking click. He pull- ed it again, and again the hammer snapped on an empty chamber. Rand's taunting laugh was in his ears. 'Empty, /Church. Only - one bullet in it, and I wasted that on your book case. "you fool," he said, "do you think I'm crazy? Do you think I'd delib- erately walk away from that gun if it was loaded? I thought you'd do that very thing, Church--confess and then repudiate it the moment you knew I wasn't going to kill you. You see, I anticipated you, and you played right into my hands by ad- mitting it over again just a minute ago." "I can still. repudiate it, Rand," said Church, and it was like the last 'baring of teeth of a cornered rat. He jumped for the table. "And 1 can still kill you." But Jimmy was in his way, and before Church could reach the table drawer there was a loud trampling of feet and ja sudden influx of blue- coated med. Strong hands held Church, pinned his arms from be- hind. "You sea, Church," said Jimmy, "you can't very well repudiate it, after all. These men were planted outside the room. They've even got a court stenographer. You got every word, didn't' you, Lieutenant?" Jimmy turned to O'Day, who was standing beside him. "Didn't miss a thing, Rand." O'Day was eyeing Church wrath- fully. "You dirty sneakin' dog!" he observed, and turned his back. Jimmy cpened the table drawer, pulled out Church's revolver and flung it on the table, He leaned toward Church, who was still held tightly from behind. "There are two reasons why I didn't kill you, Church," he said. "I guess you know what one of them was-- a girl we both know. The other--I gave my word to O'Day." He had time now to relax since Henry Rand's tragic death was somehow lessened by the thought that _the ntan responsible for it stood before' him, beaten, exposed and cornered. That and the thought that Mary Lowell would be waiting for him. . . « And then the poignant realization that Olga Maynard, who had been helplessly enmeshed in this thing and buffeted about, was lying alone on a hospital bed--friendless, with- out cheer and comfort. .Some- how it dulled the keen edge of the victory he had won; his triumph was hollow, Blind, hot anger surged over him as he regarded Church, the man re- sponsible not only for his father's murder but for Olga's plight as well, His face within inches of Church's, his hands tightly clenched to keep himself under control and not strike him, he said: "The really contempti- ble thing about you is that you an innocent woman, You'knew that we had something on you ever since the night Olga Maynard and I saw Jensen in that automobile. And then you found out, somehow, that she was suspected. would have passed thie blame on to} "So you planned the kidnapping, and had my father's picture planted in her apzrtmenmt. Church, if I could forgive everything else you have done---which I can't, of course --1 could never forgive that." He turned to O'Day, his face twisting with pity. "Lieutenant, they beat her--that man Jensen-- because she wouldn't write a con- tession, God knows what they'd have done with her after she had." "Killed her, more than likely," growled O'Day. "Rand, I'm an old fool. I'm sorry for thinkin' what '1 did about her, an' I'm man enough to apologize when I see her agam, But this here bird," and he inal- cated t cowering Church, "is cooked." There's mot only murder against. him, but abduction an' a number of other things. "By the way, Church," he. con- tinued, "what was that you stuck m your pocket?" He fumbled with his large hand through Church's coat, fished out a folded paper and spread it on the table. "It is a will, Rand--the will of Thaddeus Rand. I guess this 18 yours." "Take care of, it," said Jimmy. "They'll be wanting it as evidence later on. Hold on, though, -guess I'll read it over myself. . . . "Yep," he said later, when he had gone over it, "it's just as Mooney's informant, whoever he was, said. Henry Rand or his heirs. . . .Sam- uel Church executor." He looked at Church again, byt he was speaking to O'Day. "I belleve that's all, Lieutenant." Once more dull depression settled on him, and the draught of victory was bitter on his lips. There was Mary, the girl he loved, no longer unattainable but waiting to hear from him. And now that, he knew she was his and his agonized longing was at an end his triumph was suddenly flat, like that of some seeker who, blind to every- thing but his goal, finds it, and when it is in his grasp pauses to look behind him and see what has been overlooked in his quest. There was Olga, broken in spirit, hurt, with nothing to look forward to. . . .Ard she loved him; had told him with her lips, with her eyes, with faithful devotion to him. . What a debt he owed her--what a debt. . .:.. "And God help me," he agonized, "how can I pay it?" He thought, "Church "has licked me, after Surprisingly, It was Church him- self who broke into his reverie. He said, with a forced smile and affect- od indifference, 'Congratulations, Rand. You win. Lots of money now. . . . you can marry her, and they lived happily ever after." "Shut up, you," growled O'Day. He had missea nothing. There was a sare quality of sympathy and under- standing beneath his tough hide. It has not occurred to Jimmy that he was wealthy. He failed to realize it even .then. He thought, "Yes, 1 suppose I can--and' trample on that poor girl you 'dragged into this." To Church he remarked qufetly, "You'll never realize what you've done to me," and turned away to hide his face. A struggle went on within him. As long as Mary had beéen out of his reach he had been indifferent to everything clse--as indifferent, at any rate, as a sensitive nature would permit. Then his path had seemed so clear. But now it branched, and one way lay desire and the other way--was {it duty? He thought of going to Olga and saying, "You'll be taken care of now. Your troubles are over. I've got influential friends. I'll see that you get your start----your career." But the words in his mind were mere empty phrases. It would be nothing short of hyprocisy, he thought. He groaned aloud, "Lord, that's not paying her back. I owe her everything," and was startled when O'Day put a hand on his shoulder. "Come, lad," O'Day was saying, »let"s get out of here. You need to sleep it over. Too much of & strain. You're tired, an' you're hurt, an' your nerves are all in pieces. You need quiet." ; He turned toward his men. "Bring him along, boys," and pointed, to Church. ' : When he spoke again to Rand his manner was bluff and: hearty. "Did I tell you how Mooney got that dope trom Mexico City? No, Weil, he called me up first and sent the tele- gram on as confirmation. 1 told him I'd want it. 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