Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-10-13
Chapter NI.-(Continued.)

III the lauy'S curiosity regarding
Claude: and n> he then turned SUD
deny 10 see why Judith fingered. the
watcher started, ,iSarranging her
mask so completely rs to disclose the
frightened face of Elsie.
l. WAS 50 sudden and unexpected
that Judith WAS ,hunderStruck. But.
With sudden realization of the need
for prompt arlion. she made a violent
effort to command herself and took
Cl;!udc'> arm.
My dear girl. what is the mattcr:'
he inquired, putting his right hand
over hers With atfrc,ionate regard.
You were staring us if YOU had seen
4 ghost.
Elsie is here. Claude.
lie started Violently. clu1rhing her
arm painfully.
"El>ic here. Do YOU know what you
are >aying:
"lcS: calm yourself. Let me take
Your arm. and we will walk out as If
nothing had happened. l saw her face
only for IN instant. but | am making
no mistake. She is wearing powder
and :: vclloW-anl-wh gown. with
yellow roses in her hair. She was
looking AT YOU: hut | think-I hope
she does not know thar saw her. She
is in 1hat little room. Let us wait I'M
til She comes out. DO not make
scene. Claude.
There was need for this eXhOrtation.
for he was trembling and breathing in
such a lahored fashion that she al
most feared he would faint. Just as
they passed into the hall they saw the
girl in the yellow gown disappear
,1Ip,l y hap1 in tho staircase
she is going for her wrap before
leaving. We must follow. Claudc-or
would YOU rather go alone:"
"Ycs-yes".' he said. brokenly. Il
will go outside and wait for hcr-she
shall not escape me this time.
She watched him walk unSteadily to
the door. and he passed out into the
night. while Judith drew back into the
dimly-lighted little room TO watch for
Elsie. Shortly after masked yellow
domino came stealing down the stair
case. and. passing by Judith in her
hiding place. swept through the hall
out into the street
judith stood with bent head. her
hands clasped over her throbbing
heart. How was Claude progressing:
Had he spoken to Elsie: Was she
happy and glad: Judith hoped so.
The strain OF thought grew too much
for her. and. hardly knowing what she
did. she emerged from the little room.
AT that moment there was 4 single
knock at the door. which one of the
men-servantS opened.
The military gent what left here
just now ran after the lady's carriage,
and l think the coachman struck him.
Anyway. he fell down. and is a-lying
in the road now: you can see him
from here" the link boy told the foot
man.
Judith. regardless Of appearances,
dashed past the astOniShed man and
ran to the spot where lay the PROSTATE
form Of Claude. \ policeman came
up. and one or two idlers, who stared
wonderingly at the good-looking girl in
her fanciful dress. In few words
Judith explained to A 121, that he was
her brother-in-law, adding that he had,
no doubt. faintet. and that if he-the
policeman-woulu call cab she would
see him home. But. some brandy hav-
ing been procured. Claude revived suf-
lciently to enable him to I.se to his
feet and get il.,, he lib. a:ji.@.is;h, APP
parcntly. too dazcd to speak or to rec
ogni2e Judith.
The girl ordered the ;nan to drive to
the SycamoreS. determining sc Mi;re-
gard t;racc's within and TO remember
that the house was Percy'S. She felt
sure that Mr. Fletcher would wci,"emc
Claude. and that he would not have
gone TO rest, although it was nearly l
o'clock. Indeed. he answered the door,
explaining. in his good-natured way.
that he had let the servants go to bed.
He heard with surprise that Claude
was in the cab ILL., and went down and
helped him into the house and on to
the dining room couch. BY this time
Mir. JownSllend had partially recOv-
ered. He did not Speak. however. for
q minute. but suddenly he sat up and
hXcitclly addressed Judith:
''IOu We're mistaken, you see.
Would /: woman. loving Il man. order
her coachmHn to strike him down.!
"Claude.''
EYES, he said. looking a, Judith $
hUrrited face, bur taking no notice OF
Percy. who was watching them per-
pluNedly-"I stood in the DOrticO wait
ing for her alti Dugh when | saw her |
could not speak. She got into Il brOu-
CHAM that was waiting. and | man
aged to get to the door and whisper
her name. I3lsie took no notice Of me.
and the man drove Ci1. ran beside
the carriage, calling to aim to stop,
and then She-th" woman who you say
loves mc-callod out to him. and he
Struck me thrc" or four times with the
Dutt-end Of his whip. LOOK here
He showed her large wealS on the
back Of his head and. turning his head,
pointed to the mark Of q blow extend
ing from his neck to the top Of his ear.
"Of whom are you speaking" Percy
asked. Not of Elsie. surely"
Yes she was at the bail. | reroS-
nIcd--or thought | recognized her
and pointed her out to Claude. | may
h: We been WiJng.'
You were ,.r,:" Claude exclaimed,
1iercely. do you think | did not re-
cOgniZr her tJr"e:'
Come along up to bed. old chap:
you want Il Go,d nights rest said Mr..
Fletcher. soOlningly. Forget all about
Elsie until nu.ning. and then we will
talk it over
Look here. I'lciclIrr'--Hnd Claude )
eyes cleaned in his set. white face
h.lI In ~ tan iI n