The Red Cloud chief., 1899-09-29

heard him walk n few steps and Btriko
a match. He saw the light OF the gas
jotH from the window-and then he
knew that he was safe, and he cursed
himself for a fool for leaving the jew
els behind.
II was tantalIzing. He raised him
self cautiously and looked in the room
The man was sitting In a great arm
chair In the center OF the room sobbiny
ns though his heart would break. Don
aghue almost laughed aloud at the
sight. There was something In u all
that he could not understand. Ih
wanted TO fnd out tho real meaning
or It. Besides. he had n sort OF dat'-
devil idea that perhaps after all he
might get the jewels. lilo waited
lie had hardly time to scratch bis
head In pcrplcxity when The door ~
the wac opened, and tho woman,
whose beauty had been unconsclously
the cause OF D~pnaghue's folly, entered
she was still In her nlght-dress. bat
she was very pale and very frightened
She ran TO the sobbing man and fcli On
her knees as she cried out:
"Oh, Paul. Paul! what In the mat
ter?"
To Donaghue's surprise the man
puehcd her roughly away.
How can You look me In the tacoY"
ho cried. How dare you com to ~"
after this?" M 1
Calmly the m raised herself a.
her feet. and, looking at the man. said
IL n forced whisper:
what do | mean You know what
I mean answered the a III bns
been here at last--perhaps not for the
first time. But I have found II, out !
have found you out"
Donaghue heard a stiHed moan amt
the crash OF a body as II fell ~
the floor. He began to gather n crude
idea OF what II was nj, about. lie hal
some experience with Maggie, Ne, had
been Jealous himself once. He raised
himself a little higher and peered over
the gill OF The window.
The woman was not moaning now.
, but in a lead faint. and. with her face
as white as the sheet that covered her
. in the room above. she lay %motionleas
nj the feet OF the man who aceosct
her.
The man stood over her with burn
Ing checks and clenched hands.
And the cur ran away from YOU
He didn't even stay to fight me Hike u
man! Hes n coward. knew 81 whe"
we met him in Baden. He's n Villain
] knew II when he followed us 10 Lon
don. lie can take you now. J JoDt
want You. And some day he'll run
away from yOu poor. beautiful, m,ser-
able fool, just ~ he haa run away from
me-"
There was considerable human ma
turc in Donaghue, even though be did
make his living In a peculiar way
This WAS u little more than no could
stand. lie jumped up u trapeJ back
through the window.
Look here he shouted. AMI then
was suddenly silent. for u pair Of
strong hands were ciasped abont bis
throat. and the heavy weight Of the
larger man had borne him 10 the fIoo,
In u moment. f
"Y0u. snch n being as you. my wijc'p
lover" roarel the man.
moi" screamed .Donaghue, making "A
desperate effort TO free himself.
Wen. who are you?" said the man
LET me- sit mp and III tell you"
answered DOnaghuc.
The man released him, still keeping
him within arms reach IN the corner
OF the room. DOnaghue felt his throat
tenderly.
"Well?" said the man, percmptorily
"Tm the man hat was In the house.
said D~onaghue sullenly.
What do you mean why weTo you
here?" asked the man.
We'll" answered Donaghuc, regain
ing some OF his customary bravado
IL wanted TO add some Of YOU
jewelry to my collection. Sect II
y you don't believe me, You'll and II
where ! threw It away. up In you,
n wife's room"
@ II shall send for the police and bay,
you arrested" said tho man, quietly
THAT wouldn't he very fair" sait
"a Donaghue. II came back here because
Il ! wanted to clear things mp between
II you and your wife. ! could have got
away easily enough. II were yop, y,
send for a doctor. and even though lu
a thief, Ia ask my wife's pardon. .YOt
10 may not get a chance, though. s.,
p looks as though she were dead"
The man turned and dropped 10 NJ,
Il knees by the side OF tho ~prostrai,
!, woman. He put his, car to ,herr hbtfi
and when he raised his head again
Donaghne saw that there were tears IN
his eyes.
l. Thank God, she has only tainted
said the a "Bring me soDe waite,
from the library" '"'
4 Donagbuo brought the water In n sol.
III silver pitcher that made him sigh
n with a vain wish that he had got away
with IL and the jewels above.
= 'Sho will be all right In n moment u