The Dickinson press., 1896-12-19

Phil Followed Her With n Revolver
In His Hand.
dealing with mad woman 1t were
wisest to humor her.
How can l serve you?" he asked,
quietly, wondering what she was 90:
ing to say next She pointed to the
clock.
He will be here in minute or
two
HE? Who:" Ph:lo asked, witt,
composure which his pulses belicd.
"rhe man. tell you. the man." she
answered. '1llat man." and she point |
ell to a swarthy face in the photo |
graph. ''I4e is my lover, and loathe
him. lie is a madman when he Is
Jealous. Whcn he finds you are hera
lie will try to kill you.'
''rhat is very thoughtful Of lin ane
of you," Ames said quietly. The wo-
man might be mad, or she might not,
hut, in any case. the adventure was
ticklisll, and a cool blood the only wis
dom.
"lf lie Kills you," the woman went
OH. with her eyes fixed ON Philo's face,
then he is n murderer, and SO am
we'll rid Of him. II you kill him, as I
hope, then you have acted iii sclf-tlc-
fcl.se, and are innoccnt-and So, too,
am we'll rid Of him.
"YOu seem to have thought things
out very carefully" said Ames. But
why did you honor me with your
choice of champicn?'
''Rccanee Of your reputation" she
said, with smile that was half a
sneer; perhaps because of your big
boast. Women have done SO much for
you that it was time You should do
something for WO.nen.'
Thilo shrugged his shoulders. you
fiatter me-" lie began, but the woman
interrupted him.
Hush" she said, ~ hear a footfall.n
Philo. straining Ills sense Of hearing,
seemed to catch the faint sound of a
distant ascending step on those distant
ascending stairs. He slipped his hand
to his hip pocket and pulled out his
pistol. The womap's eyes flushed ut
his action.
"Of course he said, II can only feel
fiattered ut the honor you have done
me. If your friend attacks me. as
YOU seem to assn'ne-well, IS believe
am considered to be a good shot, and
as believe that l Justify the impress.
sion. ] should imagine that you will be
relieved of your difficulty in about five
minutes"
Even as lie spoke the steps came
nearer and nearer, ard sclnded louder
and louder In the gaunt loneliness Of
the place. But Anes' blood, growing
hot with the excitement of the mo-
ment. suddenly cooled Mt the sight of
the wonlan's face 1t had grown curl.
olisly pale and drawn and wan, and Its
look of anxiety touched him with q
quick pity. She seemed to be listening
as curiOusly as lie to the On-coming
steps. but with different interest He
thought to himself. trying to translate
her expression, that the steps sounded
singularly light to be those of the
black-visaged savage whose face grin
ned on the chimney piece. The steps
came close and stopped before the
door. There was a moments silence
and then ring.
The woman remained mOtiOnless for
moment, like one under the influence
of some ungovernable fear, some un-
nameable horror. Then, as IL shaking
: OF the lethargy of dream, she walk.
ed to the door and went into the hall.
PhilO followed her with q revolver in
!, his hand. She opened the hall Loor,
D and Amcs mechanically lifted his pis-
tal but lowered 1t again as his gaze
e encountered nothing more alarming
{ than telegraph boy dimly visible In
! the faintly-lighted corridor: Before the
: boy And time to say name. the w0.
3 man had caught the message from
3 him, looked at the address, aud swung
3 the door to. Phllo Ames and she were