The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1900-11-02

sitting asleep at the time OF the at
tack. Suddenly she raised her arms.
holding them as II she had some heavy
weapon In them, and went through the
motion twice OF bringing it down with
terrific force on the back of some ones
head.
1t was awful to see her face as she
stood there, wild. fierce, watchful. her
features working convulsively as she
eyed the empty chair as II 1t were oc-
cupied, her dark hair streaming down
the light dressing gown she wore, her
breath coming in heavy gasps. After
a minute she began muttering to her
self, and leaned over as If to examine
what was in the chair: then she went
to the table and turned over the papers
in a strange, troubled manner, her eye
ever returning to that empty chair.
at is only what you deserve-what
you deserved" she muttered in a harsh.
strained voice, addressing the chair.
You are a hard. bad man. | begged
to you for mercy for my child-my
son., my beloved-and you only laugh
ed. What if he did forge your name?
1t was not for much. You are rolling
in wealth-your wretched wife's money
and we are poor, and Henri is young
and extravagant. But o shall no
punish him. l helped you In the past,
but that goes for nothing with such as
you. You have only yourself to blame
that l have taken the law into my W
hands. l would die a thousand times
rather thar that you should expose my
boy. Now you cannot say a word, and
l take the proofs of his guilt and burn
themi"
She went through the motions
phantomwise, yet strangely real-ot
taking papers and thrusting them into
the CRATE, apparently holding them
down with the weapon she thought she
held, doing it all in a strange, dull
calm, which her twitching face belied.
For some minutes she crouched over
the empty crate moaning and wiring
ing her hands; then, when she evil
IDENTIFY thought the papers and weapons
destroyed, she rose, appeared to drag
what was on the chair to the window
which she threw wide open-and,
before Mollie could move. she came
swiftly out of the room, and, lamp in
hand, went towards the kitchen.
To describe the feelings of the hor-
ror-stricken girl watching her would
be impossible. AS one act after n
other of this terrible drama was played
out before her she felt powerless to
move, almost to think. All her senses
were bound up in the effort to keep
her trembling knees from giving way
under her, for well she knew that to
make the least sound might cost her
her life! No need to ask again who
killed Leonard Barlowe. She had been
how 1t was done; she had seen every
thing-kneW it was by his own sister's
hand that the blow was struck.
Yet frightened as she was Mollie's
courage did not desert her. She de-
termined to see what took this wretch
ed woman. whom she felt persuaded
was mad, to the kitchen; so, with chat
tering teeth, she gathered her skirts
together. and crept silently through
the dark passages after her.
The lamplight guided her to the but
ler's pantry, and there stood madame,
holding her hands under a tap which
she had not turned on. and muttering
necessarily to herself. AS she wrung
the imaginary water off them and
rubbed them on her skirt. it occurred
to Mollie, with a cold chill of fear, that
she was action by action following out
just what she must have done that
terrible night-that it was she whom
the servants took for a ghost, who had
frightened Kate by brushing past her
/ In the dark. Suddenly madame's glance
fall upon some knives lying Oh a table,
and a CLEAN like fire flashed into her
eyes. a CLEAN that had neither reason
nor sanity in it, only cunning and
fierce exultatiOn.
why not kill them both?" she NUT
tered, standing still with a meditative
look. They are no use to Henri; the
girl will not marry him; the child had
/ better follow her father. Yes, yes;
that will be BEST"
CTo be c~ontinued.)