The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-04-26
CHAPTER lI.-COntinueI.

ard had it put up on that account. Be
sides that, he u ed it rs u sort Of rough
sitting room, whare he could rest and
think when he wanted t. be quite
quiet and undisturbcd. Come down
and ] will show you what it i, like"
1t was IL spacious place fitted IN the
usual name of photographer
studio 1t was doubtlcss!y bright and
snug enough when the former owner
inhabited 1t, but to Dick it seemed un-
comfortable and nearly uncanny. Fur
nitu:e and curtains wee faded and
covered with dust. but that did no.
account. to his mind. for the chill,
creepy feeling that seized him the mo-
ment he set his foot into the room. a
vague presentime nt unaccOuntab:c and
undefina b e--Of something that ought
rot to be-unreasonabie and yet OPP
Ires,ive-Occui led his thoughts.
He looked about him and found Fife
sitting on chair by the big writing
table. She wa, paler than usual, and
her fingers opened and closed nervous
ly. He turned to her with solicitous
anxiety.
You are not i'll. hope. darling?' he
asked. whats the natter"
Nothing. 1t is nothing" she an
swered, with nearly sad smile. Only
it is cold and humid here"
Let US go away then" he said. Il
don't know why we came to the place
at ALL"
As no looked around his eye fell on
the Photographic apparatus leaning
against one corner of the room. 1t
seemed familiar to him. And Us he
looked again he noticed the curtains,
dull. green. partly faded. He seemed
70 know them, too. He thought it
strange, and reflected for Il moment.
and then laughed ut himself. OF
course he had sc N many such appara-
fuses and many such curtains in many
Photographers studios. When he
went TO bed that night he lay wide
awake for hours. and still those curtains
were ever present to his eyes.
1t was II bright winter night and the
ghostIy light of the moon shonc
through the half-drawn muslin blinds.
1t fell upon Effie face, calm and softly
smiling as she lay there by his side,
and surrounded it with Il silvcry glory
such as painters fashion to encircl, the
heads of their angels. She lay there
sleeping peacefully and her white
beautiful face nearly chased the OPP
pressing thoughts from Dicks mind.
On sudden, as if b., some hidcous,
CHASTITY inspiration, as by the prompt
ings oi some evil genius, a terrible
scene flashed back into the young mans
gether. 1t mad been wiped away from
Iii thoughts by tho events of the fear
full day at Gaines Heights. by the
pain OF his wounds, by the delirium
which followed. and now it shot back
into the range Of his memory with a
fierce and binding glare. He saw
himself again looking through the
break in the wall in Helgcmann's Hole.
He saw the photographers apparatus
leaning against the corner and the
faded curtains and the same brOwnish-
yellow spot which had troubled him so
all day long. And woman was walk
ing up and down the room. graceful.
1.-the young woman. and he remem-
bered the voice now. merciful father
in heaven. 1t was Etlie's voice, his
Etlie's, his wife's.
He sat there in blank. stony, cold
amazement. His teeth ratified and his
limbs shook. and he turned II slow and
haggard glance upon the wifi, that lay
there by his side. sleeping so calmly,
the picture Of truth and purity, II there
ever was one.
That man and that woman had been
plotting murder that day. assassina-
tiOr, the vilest kind of assassination.
poisoning. Was it possible? Oh. no.
Fife had been a widow when he first
knew her. Her husband had died but
u short time previously. II Ellie was
con, crned with that man in the murder
planned that day, tie person they had
doomed to an untimely death might
have died about that time. t.ffies frs,
husband was described by every per.
son rs wretch. reprObate. a monster.
Cod Was it possible that she had
planned her first husbands death? He
looked at the beautiful face that shone
white rs cathedral marble in the
moonlight. and it seemed to him nearly
holy. What could he do?
He lay down again and. in briei
space of time. has excitement lproved
too strong for him and he fell asleep.
When he woke with start. the broa
dawn was stealing in through the win.
dow. Ellie was still asleep, but he
dressed himself noiseles>ly and Wen,
downstairs. out into the garden. out
into the fresh air, anywhere where he
could be alone with his thoughts. Hell
gemann's bar was still closed. but the
adiposc Teuton was standing at his
door. experimenting the unloading o!
Il quantity of spirits. Dick accosted
him.
I've q favor to ask of you. He;ge-
mann he said. 1T you won mind.
want 10 go in your clubhouse and have
a look at something there.
Go we're You likes" replied the sa.
loonkeeper. heartily. and handed him
the kew OF the paddock.
ueicemann Hole looked darker and
@iu-ier than ever as Dick. unlocking
snc Socr, stepped into it. He first OF
all co....S not remember the exact posi-
-.ou of the little hole through which
ne peeped, but q second or two after
warde the small, bright patch struck
his gaze. He rushed towards it, knel,
down and looked through it.
Yes, there right before him were the
same green faded curtains with tina,
brown patch, and the ole