Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-09-17
Fear not; he win be taken before he

Fear not; he will be taken before he
reaches the street, said Sherwood
Nan glanced out into the corridor after
the flying figure Of Warren. She saw him
reach the landing at the head Of the stairs,
and then with o cry like Gagged animal at
bay, draw glittering knife from his
breast and spranc backward.
The policel" his paIlid lips uttered, and
he turned back through the corridor.
The wanderer shrank from him as he sped
by her. His blazing eyes rivaled the glitter
ing sheen of his knife, and as he passed
her he made a wild lunge at her with the
deadly blade, but she evaded the thrust
and then as he reached the open door of
the apartment she had occupied. he darted
into the room, evidently with the intention
of escaping by way of the windows to the
ground below.
HE viii escape by jumping to the river,
cried Nan excitedly, as. followed by Sher-
wood, she hastened to the apartment into
which Warren had just disappeared.
Both stood mystifed at the sound which
greeted their hearing. issuing from the in
terror of the place as thew gained the door
way sound like the sudden contact of
two bodies was followed by the dread
clashing of knives, then curses, the fall of
body, and then wild groans of agony and
pain told them that q desperate struggle
was going on in the darkness.
The lamp, quick!1 cried Sherwood,
and Nan sped to the other room and re-
turned with light.
Its rays cast within the darkened apart
ment revealed scene at the sight of which
the SRI shrank back with an exclamation of
horror, while Sherwood's face betrayed the
most vivid and powerful emotions.
For the mystery Of the terrible struggle
in the dark was made manifest at glance.
Warren, it seemed, had entered the room
OF the moment that Reuben Leslie, after
severe struggle had managed to release
himself from his bonds.
Both men had met without recognizing
each other in the darkness. Both with
drawn knives, adiudging themselves hunt
ed, pursued, mutually foes, had entered
upon that ensanguined contest, the results
of which were now soapparent
For, lying side by side upon the floor,
bathed in blood, their knives still clasped
in their hands. were the two plotters, VIC
Tins to mutual mistake.
Warren was gasping in his death agony,
dozen knife thrusts IN his throat, while
Leslie lay white and silent, with blood
stained clothing, telling of mortal wound
near the heart.
They have met their fate" murmured
Sherwood, his face somber, his voice
gloomy. 1t is better thus than the scaffold,
for justice must be satisfied by this double
atonement for past crimes"
And my fathers murder is avenged
murmured Nan, solemnly.
They turned to leave the apartment, and
met two men just coming to the place.
Our prisoners?" asked one of them
They are there, replied Sherwood to
the officers who had been placed on guard
below, and he pointed to the room they
had just left
One Of the officers drew dark lantern
from beneath his coat and entered the
the apartment where they had left Beatrice
Ayenal.
Both glanced strangely at her, Sherwood
with shade of anxiety in his face.
The beautiful woman stood rigidas stone,
ner head bent on her breast, her eyes down.
cast, as ifsome terrible intensity of thought
held her spell H-bound.
Sherwood came to her side and touched
her arm gently. She started, and fixed q
vacant perplexed look upon him, which
thrilled him to dire apprehension, as he
feared that her mind had suffered relapse
from the terrible strain Of excitement Of
the night.
Beatrice"
The returning CLEAN of intelligence IL
Illuminated her face as her mind cleared.
It is all over, she murmured, lifting her
eyes mournfully toward Sherwoods face.
Yes, Beatrice; your husband in dead.
@My husband, she repeated plaintively,
and then sobbing hysterically she sank into
Sherwood's arms, broken. stricken crea-
ture, finding relief for her woful heart in
tears.
aYes, Beatrice" murmured Sherwood,
soothingly; your husband is dead, OF dy-
ing, victim to retributive justice. He is
unworthy of your tears, unworthy thought
of sorrow or care, for at the last he has
righted you. Let this be suf6cientto make
the future look hopeful. Your mind has re-
turned; do not darken it again by brooding
over the past.
AS he held her with brotherly tenderness
close to his heart. he started as low cry
from Beatrice caused him to look up, start
ing, joyfully excited.
For the dark doorway framed the form of
the woman he loved so devotedly-Edith,
his wife.
A painful look was on the girls white,
jealous face, as she saw Beatrice Avenal in
her husbands arms.
But, as he released the woman and, re-
signing her to Nan, sprang forward and
clasped Edith to his loving arms, the happy
wife, forgetful Of jealousy and doubt, could
only return his passionate embrace, and
murmur in broken accents:
@Oh. thank heaven for the joy of this
moment