The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-12

concerned when the master mind of
them all was stil, She pushed open the
first door and stood before the cashiers s
desk.
Where have they taken him-Mr.
AUSTIN"
The cashier stared. "They haven't
taken him anywhere, miss Hes up
stairs in his office where he always ia
ut night"
Where he always is," Was their
business Of life then so urgent that 1t
could not stand still fci one short hour
while they paid u small tribute of care
and attention to him? She climbed the
stairs with trembling limbs and II heart
that seem ID as cold and dead in her
bosom as his that the murderers bullet
had stilled forever. The door at the
top marked Managing Editor" stood
partly open and from within came the
sound of loud voices and then a laugh.
For Il n,oni"nt her ariei was oveiinas-
tered by her ndignniion--was il--hc--.
IN there? She at Least, could sorrow
for him.
She pushed the doc, back and stood
on the threshold. ana suw--linl alive
and sodnd as q, " sitting II, his desk
=
tousled man whose race a.id hands bore
evidences of much contact with ink
and gnu. Thr b'ood r,si,cd to her
heart ;u The lights tul,od around
her in Il mad. bi,~,!,a,Gtlian whirl. She
put out Ter band 10 find support. and
then Jim saw her.
why, Alice. What Is IL? why arc
YOU here" The grny man looked and
In, 1,,,, a
grasped her hands. At the sound of his
voice and the touch of his hands the
warm blood %WHrmed through all her
veins again. and she gasped at the heat
that lilrt her
"Oh. JIM" And she clutclled his
hands Tighter. II thought--.,hey said.
you wh.' da,i, mat some one had shot
YOU"
He laughed Il great laugh of COM
prehension. so YOU heard that. did
you? Why, little girl. he never touched
me. Some crazy fool did take il shot at
me through the window. but it was just
by way of an emphatic reply to one of
my editorials. All the harm he did was
to smash . pane of glass and punch Il
hole in the ceiling. He's cooling his
heels in the lookup now" She sat down
suddenly in the chair ut her elbow. HUI
man nerves are like ensines-Hpt to run
wild when the load is suddenly taken
OFT. Her heart was beating like II trip
hammer and her brain Wa.: in Il whrl.
What must you think Of me? ! was
so frightened. and | expected to find
to find you-" she broke off with q
Shuduer and shut her eyes.
You expected to find II mansled
corpse. ana instead YOU find me alive
and diseustinglN healthy. Are YOU dis
uppinted"'
Don't. Jim, please. | can't bear 10
hear--to joie--about ito think about
1t. 1t was too horrible. ! thought !
should die He looked at her curious
ly. a new light diwning in his eyes
Are you sure it was only rousinly
affection that brought you here" He
awaited her answer breathlesslY. The
SrimN man had retired. like the sensible
individual that he was. and the office
was empty of all save those two. The
girl studied the floor and the tips of
her shoes long and carefully. Then she
lifted her eyes slowly to his face.
u never said it was. Jim. dear.
And how about your profession.
sweetheart'" he inquired after Il we'll
spent interval.
My profession is here, with YOU
wherever YOU are. didn't know it & his
but tonight taught me what
| might have known all my life--what
an empty, hopeless thing life would be
without YOU. I'm only Il woman, after
all jim"