Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1902-12-02

ders ard shook her as terrier shakes
| rat.
| You get me something to cato
drink he growled. No more foolingi
| / amt In the mind to stand it. l have
| got to stay here until the usual time.
BY the Lord. won't stay hungry
| How'll You help itg' Lie asked.
There is not so much as crumb, a
cheese pairing, in the house."
| $50. You've tricked me. You think
| that's the way to keep me from another
woman-and better one" the Bun
said in kissing whisper. He was muir
derously angry.
| They were in the front room, looking
out over the street. The bed. cum
brous brass bedizened affair, posed as a
secretary throughout the daytime. Lie
had let it down, though she stood fully
dressed in street clothes. The Bun did
not notice 1t, but one window was half
open, and keen, wet morning smell
drifted in. Again he caught the girl
and shook her hard. She looked up at
him undauntedly, saying, with hard
laugh: why don't you hit me? Are
you afraid? 7"
Not of youvs he cried, still very low.
Then he seized her, flung her prone upon
the bed and knelt with all his force
upon her chest. He heard a faint, sick
ening sound of crashing ribs, but Lie
did not even groan. He sprang up and
down again. Again came that sound
of SCATTERING bone. In spite of his rage
it almost sickened the Bun. He slid
from the bed and stood looking at the
girl, great fear wavering in his eyes.
She sprang past him, clutched the win
dow casing, flung herself half through
it and shouted, at first weak and
hoarsely, but with the gathering
strength of mortal anguish: Help!
Help. Help! Mur-derl Helpw
The cry paralyzed him. He knew it
would be answered. In ten minutes. In
five, it might be. people would be
swarming all about. Yet he did not
move to seize and silence the girl He
was in the grip of a great superstitious
dread. AS lad he had heard much of
hellfire, of retribution. Now it seemed
back at him in concrete form.
The police were beating on the outer
door. In three minutes He dropped
to the floor and crawled to Lies feet.
They were pretty feet and daintily
shod in red high heeled slippers. He
patted them softly as he mumbled out;
you've done fer me, Lie, but | take
that back. The--the other one amt no
more'n the dust under your feet"
Lie almost fell forward. She was
dead white and shaking like a leaf,
yet somehow she managed to get the
Bun on his feet.
Here. you! Quick." she painted.
pushing him weakly toward the bed
and down upon 1t. Then, with her last
remnant of vital force, she pushed a
clicking catch out of place and let the
heavy bed snap together, catching the
Bun harmlessly but uncomfortably In
its grasp. When there came thunder
Gus knocks upon the door of the apart
ment. she crept to it painfully and let
in the police. A glance at the bed made
explanations unnecessary.
The very next week Mr.. ana Mrs.
Ralph Montgomery went travelling
south for the lady's health. Since they
did not ask to have their lease vacated,
but paid up for the full term, the land
lord still regards them as having been
pattern tenants. And the police who
ran down futilely several promising
clews to the biggest bank burglary of
the season never dreamed that they
had helped the burglar out of particu-
larry tight place.