San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-07-20
ELISA
The White Face At The Window.
Written by Edith Aiken for the Light.

lF1RsT CHAPTER BfGAN IN NO loo JUNE -9l
The gas was burning brightly in
two rooms, and in one of these were
two trunks locked and strapped with
cards marked "Harry Roberts, 4" tackled
securely on their cover.
Hedge Woodburn went out to the
janitor, his face growing white and the
terrible glitter coming into his eyes.
Thevery sight ofhlm brought Michael
out Of his sullen Longing attitude,
for Mike had grown sullen towards
the klngly man who had bought his
service though not his respect or con-
fidence, and he had done nothing
willingly for the past week or ten
days. His conscience had pricked
him constantly for the dirty work he
was doing against the sad lovely
lady. Nothing but his need of money
would have induced him to do it.
'Be CAD, ev don't bleve its all a
domb lie!" the good hearted Irish
man had muttered more than once,
"ev ayther's er tief its HIMSELF"
The natural instincts were after all
unerring.
Now as Hedge came towards him,
if looks could kill, Mike would never
have spoken again, but seeing that
the furious man did not speak at once,
he managed to say:
"Be the lady Almost ready Sir?
Shall I bring up the elevator"
"You devil!" was Kissed in reply,
tell me where she is, tell me instant
ly before brain you !" and the white
hand rounded itself into a ball of
iron.
II don't know what yer mean sir,
deed I don'tw
"Liar! Hedge Woodburn aimed a
blow, that must have felled the jani-
tor had it struck as aimed, but
Michael who was standing before
the open door of the elevator, lodged
the blow, and O! o horror down
through the yawning five stored well
tumbled the anger blinded man head
first. What must have been his
thoughts during that terrible flight
of only few seconds we may never
know, but when the horror stricken
janitor-first taking precaution to
arouse the house-opened the door
below, Hedge Woodburn was taken
out lifeIess, the head doubled under
the body.
1t was deemed important under the
circumstances to summon the coroner
and when this was done, and he had
heard the shivery statement of Mike
and the disjointed EXPLANATORY state
ments of the various persons present,
he considered it of sufficient obscurity
and importance hold an inquest. A
wagon was sent for, and when it
arrived the body of Woodburn was
lifted in and taken to the General
Hospital Morgue.
1t was a dreadful piece of horror
for a New Years item, and two per-
sons read it at the same break fast
table, in strange sympathy, though
their emotions were different.
George Sommers regretted the
needless expenditure of two thousand
dollars, but regretted more than this
the nonfulfilment of the compact be-
tween him and the dead man, beside
feeling a curious anxiety as to how
much the mysterious Mrs. Grove"
mentioned in the paper as "not being
found" knew of the dead mans mo-
tives.
With Julie the dominant feerng
was relief. She had brought he ahlf
to consent to Woodburn's MARI 70
with Mrs. Roberts-hopeless of 'urt-
ming him herself-iH order to sec
to her's-as she believed, and
brothers use the noble income wrtmt
to that lady. But it had beings +.
struggle fierce and terrible all the Gls
and with his death came resF; 20
she knew now, that she would ock en- !