Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-03-09

the little gray brick cottage when the
postman handed this communication
to her. Recognizing the handwriting
she took it unopened to Mrs. Goddard
who was restlessly walking in the
little, highwalled garden in the rear
| of the house.
"Ah," she exclaimed, ''he has writ
| tent"
"Yes, it is from him." said the an
gular woman, approaching slowly.
Mrs. Goddard tore open the envelope.
She had hardly read a dozen lines be-
fore she uttered little scream, and
| then, with quivering hands and ex-
banding eyes, she continued to read.
What il the matter?" asked Mrs.
Nolan.
Matter enough" answered Mrs.
Goddard, clenching her hands and
grating her teeth together. Matter
enough. He has married the girl, but
has already-already fallen in love
with her, and now he wants to throw
me over"
Didn't you expect that?" asked
Mrs. Nolan, whose innate dislike for
her mistress often fostered opposition
to her plans.
at was the last thing I did expect
she very last"
Your egotism has undone you.
Jeanne" said Mrs. Nolan with no
little cautious JUNCTION. at had no
sooner laid my eyes on that beautiful
young creature than 1 knew If he
ever was in love with her once he
would be again"
"For mercy's sake, dry upi" COM
manded the furious woman. "This is
no time for you to lecture me. Do
you know that we shall be stranded
here without money enough to keep
us? Do you know that he defes me
to expose the matter and that he
swears 1 shall never touch the girls
money"
''Not after her death? 20 asked Mrs.
Nolan, her own face growing sudden
ly grave.
death, you idiOtH The girl is az
sound as a dollar"
81 thought you said"
at makes no difference what I
said" broke in Mrs. Goddard. She'll
never die till l get back to America,
and"
Mrs. Nolan caught the excited wom-
an by her shoulders and forced her
to look at her.
DO you mean that--that you in
tended to commit murder, Jeanne?"
"If he did not give me the greater
part of the girls money-yes," was
the sullen answer.
~Well, you must not draw me into
that, Jeannel"
81 shall draw you into nothing, but
shall expect you to hold your
tongue"
would he hold his tiff you re.
sorted to-if you killed her?" asked
Mrs. Moan in low, quivering voice.
They had now returned to the lit.
tie sitting-room in the cottage. Mrs
Goddard was looking through a box
OF writing-paper, with nervous, fun
bling fingers. Mrs. Nolan stood over
her and ventured cautiously to repeat
her question.
Mrs. Goddard hesitated as she
found telegraph blank, and dipped q
pen.
He'd have to, or be implicated with
! me INN the whole business" she an
/ swered, doggedly. "If she died sud.
denly or was shot, the law of self-pres-
ervation would be too strong for him"
"And what then?" Mrs. Nolan
, seemed scarcely to breathe.
Then could win him back to me-
, IL I wanted him."
"Are you sure?"
with her out of the way, yes"
There was dead silence in the room.
The outer circle of the underground
railway ran beneath the garden, and a
passing train shook the room like an
earthquake.
J What are you going to do now ?''
asked Mrs. Nolan, curiously, eyeinp
the telegraph blank.
Mrs. Goddard was writing. aud when
she had finished and laid down her
pen she held the sheet to her compap-
ion. 1t was addressed to MAI. Rowland
Goddard, Lyndhurst-on-ths-H Hudson.
N. Y, q. s. A. The message was but
q single word and no signature went
with it. The word was; america"
1T will pass most eyes as a word
from some Geographic CODE" said Mrs.
Goddard; "but the major will under
stand it In full. Now, Lucy, we must
pack We are going back on the first
steamer. I shall run out and send this
and inquire about the passage. Go to
work. We have no time to lose"
But what II you were recognized on
the steamer going over?" faltered Mrs,
Nolan.
There is no likelihood Of that. ]
know so few people"
But Henry Dugdale IL in New
York" =. -, "
he may not be now; but we have
20 run even that risk. We are playing
q big game, Lucy"
You mean you are, !" said Mrs. Nolan.
= snsil never take hand in ths--sAs