The Washington times., 1905-10-29
CHAPTER XvII-(Continued) .

Nonsense" said her mother. keeping
her away with one hand and holding the
glass with the other. There comes
Budsey to close the blinds. The show
Is over. No; he goes away, leaving
them open"
Mamma. will leave the room If
My goodness, look at that" cried
the widow. putting the glass in her
daughters hand and sinking into q
chair with fright.
Alice. filed with a nameless dread,
saw her mother was pale and trembling,
and took the glass. She dropped IL in
an instant. and leaning from the win
dow sent forth once more that cry OF
love and alarm, which rang through
the stiffness of night with all the power
OF her young throat:
"Arthur,"
She turned. and sped down the stairs.
end across the lawn like an arrow shot
for life or death from a long-bow.
Farnham heard the sweet, strong
voice ringing out of the stiffness like
the cry OF an angel in vision, and
raised his head with a startled move
ment from the desk where he was writ
ing Ofhtt heard it, too. as he raised
his hand to strike a deadly blow; and
though it did not withhold him from
somewhat the precision Of his hand.
The hammer descended a little to the
right OF where he had intended to strike.
1t made deep and cruel gash, and
felled Farnham to the floor, but IL diJ
not kill him. He rose, giddy and faint
with the blow and half blinded with
the blood that poured down over his
right eye. He clapped his hand. with
soldiers instinct, 10 the place where
his sword-hilt was not. and then stag
Eercd. rather than rushed, at his as
sailant, TO grapple him with his naked
hands. Ofhtt struck him once more
and he fell headIong on the floor, in the
blaze of a myriad lights that flashed all
at once into deep darkness and silence
The assassin. seeing that his victim
no longer moved. threw down his reek-
ing weapon. and seizing the packages
of money on the desk, thrust them into
his pockets: He stepped back through
the open window and stopped to pick up
his shoes. AS he rose. he saw a sight
which for an instant froze him with
terror. A tall and beautiful form
dressed all in white was swiftly glid-
ing toward him over the grass. II drew
near. and he saw its pale features set
in n terrible expression of pity and
horror II seemed 10 him like an aveng-
ing spirit He shut his eyes for mo-
ment In ableet fright, and the phantom
swept by him and leaped like a white
doe upon the platform. through the
open window. and out of his sight He
ran 10 the safe. quaking and trembling.
then walked quietly 10 the nearest cor
ner. where he sat down upon the curb
stone and put on his shoes.
Mrs. BeldinG followed, as rapidly as
she could the swift fight of her daugh-
ter: but il was some minutes after the
young girl had leaped through the win
dow that her mother walked breathless-
ly through the front door and the hall
into the library. She saw there a sight
which made her shudder and turn faint.
Alice was sitting on the floor. holding
in her lap the blood-dabbled head of
Iarnham. Beside her stood a glass of
water. a pitcher. and several towels
Some Of them were red and saturated
some were still fresh and neatly folded
She vas carefully cleansing and wiping
the white forehead of the lifeless man
OF the last red drop.
''Oh. Alice. what is this?" cried her
mother
He is dead, she answered. in
hoarse strained voice. II feared so
when first came in. He was lying on
his face. l lifted him up but he could
cot see me. ! kissed him. hoping he
might kiss me again. But he did not.
Then / saw this water on the stand
over there I remembered there were
always towels there I'm the billiard
room. / ran and got them, and washed
the blood away from his face. See. his
face IS not hurt ] am glad OF that.
But there is n dreadful wound in his
head" She dropped her voice to
choking whisper at these words.
Her mother gazed at her with speech
less CONSERVATION Had the shock de-
prived her OF reason?
Alice" she said. this is no place
for you. 1 will call the servants and
send for a surgeon. and you must go
home"
-Oh, no. mamma see have fright
ened you, but there is no need 10 be
frightened. Yes. call the servants. but
DO not let them come In here for a while.
not till the doctors come. They can do
no good He is dead"
Mrs Bedding had risen and rung the
bell violently
DO, mamma. see the servants in the
hall outside. Don't let them come In for