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Johnson, Owen, 1878-1952

"Murder in Any Degree"


Lightbody took up his glass and again approached it to his lips,
frowning at the thought of what he had revealed. All at once a fresh
impulse caught him, he put down his glass untasted, blurting out:
"Do you want to know one thing more? Do you want to know the truth, the
real truth?"
"Gracious heavens, there is something more?"
"I never married her--never in God's world!"
He ceased and suddenly, not to be denied, the past ranged itself before
him in its stark verity.
"She married me!"
"Is it possible?"
"She did!"
What had been an impulse suddenly became a certainty.
"As I look back now, I can see it all--quite clear. Do you know how it
happened? I called three times--not one time more--three times! I liked
her--nothing more. She was an attractive-looking girl--a certain
fascination--she always has that--that's the worst of it--but gentle,
very gentle."
"Extraordinary!"
"On the third time I called--the third time, mind you," proceeded
Lightbody, attacking the table, "as I stood up to say good-by, all at
once--the lights went out.


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