The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-11-23
CHAPTER XVI

less spsrits on the detective force They
had at last got hold Of positive clew.
which they proceeded 70 unravel with
patient skill. This clew was seal with
the impress of a mar:let upon II, and 1t
was attached to three inches OF broken
gold chain of fine workmanship,
Day by day, hour by hour, the coil Of
evidence heightened and strengthened,
until, 70 the one faithful heart That
chung 10 him through good and evil re-
port, his case looked hopeless indeed.
Given the established facts that Eu-
gene Norcroes' wife at an earlier stage
OF her career had been SibIeY Far
banks wife. that their connubial lnfe-
Lefty had been even greater than that
Of average yoke mates, that FAIRBANKS
failure 10 support his wife properly had
led to a temporary separation, that our
ing that separation She had taken steps
70 have her marriage declared null and
void, that subsequently she had reap
pearcd In society as Eugene Norcross'
splendor loving and dashing wife, that
at about the same period Of time Fair
banks returned to the city, in improved
circumstances, but naturally consumed
with a Jealous hatred OF the woman
who had tossed him aside like mistit-
ting glove, and the groundwork Of the
tragedy was complete.
It only wanted the legal verbiage and
profound platitudes Of contending cOun-
sci to put this choice morsel int" final
shape for rolling under the famished
tongue of public curiosity.
On the morning Of the day set for his
trial, Sibley Fairbanks ate his break
fast with sullen stoicism. ct may pos
slbly be the last one shall have the
privilege OF ordering to suit my own
TASTE" he said, with grim facetious-
ness, to Ida, pouring out his coffee,
white-faced, but steady of nerve and
resolute of heart "If it goes against
me,"-he cracked the shell of his soft
boiled egg with nice deliberations
return at once to Glenburnie, with the
child. and-and-if Lorimcr seeks you
In spite of all, don't repulse him, my
dear. Promise me that, will you nOt?"
She did not answer him. She was
watching his deliberate movements
with strained attention, through film
that made him look grotesquely unfa-
miliar.
my poor Idal my truest Of women!
my hon-hearted sister! you are not
going TO break down now?"
''Sibleyi'
She called his name in a husky
whisper. Her voice seemed deserving
her along with all the other organs that
had been essential in that other world
she used to live In. She had needed a
voice once, when rs a girl, as woman,
she had breathed and moved in that
other world, at fair old place called
Glenburnie. But she had nothing il
common with that other girl, that other
world. She was turning to stone She
was already petrified. Her heart had
turned to rock. Her tears were so
many hard, cold little pebbles. 1t was
more comfortable 80. 1t helped her to
stand things. And there was so much,
oh, so much, t. standi
"Sibleyl"
''Well2 think answered you be-
fore, Ida"
'There Is one question l would like
to have you answer before-before-"
my case Is called"
"Yes."
'sWell?"
"You have never said yet-never to
me, though of course l know it, dear,
only would love to have you put it in
words-you have never said, in SO many
words: 4 did not do it. Not for the
lawyers-words mean nothing to them;
they are only pebbles for their sings.
But to me, Sibley, the sister who loves
you and whose heart you have broken"
She was coming towards him with
tender outstretched arms, her worn,
thin face all a-qrivcr with pain. He
put out a repulsing hand before folding
his arms sullenly.
mo. l have never put 1t into words
for you. ! did not know it was neces-
sary. Forgive me, child, every pang
have cost you. l asked the prison
authorities to let me breakfast with
you this morning, for knew what this
day would be to you, and l wanted, If
possible, to say something comforting
to you. Somehow, don't seem to have
managed very well. l wish you had
some woman friend near you. / wish
you had not como to the city with me.
It makes 1t harder for both of US VIII
you bring the child here and let me say
good-by to her? II 1t goes against me
shall not see either you or her again
would not like you to come so close tc
. convicted criminal"
Her arms had fallen to her side like
lead He would not put it into words
It must be that he could not. She tot
tered from the room to fetch Ninette
In the darker hall she nearly stumbled
over the two prison officials who were
standing guard at the door of the room
where she and Sibley had just got
through with that dismal breakfast
One of the men put out a rough hanC
with kindly intent. He saved her a fall
for which she did not even thank him
When she came back along the same
way, after hurried five minutes sDent
in rousing Ninette and buttoniug tiny
dressing gown over her nightdress. tn,
sentinels were gone. So was Sibley
He had scrawled message on an enve-
lope and left it on her napkin.
81 have taken the easiest wav 70
both Of us. If l do not come back t
you tonight leave at once for Glen
burnie. l wish you had some woma
1rlenu near you. AS Tor my llttl
daughter, Ida, all ask of you is t
make of her as true woman as nv sis
ter is. She will send no man to tn
dogs If you do that"
She sat down on a comfortless chair
which CHANGED to be close by the barre
shutters Of her one front window, an
clasped her long white hands behind he
head. There was nothing to do but t
wait and to listen. The verdict woul
be proclaimed on the streets some tim
that day. The Norcross affair VIZ
worth money to the newspapers. TIL
public would be eager for the extras &
they fell Huttering from the presses
How long she sat there she could nc
tell. She had lost all record of tim
Perhaps it was another hour, anothe
day, another week, when she heard it
the distance-then nearer, shriller, MOI
distinctly incoherent:
'ExtraP - humble, mumble-''N No
cross'-mumble. mumble-''here's you
extral'