The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-10

nothing but a solitary four-wheeler stood
in the driveway near the shed. / called
the man to me and we got inside and
there l told her how l loved her; there I
asked this creature that four hours be-
fore | had never seen-whom / did not
know-this Sphinx-this." he stopped, "this
God, 1 know not what, to marry me, as
if she'd been a Princess whom I'd served,
| asked it. Her only answer was sound
l could not distinctly understand, but she
allowed me to put my arm about her Shout
ders, she allowed me to kiss her upon the
lips! / was crazy mad, wild; and yet, l
thought, victorious. oh, how l lived in
that one moment
/ had noticed what a lovely throat and
neck she had, round and full, with that
little crease across 1t, beneath the chin.
Her head was on my shoulder, or, better,
on my chest. What perfume 1t was in my
nostrils 1 could not fathom.s She was
making strange chittering sound, at
tractiVe, but like the noise of some beast,
or, maybe, bird-and yet AXE laughing!
We passed by an electric light Il flash
ed for an instant through the cab win
dow, and / saw what made me almost die
as l sat there. There was something
cleaning at my chest-she held a narrow
bit Of steel grasped in her right hand!
Have you ever seen mechanic fit
plunger in its place? She was adjusting
the point above my heart with her fingers!
Al once the murder of my brother came
to my mind The stab wound and the
story of the woman, die Druid. All the
horrid scandal ii was so hard to hush
was strong; my months of padding on the
lakes had given me a grip l moved soft
ly and slowly, raising both my hands
caught her by the throat. She made a
strike at me and some thing tfngled al my
feet L could feel my fingers sink into her
flesh-it rose under my nails; they almost
met! She struggled strongly, but not
sound did she utter, nor did /. | held her
there until everything went black and I
was 50 tired that my arms ached from
thumb to shoulders and flung her back
dead. Dead. Do you hear me? Deadr'
Cummings was painting so hard feared
some sudden trouble with his heart But
l remembered it now-the strange woman
found murdered in a four-wheeler The
half-drunken driver. The mysterious din.
ner party of two at the Claremont The
man who disappeared. The ten days mys-
terry. But l remembered nothing of the
finding of knife; mans silver watch
chain was found on the floor OF the cab,
however, and a roll of bills. No motive
had been assigned for the crime. and the
woman had been traced to a hotel fire.
quented by foreigners. She was known
to the police for various reasons (pocket
picking among them) and the reporters
That was all I recollected.
Charlie had poured himself out a copious
drink of the smooth brandy.
THE rest is easy he said, as IL re-
leved at getting over that part of the re-
cital, and speaking intensely. Il opened
the door Of the Old rattletrap softly and
got out on the run. The next day sailed
for Europe. There you have It,"
What do you think?" said /.
Think repeated he L doE't wish 10
think. You see''-he lowered his voice.
Il love her yet. Damn It, mani she rises
between me and all other women. YER
laine thinks me an immortal"
l looked al him again. He had taken
the position In the chair which he had
held when l had told him my gruesome
story. Somehow / was feeling 50 uneom-
Portable that / could not stand Il longer.
/ began 10 gather up my hat aud cloak
Charlie watched me without a movement
or sound. and without speaking to him
again. / walked away.
La dame de compton, as / passed the
desk. looked az me curiously and then
back at the silent figure az the table.
III est poete, votre ami2" she asked.
/ glanced back into the room. rOui,
madame" i alsmsled. u reyeH