The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-18
Mrs. Francisco Of "The Leader" "
By ELIZABETH CHERRY HARE.
lcopyrishtl


Merrilees, waiting outside, was sur.
priscd to see her come out SO soon, and
equally surprised To see what a girlish
thing she appeared, in the light lawn
dress, q trifle too short, he had been able
10 secure from one of the restaurant
girls. Her hair, braided into plaits
aung down on either shoulder. She
knew him perfectly well as q Leader
man, and professional instinct over
rode everything else.
"Give me your notebook, VIII your"
she said quietly, mine is gone"
He handed ID cut, and she rapidly de-
ciphered and copied from three wet
sheets OF paper in her hand. all she
wished, then tore them up'and handed
the notes 10 him with the book. "You
had better take care of them. saw the
stabbing, and 1 think the Twenty
Sevens know it. Let us go. There is
more work to do"
won't you stay liz? Let me go out
and get the rest"
She gave him a quick look which he
instantly read.
"Of course you are in charge" he said.
gently. II am to assist."" "
Let us|go 20 our work." she replied.
There was work TO do. The Twenty
Sevens were disorganized, but desperate
Mt the arrest of Jalinko. They resented
arrest, and the police had one tough
struggle after another. The coroner
was sent for to view the dead man, and
it was positive there would be another
when he arrived on the next boat.
Mrs. Francisco and Merrilees went
down to the shanty, which was now in
charge of the police. They were al
lowed entrance. 1t was a gruesome
sight. On rough pile of straw in one
corner lay the dead man, with awful
st2ring eyes, as If confronted with a
suddenly met eternity. The dying man
was lying on similar heap Of straw In
another corner. He was nearing the
end. Three policemen were with him.
one trying to induce him TO say who had
stabbed him. or Whether he knew.
Mrs. Francisco went up to the side of
the man. He had again opened his eyes
and they fell upon her pale face. The
question was repeated TO him.
"Don't worry me-" he mumbled;
shat there woman knows, She saw I'll
I'd know them eyes in Heaven"
Mrs. Francisco shuddcred. 1T want
him to tell" she said, quietly. 'T don't
care to be the only witness. Make him
say"
nor could he be roused ugaiu. The
end came fast, and long before the
second boat reached the island there
were two stark figures lying prone
upon the straw in the gloom of tho
old refreshment stand.
The crowd had gone. Three return
ing boats had carried away most Of
the police, the prisoners, and most Of
the constituents Of the Twenty-Scvens.
Merrilees and Mrs. Francisco had as
sured the Office of their safety and had
been at the coroner's view Of the re-
mains. The whole story was in their
hands. IT would be at least two hours
or more before the last boat could re-
turn to carry home the coroner and
the balance of the crowd and police.
Come" said Merrilees. "all Is quiet.
We will write our story"
He secured table In the restaurant
and q coal oil lamp. He arranged two
chairsS for her and put his overcoat
over the back. "Slt there. my captain
Re said, "sit there, and Wa will arrange
this"
He had not failed TO notice that she
had been very pale for an hour. As
the ,amplight fell over her face, IL was
positively wan. He returned to her
side, and suddenly lifted her as though
she had been child. "Brave comrade."
he said, "this has been hard. You will
dictate, I will write. Put your feet
up. This is a camp lounge, but 1t will
do"
He secured the paper from some
where, sharpened the pencils, and be-
gan to write, leaning over the table
with his head near the smoky lamp.
With her hand over her eyes, Mrs.
Francisco rapidly dictated the detailed
account of the affair foY the paper.
Sometimes he saw how difficult IL was
for her, physically, to go forward with
II, but he knew IL must he written, and
that every passing minute would add
to the difficulty Of her task. Sheet