Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-11-08

CHATTER XXI.

drew a step nearer the bed. With ms
arm she raised her husbands head.
supporting it upon her breast; with
the other she held the glass to his lips.
Then she gently tilted 1t, 50 that the
contents might be poured down his
threat.
Already his lips were moistened,
when a stern and clear voice, which
sounded to the wretched woman's ears
like the kEe., 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
coyerlet, leaving a d~eep-yellow stain,
and pale 10 ghastiiness she looked up,
10 see before her the confirmation Of
her worst fears. for II was Tom Win
dom who now. coolly enough, let the
curtains fall behind him, and very quiz
city and composedly entered the room.
"You2 Your she gasped.
"Yes-It" he answered. calmly. Had
a second report OF my death reached
you. that my presence should so start
le you? or has It interefered with
some cherished plan? You told mt
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.
"Murder!" she repeated, in low,
trembling tones-"murderi How dare
you bring that foul accusation here?'
"YoU forget you spoke aloud a mo
ment since. my girl: but even had you
not done so. / could have read your
purpose in your face. One glance
would have suficed to tell me all h
truth. had your whispered speech not
already betrayed you. So o would
kill him? And the better to do this
deed you failed to keep YOU appoint
ment with me"
Il went to meet you" she murmur-
ed, but you were zone. Go, now.
Tom. Here--here is all the money /
could find. Take 1t and go. At m
minute tglancing toward the white
face on the pillows "he nay recover
consciousness. Already he nay hear
and understand. Oh, take the money
and go!'
She held the purse toward him.
He caught it from her hand, only to
throw 1t on the carpet at her feet.
"The money was but a pretext to
bring YOU" he said. take il. / want
ten times the amount, and III have 1t,
too, before I leave this house. III you
can murder, Helen Window, I can
steali"
tom, Tom. you wouldn't dare!"
ST wouldn't dare, eh?" and he
laughed q strange, low, malicious
laugh. II thought you knew me bet
ter than to suppose / ever wasted
words. I might not dare pour poison
down the throat of a man uncon-
scious and In my power. but I'd no
hesitate long TO help myself to the
gold Of a man who could we'll afford to
spare IL. All! I've watched the house
many a night. Many a night I've seen
your form fit 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 l
saw him put his arm around you and
bend his head to kiss you, n i
laughcd-laughed to myself in the ST.
lence and the darkness, as / remem-
bered how once-once-. Well, let that
pass. But tonight, h you did not
meet me, I came to the old place to
look after you. There was no shadow
on the blind. The house was ark and
silent, and I thought I'd climb onto
the balcony and take a look inside.
I'd thought of doing it before. I'd not
been in Washington this long without
hearing of the Reynolds plate, and I
knew IL / were pushed to the wall, I'd
turn my knowledge to account. You
know the rest. You were not in the
room when / first looked. The wind
ow was half open. ] raised 1t a little
further and concealed myself behind
the curtains. / had hardly lone Sc
when you entered. I was a witness to
all that followed. I wonder now why
I didn't let you kill the poo wretch
lying there. He'd ave been better
off,"
II wish you were in his place" NUT
tered Helen.
"I do not doubt II, ma chere," he
returned. But the tables are turned
with US. Happily ii 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. "A power you never may
escape again. Do you know what I
am going to do tonight? I am going
to make you help me rob this house;
and when I leave 1t, you are to leave
1t with me. You are to share my for
tunes after this, for good or iii. When
in the morning, the robbery is discov-
cred. and with IT. you flight. no suspi-
cion will fall on me, and it's not likely
they'll prosecute you. As Mrs. Harry
Reynolds. you are quite safe"
And IL I refuse?" she answered, try
ing to throw of the sick. fainting feel
ing which made her will so weak to
combat him. "As / do refuse! Tom
Window. / told you once before. I was
a child no longer. Neither am I a
dupe. your plaything. Why should I
give up all that I have gained, at in
finite cost? What can you offer in re-
turn? i nave 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; I will never go back to the old
life. I will stay here-here. where I
may Wear a. least the mask of re-
~spectability. and where I may forget
the past. What Is to prevent my
rousing the mouse and putting you un-
der arrest? Why have ! feared you
so? I told you I was desperate. ] am!
Don't try me too far. Who would be-
4r