Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-02-12

her upon the lips! was crazy mad,
wild, and yet. l thought. victorious.
Oh, how lived in that one moment!
Il had noticed what u lovely threat
and neck she had. round aud full. with
that little crease across it beneath the
chin. Her head was on my shoulder
or, better. on my chest. What per-
fume it was in my nostrils could not
fathom. She was making strange
chittering sound, attractive, but like
the noise of some beast or. maybe. bird
and yet like laughing.
I'VE passed by an electric light. 1t
flashed for an instant through the cab
window. and saw what made me al
most die as l sat there. There was
something cleaning at my chest She
held II narrow bit of steel grasped in
her right hand!
Have you ever seen n mechanic fit
n plunger in its place? She was ad-
justing the point above my heart with
her fingers! AT once the murder of my
brother came to my mind. the stab
wound and the story of the woman, all
the horrid scandal it was SO hard to
hush. was strong. My months of
padding on the lakes had given me q
grip moved softly and slowly. Rails
ing both my hands. caught her by the
throat. She made strike at me, and
something jingled at my feet could
| feel my fingers sink under her flesh 1t
reese under my nails. They almost met.
She struggled strongly. but not sound
did she utter nor did l. held her
there until everything went black and
l was so tired that my arms ached
from thumb to shoulder, and flung
her back. dead. dead! Do you hear me
| dead"
Cummings was painting so hard |
feared some sudden trouble with his
heart But l remembered it now-the
strange woman found murdered in n
four wheeler. the half drunken driver.
the mysterious dinner party of two al
the Claremont, the man who disap.
peared. the ten days mystery. But
remembered nothing of the finding of
n knife A mans silver watch chain
was found on the floor of the cab. how.
ever. and roll of bills. No motive
had been assigned for the crime. and
the woman had been traced to hotel
frequcnted by foreigners. She was
known TO the police for various rea
sons, pocket picking among them, ant
the reporters had described her as be
ing beautiful. That was all recol
lected.
| Charlie had poured himself out co
pious drink of the smooth brandy.
'.The rest is easy" he said. as II re
lieved at getting over that part Of TIL
recital and yet speaking intensely. &c
opened the door of the old rattletral
softly and got out on the run. The mex
day l sailed for Europe. There yol
have II"
what do you Think" said 1.
"Think." repeated he. 81 don't wis
to think. You see"-he lowered hi
voice-"I love her yet Curse it, mar
she rises between me and all other VIC
men! Verlaine thinks me an immol
tal."
/ looked ut him again. He had take
the position in the chair which he ha
held when 1 had told him my ow
grewsome story. Somehow l was fee
ing SO uncomfortable that could nc
stand 1t longer. l began to gather u
my hat and cloak. Charlie watched m
without movement or sound, an
without speaking to him again WALL
ed away.
The pretty cashier as passed til
desk looked Mt me curiously and the
back at the silent figure at the table.
as he poet, your friend?" she ash
ed.
i l glanced back into the room. "Ye'
madame" answered. HE Dreams"