The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-11-28

Heavens has 1t come to thisi" He
heard him walk few steps and strike
match. He saw the light of the gas
jets from the window-and then he
knew that he was safe, and he cursed
himself for a fool for leaving the jew
els behind.
1t 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 sobbing
as though his heart would break. Don
aghue almost laughed aloud at the
sight. There was something in it all
that he could not understand. He
wanted to find out the real meaning
OF It, Besides, he had a sort of dare
devil idea that perhaps after all he
might get the jewels. He waited
He had hardly time to scratch his
head in perplexity when the door of
the room was opened, and the woman,
whose beauty had been unconsciously
the cause Of Donaghue's folly, entered
| She was still in her night-dress. but
she was very pale and very frightened
She ran to the sobbing man and fell or
her knees as she cried out:
"Oh, Paul, Paul! what is the mat
ter?"
To Donaghue's surprise the man
pushed her roughly away
How can you look me in the face?"
he cried. How dare you come to me
after this?"
Calmly the woman raised herself to
her feet. and. looking at the man, said
in forced whisper:
What do l mean. You know what
I mean" answered the man HE has
been here at last-perhaps not for the
first time But 1 have found it out I
have found you out"
Donaghue heard a stifed moan and
the crash of a body as it fell on
the floor. He began to gather a crude
idea Of what it was all about. He had
some experience with Maggie. He had
been Jealous himself once. He raised
himself little higher and peered over
the sill of the window.
The woman was not moaning now,
but in dead faint, and, with her face
as white as the sheet that covered her
in the room above, she lay motionless
at the feet of the man who accused
her.
The man stood over her with burn
ing cheeks and clenched hands.
And the cur ran away from you?
He didn't even stay to fight me like
mani He's a coward / knew it when
we met him in Baden. He's a villain.
/ knew 1t when he followed us to Lon
don. He can take you now. l don't
want you. And some day he'll run
away from you, poor, beautiful, miser-
able fool, just as he has run away from
me-"
There was considerable human ma
ture in Donaghue, even though he did
make his living in a peculiar way.
This was a little more than he could
stand. He jumped up and leaped back
through the window.
LOOK here" he shouted, and then
was suddenly silent, for pair of
strong hands we're clasped about his
throat, and the heavy weight of the
larger man had borne him to the floor
in a moment.
you, such being as you, my wifes
lONCl. IOdISu the
mol" screamed Donaghue, making a
desperate effort to free himself.
well, who are your" said the man.
let me sit up and I'll tell you,
answered Donaghue.
: 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, peremptorily
''I'm the man that was in the house, .
said Donaghue sullenly.
What do you mean-why were you
here?" asked the man.
We'll" answered Donaghue, regain
ing some of his customary bravado,
81 wanted to add some of your
jewelry to my collection. See? If
= you don't believe me. you'll find il
: where 1 threw it away, up in your
n wife's room"
e 81 shall send for the police and have
: you arrested" said the man. quietly.
r '~That wouldn't be very fair" said
g Donaghue. Il came back here because
4 / wanted to clear things up between
I you and your wife, l could have got
away easily enough. If were you, I'd
send for doctor, and even though I'm
thief, I'd ask my wife's pardon. You
e may not get a chance, though. She
. looks as though she were dead
The man turned and dropped to his
\ knees by the side of the prostrate
woman. He put his ear to her heart
: and when he raised his head again
Donaghue saw that there were tears in
a his eyes.
|, Thank God, she has only faintedl"
said the man. Bring me some water
from the library"
/. Donaghue brought the water in a SOL
r id silver pitcher that made him sigh
n with vain wish that he had got away
with it and the jewels above.
O "She will be all right in moment,
: said the man; land you may co.