The Bowbells tribune., 1900-11-09
ECHAP.TE;Rl XXI. Z:

tremble. She put the vial down, and
I drew q step nearer the bed. With one
arm she raised her husbands head,
supporting It upon her breast: with
she other she held the glass to his lips.
Then she gently tilted it. SO that the,
! contents might be poured down his
threat. Sss 4SRf s
Already his lips were moistened,
when a stern and clear voice.. which
sounded to the wretched woman's ears
like the kEell Of doom, rang out one
short imperious command.
.Stop!" It cried.
AT the sound, the glass fell from her
hand. The liquid streamed upon the
coverlet. leaving a deep-yellow stain,
and pale to ghastliness she looked up.
20 see before; her the confirmation of
her worst fears, for it was Tom Win
dom who now. coolly enough, let the
curtains fall behind him, and very quiz
etly and composedly entered the room.
lf"You? You?" she gasped.
s"Yes-I!" he answered, calmly. Had
" second report Of my death reached
you, that my presence should SO start
lie you? or has 1t interefered with
some cherished plan? You told me
that you were desperate. Helen, but
did not dream that you would, in very
truth,-murder!"
Slowly, distinctly. emphasized by the
he let the last word drop from his lips
.5 e.Murder!'' she repeated. in low.
trembling tones-"murder! How dare
you bring that foul accusation here?"
''You forget you spoke aloud a mo-
S.oAs efn INV cr3r1 hyrf hQ
not done SO, could have read your
purpose In your face. One glance
would have sufficed to tell me all the
truth, had your whispered speech not
already betrayed you. So you would
kill him? And the better to do this
deed you failed to keep your appoint
ment with me-"
''I went to meet you." she murmur-
ed, ..but you were gone. Go, now,
Tom. Here--here is all the money I
could find. Take it and go. At any
minute (glancing toward the white
face on the pillows che may recover
consciousness. Already he may hear
and understand. Oh, take the money
and gO!''
She held the purse toward him.
He caught it from her hand, only to
throw it on the carpet at her feet.
1.-THE money was but q pretext to
bring you," he said. "Take it. want
ten times the amount, and I'll have 1t,
too. before leave this house. If you
can murder, Helen Window, can
steali''
!. !. "Tom, Tom, you wouldn't dare!"
"I wouldn't dare. eh" and ne
laughed strange, low, malicious
laugh. "I thought you knew me bet
ter than to suppose I ever wasted
words. might not dare pour poison
down the throat Of man uncon-
scious and In my power, but I'd not
hesitate long to help myself to the
gold Of q man who could well AFFORD to
spare It. All! I've watched the house
many q night. Many night I've seen
your form fiit to and fro and throw Its
shadow on the blind. Once or twice
you have stepped out on the balcony
for air. Once he was with you, and I
saw him put his arm around you and
bend his head to kiss you. and !
laughed-laughed to myself in the ST.
knce and the darkness, as remem-
Hered how once-once-. Well. let that
pass. But tonight, when you did not
meet me, came to the old place to
look after you. There was no shadow
on the blind. The house was dark and
silent, and [ thought I'd climb onto
the balcony and take ;, a look inside.
Id thought of doing it before. I'd not
been in Washington this long without
hearing of the Reynolds plate, and l
knew If / were pushed to the wall, 10
turn my knowledge to account. You
know the rest. You were not in the
room when I first looked. The wind
ow was half open. raised 1t little
further and concealed myself behind
the curtains I had hardly done 81
when you entered. Twas, q witness to
Z al that followed. I wonder now why
1 didn't let you kill the poor wretch
lying there. He'd have been better
off.s
II wish you were in his place. mutt
tered Helen.
II do not doubt It, ma chere." he
!. returned. ..But the tables are turned
with us. Happily it is you who are in
my power. In my power, do you hear.
Helen Windom?'' he repeated. draw
ing SO close that his hot breath famed
her cheek. ga power you never may
escape again. Do you know what
am going to do tonight? I am going
TO make you help me rob this house;
and when leave it. you are TO leave
q Il with me. You are to share my for
tunes after this, for good or i'll. When
(. IA the morning. the robbery is discov-
cred. and with It your fight, no suspi-
cion viii fall on me, and It's not likely
they'M prosecute you. As Mrs. Harry
REYNOLDS, you are quite safe"
~ ..And if / refuse ?'' she answered. try
ing to throw of the sick. fainting feel
i trr which made her will SO weak to
combat him. ..As I do refuse! Tom
windom, i told you once before. was
Z child no longer. Neither am 2
dupe, your piaything. Why should
rive up all that have gained. at IN
finite cost? What can you offer IN re-
turn? i have helped you? Why? TO
buy your silence. And now you would
wrest from me my position. name and
home. and give me nothing in return:
NO; win never go back to the olq
life. I will stay here here, where
nav wear at least the mask Of re-
], spectability. and where may forget