The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-17
Ny STERIES OF THE NIGHT
EDGAR PIC K E r IN 9


better than my forcing you to part with it.
but you know me 1 think?' and he snarled
at her again.
Yes. Only too WELL" she replied, shrink
ing instinctively from his gesture. He had
struck her too often in days gone by for his
movement to be misunderstood. Then she
went to cupboard, and. taking out little
purse. emptied the contents on to the table.
ITS all the money have in the world
she said very quietly, take is as you have
taken the rest" He SWEPT the coins into
his hand. she watching him with bitter
hatred such as no words could have ex-
pressed.
Its little enough" he growled. TELL
me where your other money is hidden"
and he gripped her wrist so tightly that the
flesh was bruised and discolored. How she
hated and loathed him!
1T will hardly be safe for you to strike
me as you have done before. You may want
my help" she said. looking him fearlessly
in the face. At this he flung her off.
True" he said. Wake me in two hours,
for i must get some rest before starting. If
anyone should come to the house refuse to
admit him."
You are afraid the man of whom you
spoke just now may follow you here?''
Yes; he knew that should come here.
He will betray me-give me UP to the po-
lice-do anything to destroy me. curse him.
He and quarreled. It's life or death with
me, Rachel-life or death. The dead man
resembled me-the thing was well planned
he was murdered"
Rachel drew from him shudderingly. and
he laughed. "You shall hear the whole
story some day. he told her. you
wouldn't care to be known as the widow Of
a man who was hanged. so it will be for
your own sake that you keep the secret I've
told YOU" He quilted the room, going into
one above, where he flung himself on bed.
He was worn with fatigue and slept heav-
lily.
Suddenly he started, sitting up in bed
listening, gazing into the darkness, whence
the murmur Of voices came. Then he crept
to the door on tip-toe.
1t was a mans voice which he heard COM
ing from the room below-the voice of Eu-
gene Temple. the man. whom he dreaded
who had it in his power to destroy him. and
the will, moreover. Rachel was speaking
now and Bradford descended three or four
stairs. bending over the banisters, strafning
his ear to catch the conversation.
"You can tell ME more than this, Mrs.
Bradford" he heard Temple saying. "Your
husband is known to be lurking in the
neighborhood."
IF tell you more, what win it mean to
him?'
His arrest and conviction for murder. 1t
was Ambrose Bradford who brought about
the death of the man whose body was
taken out of the Thames"
There was silence for a moment or two
after Temple had spoken. and Bradford
crept down the stairs, reaching the narrow
passage. There was a recess near the door
of the sitting room, into which he drew
himself. standing pressed against the wall,
listening to the voices that now came dis
tinctly.
''I read the description of the body" he
heard Rachael answer. You know what
my life has been. the misery and injustice
of it. You can guess what my feelings
were as read"
"You were glad?"
so glad that II seemed as If sunshine had
come into my life again. So glad that now
know Ambrose Bradford is alive-that
this dead man was cunningly caused to re-
semble him-all the wretchedness of the
past seems doubled. and the future some
thing too horrible to be borne. My husband
was here. In this room. tonight
The man crouching in the darkness with
out shivered with a spasm of fear, and
then grew rigid. He had drawn a long
bladed dagger from beneath his coat, and
was testing its keenness as he stood in the
dense darkness of the passage waiting for
the fateful words to come.
WAS here, you say he heard Temple
ask. "And now?"
IF Ambrose Bradford is discovered, will
1t mean that he and I would never see each
other again?"
He would be hanged" was the curt re-
ply.
Still the fateful words fingered in their
coming from Rachels lips, and Bradford
waited for them with an agony of suspense
There was only the thought of his escape
his passionate rage at his betrayal was
overmastered by the stronger feeling
Hanged! Yes, he knew that would be his
fate, unless he silenced the man whose evil
dence could convict him. Eugene Temple
must never leave that, house alive. Then
he listened again-would the woman betray
him?
Come with me-" he heard her tell Tenn
pie, and there was a movement in the little
room. Rachel had come out, holding the
lamp above her head, and behind her was
Eugene Temple.
For a moment the glare of the lamp shone
on the white face of the man crouched
against the wall. Then, with a quick mo-
ton that sent Rachel backward, he had
dashed the lamp from her hand, and the
place was in darkness.
Temple gave a little cry of satisfaction,
and rushed forward. run to earth at last,
Ambrose Bradford!' he exclaimed, seizng
him by the arm, but with a swinging blow
Bradford had buried the keen blade in his
opponents shoulder, and there was a gasp
of pain. Then, striking out Temple struck
him fairly between the eyes, and the two
men fell together against the banisters.
Loose your hold me-" Kissed Brad
ford. cropping for the dagger which had
fallen from his grasp.
Though you have the strength OF two
men, I'll keep you until the police come"
painted the other. feeling the blood pouring
from his wounded shoulder. "Open the
front door. for Gods sake. Mrs. Bradford,
I'm dying for air-get help-quickly!" he
cried.
Bradford had torn himself free at last,
and was at the door. AS he reached IL
Rachel turned the lock and withdrew the
key. feeling his hot breath on her face in