Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-26

who was shot T shan not ten you, but I will tell you the name of the wom- an who shot him-I thought you were. tho woman. was mistaken, ard for this error owe you n apology" 'sThis is infamous!' "I was mistaken, I say, honestly. For I thought that the woman who would retreat from her dying bus band, appealing to her with his heart in his eyes, who would link an orphan girl to iibertine, might easily pull trig- ger to remove lesser obstacle" The woman rushed up to him with hands clenched.
 "ScoundrelI If I had the weapon now I would prove your judgment Out of my house!" Dr. Brodnar smiled wickedly.
 q was mistaken," he continued, eoolly; "the woman who shot this un- known gentleman lies, half delirious, in room 2s at the Spotswood, and her name is Louise. And, madam, I will do her full justice; she erred in her in- formation and her aim. For the man she hoped to destroy was this liber- tine, cashiered, swindling, cheating son of yours. Denounce me, but breathe a word against the fame of Frances Brookin, and I shall go before Richmond with my cause. Good even- l ing"
 . He bowed mockingly, and was turn | ing away when the portiere was flung violently aside and Holbin rushed on | him from behind. A keen knife in his hand flashed in the gas light and fell, 1 but once only. Maddened with the | pain and enraged at the cowardly att i tack, Brodnar lifted his assailant from | the floor and hurled him across the | room. He fell in heap against the | wall, the knife rolling to the feet of | the frantic woman. To snatch it up | and throw herself upon the athlete was an instants action; but she was | impotent to harm him then. lie seized her wrists and turned the right one 1 slowly but remorselessly. Her pale lips uttered no sound, but the long white fingers relaxed at length under the terrific ordeal and the knife fell to the floor. Kicking it across the room, he pushed the woman away, and stepping outside the dor, closed it be- hind him. He heard the furious ring Ing O1 lHc pullC1 UGH, anu SOCu De- held William running clumsily through the hall. He had opened the front door, but the servant having passed, he changed his mind, and hay ing slammed the door made his way down and back to the wing occupied l by Frances. She had retired, but arose at once.
 Bring your key and let me out at the gate," he said, land quickly" She threw on her wrapper and wondering 1 ly obeyed. "I have found the other woman in the case" he continued hur- riedly as they traversed the garden. ''It is all very sad, my child, and too late now to be remedied." He could not see the girls face nor understand that there was room for any miscon- struction of his statement; that her mind was occupied with Richard Som- CTS, as his had been with Holbin. Frances felt as though the blood was freezing in her veins.
 l What woman?"
 A'The woman who did the shooting '"
 ''Why-why-wha was her motive ?'' l "Jealousy!" he replied, briefly. What I want to say to you is this: something has happened tonight that | will prevent my returning here. You must come to see me occasionally, and | always when needing advice or help. In the meantime keep up your courage. Nobody can disturb the big fact in our case. We have the law on our side. shall explain it all some time. And our wounded friend-you don't ask of minis better and impatient. He will leave Richmond tonight. Good-by."
 "Oh, wait!" cried the girl in an guish. "The womah-where is she?"
 At the Spotswood and ill." He felt the blood running from a stab in his shoulder down his arm, and, fearful of the effect should the excited girl dis cover that he was wounded, he hurried l away to his assistant. Frances waited d at the gate, her face in her hands, her heart aching. With a sudden and de- spairing resolution she went back to her room.
 "Quick, nanny, help me to dress; I must go to the hotel!'
 ''Lord "a mussy, chile, what de mat ter?''
 Help me, mammy-quick! Don. ask any questions"
 Frances started away, wringing her hands and sobbing, but in the crowded streets, where men were cheering and cannon firing over the announcement that Virginia had seeded, and thou | sands of torch-ights blazed the way she grew firmer. The general excite ment was in her favor and no one at tached importance to her visit. She reached and entered the sick woman's room, and, motioning away the hired nudse, dropped upon her knees by the bedside. Louise, calmer under the opi ates administered by the doctor, re garded her as she might have one de scended from the clouds. Something like aspasm of fear passed over her, for in the lovely face beside her she seemed to see the image of her own youth re peated.
 "Who are you?" she asked, wildly
 "Your friend. Don't excite your self.'
 ."Your name? your name?"
 "Frances Brookin! And, oh, I am SC