The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1900-03-10
door squeak he had not left the back

Donaghue tripped down the stairs as
softly as cat. He had been in tight
fix before, and he was never cleverer
than when he knew that he was in
danger.
. But luck was against him. There
was fur rug at the foot of the stairs.
The floor beneath was polished. He
slipped and fell, and in spite of him
self he uttered anaexclamation that was
profane enough to be Enthusiastically
masculine. He heard the man rush
from the library, and how it all hap
pened he hardly knew, but some way
or other he managed to dash into the
dark parlor, to throw open the window,
and jump out.
He expected to fall at least eight or
ten feet. He did not fall two. He had
Jumped out on porch, evidently, for
he could see the railing in the moon
light. There was one thing to do-to
hide directly beneath the window in
the shadow and wait. He knew his
pursuer would be there in moment.
He knew there would be hue and cry
St1ll, there was chance.
,- True enough, the man came to the
window-but, to the infinite surprise
Of Donaghue, he made no outcry. He
heard the man utter half-articu1ate,
Heavens has it come to this!" 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 fool for leaving the Jew
els behind.
It 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 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 on
her knees as she cried out: sI.SEg#5.
t'Oh, Paul, Paul! what is the mat
ter pr - = r7 =: s.5 .z -
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 a forced whisper:
what do I 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.
have found you out"
Donaghue heard 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
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
OF ho nf ho uph
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
man! He's coward. I knew it when
we met him in Baden. He's villain.
I knew it when he followed us to Lon
don. He can take you now. I 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 peculiar way.
This was 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 were 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 wife's
lover!' roared the man. =
'No!" screamed Donaghue, making
desperate effort to free himself.
'Well, who are you?" said the man. Y
'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. a@@ a,4e '>
.."Well?'' said the man, peremptorily.
"I'm the man that was in the house,
said Donaghue sullenly. a
!. What do you mean-why were you
here?'' asked the man. +.=.E. G
"Well,' answered Donaghue, regain
ing some of his customary braYado,
IT wanted to add some Of your