Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-11
Broadway Umbrella and Trunk StOl

clOSed the door Deh1nd him.
 "Hetty is not at home! Thank God for that!" he exclaimed. "My covered wagon is at the door. The night is dark, I'll leave her by the roadside near Schuyler's house. Who but brutal drunkard could strike such a murderous blow? I'm saved: I'm saved!"
 Ranelagh lifted the dead woman as if she were a sick child threw his to his wagon, placed her in a sitting posture on the back seat Then, springing into the vehicle, he drove away.
 He had 8 good mile to go, and half the distance had been covered when suddenly black figure sprang into the middle of the road, laid hold of the horses head and brought him to a standstill
 It was Schuyler Brant.
 Hello, Dr. Harry! You're d---d unso- ciable this evening. Fla, ha, ha, ha, Ina! Why didn't you stop and ask fellow to rider" And ere Ranelagh could gulp his heart down, the man had leaped into the wagon beside him.
 I'm at 1t again, pr. Earry!" the man rattled on. "But, say, has Mary been to See you?" he asked, lowering his voice and throwing a strange ten ! derness into it.
 Ranelagh was now fighting for his own life, and the struggle put unearth- ly ken into his mind "Sh! for Gods sake be quiet, Brant!" he whispered into the drunkard's ear. She's there behind us on the back seat, asleep, worn-out. It's been too much for her!"
 "Oh, what wretch I am. Dr. liar ry!" moaned the man, leaning forward and hiding his face in his hands.
 At that instant the dead wife 1urched forward and sank in a heap between the seats, her chin catching on the back of the front one.
 Ranelagh felt her. and so did the forward until her forehead pressed against his back.
 The doctor gasped and shivered as if someone had dashed a knife into his back, down, down to his very heart.
 Was all lost? No, not yet! There was one more card to play. Dent stir Brant." he gulped. "She is kneeling: she is praying! She's praying for you, man! Don't stir! Let her have her sleep out!" And pr. Ranelagh seemed to speak the truth for the shaking of the lifeless form was terribly like the heaving of sobbing heart
 But Brant did stir. He half turned and. batting that beautiful deaths head, broke out weeping: "Take heart, dear wife, take heart! By Heaven! I will be better man! swear it, Mary, I will swear 1t on the little Bible mother gave mel" And then, as if some other thought had sud- denly flashed upon him, he whispered: Pull up, Dr. Harry, pull up! Let me out! I'll run home cross lots and wash | up and put on other clothes. Speak a 1 good word for me, Dr. Harry! Com fort her! Drive slowly; get her calmed down. I'll meet you at the door," And shaking off the influence of the liquor Brant sprang lightly out of the wagon and disappeared in the deep shadows of the increasing storm.
 Like 8 poor wretch condemned to the 1 peine forte ct du1e, from whose crushed breast a merciful hand might suddenly lift the mass of iron, Rane- lagh heaved deep and long-drawn sigh, which sounded like brother to the blast which played around him. | Then, having driven somewhat nearer to Brant's house, he alighted, took the dead body of tho mans wife, bore it into n thicket near the roadside, laid 1t upon the ground, regained his wagon and drove swiftly homeward after he had turned arcsind in front of the drunkard's house.
 Upon the preliminary hearing, the village doctor told how the woman had come to him complaining of her husbands prolonged debauch; how he had striven to comfort her and, the rain coming on had started to drive her home: how they had met Brant: