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Show cHoHicooc KENT'S LAST THROW 0 By ELLA DEAN RICHMOND. V OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO (Copyright, 1915, by W. O. Chapman.) From early boyhood Kent Marvin had been a "thrower." Quick of eve, suro of nerve, Just as certain persons wcro born with bohio predominating skill, his lay In accuracy of aim. No ono had ever excelled him In throwing a bean bag, or In duck-ontho-rock, or at quoits. Later on bo becamo tho champion pitcher of tho local baseball team. Ho did not mako n profession or trade of It, but ho could kuock an applo off a trco brauch with a pebble every tlmo. Ho throw a bouquet straight Into tho arms of pretty Llna Wcntworth when sho graduated and that led to their raro uud charming lovo romance Of lato Kent had got to throwing something else dice, at tbo village billiard hall. TIiIb had led to his associating asso-ciating with a pretty rapid crowd Among them was a profllgato idler 'with plenty of money named Harpor Winston. If Kent had analyzed affairs ho would have found that Winston was scheming to discredit him wltn Llna so as to win her for blmsU. Two nlshtB previous down at th billiard hall Winston had IntrodJccd Kent and his frtendB to a city filonrt. Mr. Hnlpln ho called him. Thoy had drank considerable and Kent escorted Halpln to tho hotel. Tho next morning morn-ing a friend of Kent camo to him and told him that Halpln hnd lost a dla- mond ring and accused Kent of stealing steal-ing It, as he was the last person with him tho night previous. Things looked pretty black for Kent. Ho hid In tho room of a friend all that ddy. Ho mado up his mind that Llna would have nothing further to do with an accused thief. In a fit of desperation despera-tion Kent decided to leave tho village for good and started to do so at mid- night, when ho saw tho town marshal approaching him. Kent rushed down a sldo street out of sight of tho marshal. Theu a square farther on as ho saw a pedestrian pedes-trian approaching him ho leaped a fonco and ran through a garden. Hlo overstrained fears led hlra to seek a hiding placo. Ho mado out a largo dog houso. It was empty. Keut crawled into It. "What to do next?" ho panted helplessly. help-lessly. "Oh, 1 am In a terrlblo flx!" As ho lay among tho straw, a hunted hunt-ed fugltlvo, Kent reflected how hl3 careless habits had probably cost him tho position of his life Two weeKa previous a friend had suggested that he apply to tho railway mall service In tho city for an appointment Kent did so, and wonderfully attracted tho attention nnd admiration of tho agent of tho government with tho nccuraqy and swiftness with which ho was ablo to throw mall. Ho was advised that his references would bo looked up and If ho paBsed muBter ho would bo offered a good position. Now, an accused ac-cused thief, they would scarcely consider con-sider him. Kent fell asleep. Ho was nwakened perhaps two hours later by tho tound of low. voices. Peering out, ho saw two men, strangers to him. "Look hero," ono of them was saying, say-ing, "wo'vo hold up ono man and loot-led loot-led four houses. Tboro's ono moro in tho block. You rcBt tho booty and ' guard It whllo I eco If thero's anything jelso worth getttng. Then wo'll go to our automobllo in tho woods and iBpced for tho city. Wo'll do up Uieso I country ynhooks In good stylo, whllo wo'ro about it." "BurglarsI and tholr booty Is In that satchel!" breathed KenL Ono of tho men disappeared. Tho other sot his foot on tho satchel and kept guard. A sudden impulso flashed through the mind of Kent Marvin. Ho would outwit theBO bold schomors. Ho reached out and seized tho limb of tho sentinel burglar. At tho samo tlmo ho Imitated tho snarling bark ot a dog. Naturally tho burglar waa startled and fell back. In an Instant Kent waa out of tho dog houso and on his feet. He snatched up tho satchel. "Drop that! Who aro you?" and tho burglar, partly recovering himself, flashed a revolver. Just then Kent saw a light In an upper room of tho despoiled mansion. Some ono was aako there Ho gavo tho satchel n swing. As "a thrower" ho waa at his best. It described an accurato parabola curve Crash! bangt clatter! through tho window It -went, whllo Kent shouted lustily: "Burglars phono for tho pollco!" Tho burglar fired nt Kent. Tho shot missed him. Ho Btooped and picked up a heavy pleco of wood. Again a. fling. Down went tho burglnr senso-less, senso-less, and as his companion appeared Kent grappled with him and held him till two oorvants camo rushing from tho mansion. His part in recovering somo $5,000 stolen booty would havo helped Kont In public estimation anyway, but a dls covery cleared him of all taint of crime Tho man tho burglars had robbed on tho street was Harpor Winston, nnd among their booty was found the missing diamond ring, evidencing a conspiracy and clearing Kent. Tho next day there camo a notification notifi-cation from tho railway postal servico awarding Kent tho coveted position. His ropontnnco. earnest and sincere softened fair Lena's heart. Ho was through throwing dice hla chances away, and other foolish actions. Una believed him, and throw herself in hla arms and forgave him. |