Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-01-04

sitting asleep at the time OF the ay.
TACK. Suddenly she raised her arms.
holding them as II she had some heavy
weapon in them. and went through tho
motion twice OF bringing it down with
terrific force on the back OF some ones
head.
II 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-
cnpied. 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 II to examine
what was In the chair: then she went
TO the table and turned over the papers
In strange. troubled manner, her eye
ever returning to that empty chair.
1t Is only what you deserve-whnt
you deserved" she muttered in a harsh,
strained voice. addressing the chair.
You are hard. bad man. ! begged
TO you for mercy for my chiid-my
son. my beloved-and you. only laugh
ed. What II he did forge your name:
II was not for much. You are rolling
In wcalth-your wretched wife's money
and We are poor. and Henri Is young
ana extravagant. But you shall not
punish him. ! helped you In the past.
but that goes for nothing with such as
you. You have only yourself to blame
that have taken the law into my own
hands. ] would die a thousand times
rather than that you should expose my
boy. Now you cannot say n word. and
l take the proofs OF his guilt and burn
thcm."
She went through the notions
phnntomwisc. yet strangely real-oi
taking papers and thrustins them into
the crate. apparently holding them
down with the weapon she thought she
held. doing II all In n strange. dull
calm. which her twI,ching face bclied.
For some minutes she cronched over
the empty crate moaning and wiring
inS her hands: then. when she evi.
IDENTIFY thought the papers and weapons
destroyed. she rose. appeared to DRAG
what was on the chair to the window
which she threw wide opcn-and.
before Moiiic 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-S;rickcn Girl watching her would
be impossible. AS one act after an
other OF this terrible drama was played
out before her she fcl, powcrlcss to
move. almost to think. All her senses
were bound up In the effort to keep
her trcmblin. 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 Birlowc. She had been
how II was done: she had seen every
thing-kncw II was by his own sisters
hand that the blow was struck.
Yet frightened as she was Moilic's
courage did not desert her. She de-
tcrmincd to see what took this wretch
ed woman. whom she felt persuaded
was mad. to the Kitchen: so. with chat
tcring teeth. she gathered her skirts
together. and crcpt silently through
the dark passages after her.
uv iahpiikHN kuis'u HcF u tHc put-
lcr's pantry. and there stood madame.
hoidin. her hands under n tap which
she had not turned on. and muttcring
necessarily to herself. As she wrunI
the imaginary water OF them and
rubbed them on her skirt. II occurred
| to Moliic. with cold chill OF fear. that
she was action by action following out
Just what she must have done that
| terrible night-that Il was she whom
the servants took t3r ghost. who had
frightened Kate by brushing past her
In the dark. Suddenly madame's glance
fell upon some knives lying on table.
and CLEAN like fire flashed into her
eyes. gleam that had neither reason
nor sanity In II. only cunning and
fierce cSuitation.
why not kill them BOTH" she NUT
tered, standing still with n meditativc
look. They are no use to Henri: tho
girl will not marry him: the child had
better follow her father. Yes. yes:
that will be best
ITO be continucd)