The Washington times., 1901-12-08

Go to the station, Dodge. explain mat
f ters to Mrs Higgins and see that sh
gets safely home His voice faItsred
: The glance of the otiier man was travel
, ing slowly around the room In quest o
the woman who should have been there
Il hope to get away tomorrow night.
he continued haltingfy. Tell her that
And tell her not to expect me home to
night until late. AnA-and. Dodge. yo-
saw the woman who was here 20 out
didn't you?" he asked suddenly will
parched lips.
mo. sir; didn't. ! was just wonder
ing how it happened. must have beer
busy at my desk. and she slipped b,
without my noticing her
Yes. yes. that was the way 4
happened She was little wo.
man and stepped lightly" He laughed
uneasily. drawing a shaking hand acros.
money She might Just No well have told
her business to you"
Would Dodge never leave him? He felt
that in another moment he must cry out
or laugh, or sob
Hurry. hurry. mani" he cried 'I am
afraid you will be too late,'
"Yes. sir" replied his secretary. pass
ing out with wondering eyes upon his
employers face.
Did Dodge suspect anything? How
strangely he had gazed at him! Could he
have heard their voices or their struggle
No. His face showed that he suspected
nothing when he first entered the room.
But he had looked for the woman. He
knew that she had not gone away. Per
haps he would not go to the station at
all-maybe he was lying In wait outside
the closed door now. The thought was
maddening.
| with stealthy steps Higgins approach
ed the door to the outer office. He placed
his ear against it, listening. his hands
| clenched, his eyes peering intently
through narrowed lids. Some one was
moving about out therei He crept back
across the room. the blood leaving his
heart wildly. Then a sudden impulse
seized him to know the worst. He re-
crossed the room and threw the door
open iercely. A sigh OF intense relief
trembled upon his lips. what fool he
was! 1t was only the night watchman
who came on duty at o'clock. The man
looked up pleasantly at Higgins. Work
ing late tonight. sir" he said.
Once more behind the closed door Hig-
gins regained his composure somewhat.
II must think. think" he murmured, sit
ting at his desk, his face buried in his
hands. He knew the woman was dead.
II was an lmpossibiiity to get the body
out Of the building that night. There
was but one exit from the room. and that
through the main Office where the watch
man would remain until morning; and in
the morning? He tried to think of some
way In which he could get rid OF that
horrible. silent witness to his crime.
Dare he leave the building and run the
chance of throwing suspicion upon the
watchrnan2 That. too. was an impossible
thing. Dodge had seen the woman, and
had already expressed surprise at not
having noticed her when she left the Of
fec. Was he devoted enough to his en-
ployer to keep his mouth shut? Even IL
he was II would only be temporary res
pite, for the womans brother knew of
her whereabouts, knew where she had
gone. and what she had gone for The
whole miserable story was bound to come
out when he arrived on the scene; but he
was a graspiny. miserly wretch, and per-
haps his silence could be bought more |
easily than his sisters. The thought that |
all this would take time flashed into the |
brain of the man who sat with his face !
buried In his hands Weeks probably 1
would be necessary for him TO accom- |
plish all that was necessary. and by that /
time the first OF the month would be long
past the financial crash would have be-
come q horrid fact instead of a possibil-
Ity TO be fought against and overcome.
The thought OF Crandall fitted through
the mans teeming brain. Curse himl
Curse him." he muttered. IF he had
only put his money in | might have
lighting chance even now" Like a rat in
a corner he sought for some loophole OF
escape. There was but one. on one
hand was ruin. disgrace-possibly the
sallows; on the other were ruin and dis
grace also, but the possibility of life.
He opened his pocketbook and counted
iis II oney. Then ne looked about for his
sreat coat and hat. They were in the
'ioset where she was. Twice he went to
he door. taking the key from his pocket
'ach time. but twice the courage to open
he tomb failed him and he shrank away
o the farthest corner Of the room, look
ng back as he went as though he feared
presence behind him. He sat down
gain for moment at his desk to get
imsei together: then, rising, crossed ,
he room slowly. unlocked the closet
oor. and swung 1t wide open. II was too
ark for him to see the farther end. even &
ad he tried-he didn't try. Reaching ,
'ithin he snatched his coat from its .
ook and took his hat from the shelf r
bove. Then he closed the door quickly
nd locked it. With another effort he I
pened the door into the outer Office. and y
assed out. mumbling a good night TO the I
'atchman. l.
AS the street door swung to behind him
{ drew long breath. and. turning his h
pat collar about his ears, hurried away
Iward the river. cold. drizzlinE No n
ember rain was falling. but Of this he h
as glad: it kept the streets free from q
edestrians. On. down the narrow street, h
E pursued his way almost at a run. AT
dark corner some one touched his arm. a
e sprang back with cry. 1t was only s,
beggar. shivering in the rain. Shaking h
i'm of he went on. slipping on the steep h
cline. stumbling in the dark.
Near the river he entered a diny o.
and got flask OF brandy. He r: