Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-06-07
CHAPTER xviii

that both the doors ana gates were
locked, she thought OF the small
windows through one Of which she
had before intended 20 try and cs.
cape.
Her limbs were shaking 50 violently
that she scarce keep her feet, but she
made great effort TO regain sclf-com.
mand, and rejecting that perhaps the
issue of life and death depended upon
her speed, she ran through the long
worlS-rooms and down tho narrow
staircase to the corner, where the two
or three windows were which over
looked Watcrcourse lane.
They were closed and fastened, but
after n little delay she succeeded In
opening one, through which she was
able to escape The rush OF the cold
night air restored her somewhat.
without thinking to whom she
should go-for she was still too daacd
and frightened To think corrcctly-shc
ran instinctivcly in the direction Of her
own cottage. When she reached 1t
there was surprise In store for her.
Gideon Prnwlc stood by the door.
At the sight Of him the girl's intense
excitement broke her down. She burst
into tears and stood clinging To his
arm, sobbing hysterically unable to
speak a word and gasping, ms II for air
whats the matter, Mnry?' hc asked,
wondering and alarmed. Has any
thing happcncd2 What is it?'
Then she managed To tell him some
thing OF what had occurred and to
urge him to go for assistance.
"Rcubcn Gorringe stabbed by Sa-
vannah" he cried, in intense excite.
mcnt. GLOW came you all thcre?'
Don't stay TO ask now" she said,
huri'icdly. "Go for help. Go at once.
] cannot move another step"
"Shc's mall" he cried, brcathlcs,ly.
"I'vc traced her came bncl, to tell
you;" and with this he ran oily at top
speed for II doctor and the police.
The girl looked for moment after
him rs he disappeared in the darkness,
then tottcrcd into the cottago and.
feeling utterly Frustrated and weak.
had only strength to drag herself to
her bed and snl, down upon IL csc
haustcd. calling in n feeble voice to
her mother TO come and help her.
When the latter came the girl had
tainted.
Early the next morning Gideon was
at the cottage asking for her, and, al
though she was still faint and weak
and III, she dressed herself and went to
him.
"You are ill.," he said, when he saw
the pale wan look ON her face. "Can
you bear to hear ncws?"
~ have come to hear It," she an
swcred. IL can bear anything better
than suspense. What happened last
night?"
~ only know little about that.
have other news-good news IL should
be for you. Can you bear TO hear that?
/ was waiting last night to tell you
when you found me here"
"What IL it2 About Tom2" AS she
asked this II light pink flush just tinged
her checks, and her eyes frightened
yes" he answered. 81 have de-
termined to tell the truth and risk nll
consequences"
"ThO truth?" cried Mary; and her
old suspicious concerning him flashed
upon her. and showed In the look she
bent upon him.
Eyes, the truth. But IL is not what
you suspected when | was last here"
he answered, observing her look "You
were on the wrong track then, Mary,
and ! was fool to be angry instead Of
just telling you the whole truth. But
WINS afraid and the very readiness with
which l saw you suspected me, In
creased my fear of speaking,
wanted to clear Tom in some other
way, and without my telling every.
thing, That's why I've been hunting
down that girl, Savannah; SO as You
might have n handle over her to make
her speak the truth and bear out Toms
story. But when l got away began
turning things over and | couldn't help
remembering that you didn't stopat a
risk to save me that night In the barn;
and then grew wild with myself and
soft like at thinking OF what you must
be suffering with suspense. So Just
finished the inquiries wanted to make
about Savannah, and then came back
to clear Tom"
you can clear him2" broke In Mary,
eagerly.
Eyes, can do that. This amt been
q murder at all Old Coode didn't die
q violent death; he Just died suddenly
heart disease, or apoplexy, or some
thing OF that sort. Anyways, II wasn't
murder"
mot murderl" exclaimed Mary, her
face alight with wonderment. "Why,
how do you know How can you
know"
~ was In the mill that night"
WHAT" cried the girl, all her suspi-
cions reawakened with redoubled force
ut these words.
There you are, that's Just IT, see
what you're thinking again. It's just
because ! was afraid of bringing
thoughts like yours into everybodys
head that haven't dared to speak. I'll
tell you the whole job in few words.
meant cutting It. | was sick of hang
Ing about here doing nothing, and
meant clearing off once for all. But
I'd no coin, and couldn't go empty
handedi and then as those beggars at
the mill had ruined me l determined
TO try and help myself to a little pay
ment. know every inch of the place,
MS You know and on that Friday
night, knew where TO start when /
wanted TO get in. waited till all was
right and clear, and made for that
window in Watereourse lane ] sup
pose somebody spotted me-though ]
didn't see anyone about--and mistook
me for Tom Roylance. But more like
Ay they got put up TO it by somebody
olse. as you'll think when I've told
you all. Well, got in easily enough,
and made for the office-you know the