The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-28

which he had shown toward me, only stimulated my feeling that he might. at least. give me some information as to her whereabouts, i-
 At least 1t would not be amiss to spy about his house a bit. I would put my mind at rest on one score, If nothing more. Dismounting I led my horse into a plum thicket and tied him there.
 Fortunately the moon cast a shadow on the near side of the house, and when I reached the shade I was in compara- tive obscurity. There was a single window from my point of view, and 1t was open and the curtain raised crouched low beneath the opening and listened. Not a sound save the ticking of a clock inside. Lifting my head very cautiously. until my eyes were on level with the ledge, peered with in. Then I tucked down, for I had seen Phillips sitting in the moonlight that streamed through the opposite window, his feet cooked on the sill, complacently smoking a pipe, the odor from which reached my nostrils
 It was very strange, I though, that man should be sitting thus at this hour-it was well on toward morning Again peeped within the room, Phil lips was still sitting as before, his great shaggy head and powerful
 
 window. All else was in impenetra- ble gloom. As my eyes became accus- toned to the dark. made out the out lines of an object crouching in a far corner. I could not be certain, but I thought 1t moved; and on the instant there came a smothered exclamation At the sound Phillips shifted his seat uneasily. and leaning forward took something from his pocket and exam ined 1t in the moonlight Five minues O two" he said. There | was note of suffering In his voice Only five minutes" Then turning his head toward the corner where the object crouched. he added: Have you | changed your mind yet?" 'No."
 The voice was that of Mary. My | blood boiled with passion. I started | to my feet and leveled my revolver straight at Phillips's back.
 Don't. don't. please don'ti o. | don"t The words were Mary's. They stayed my hand, for I had no doubt they were intended for my own ears. and that she had seen and recognized me. Besides 1t is hard to shoot a man | from behind. But if created a dis | turbance the chances were should be killed, and then
 T expected you'd relent a nttle,' said Phillips. He evidently thought | she spoke to him.
 I'm not relenting but, o, I can't see you do that-not that"
 T suppose there's no use thrashing | it all over again?"
 | No"
 There was a pause. Then Phillips spoke again:
 | T could have killed your lover if I had cared to; I had a bead on him The fool didn't know l gave him his Ilraf !. if didn't do 1t"
 70. if I had only known you cared | I thought thought-"
 You didn't know, you say" the | other laughed hoarsely Didn't you bring me flowers and jelly and cake when I was sick. and didn't you lay your hand on my hot brow when I was wild with fever? And 1t cooled me l and made me feel like nothing had | happened. and wanted to sleep. And didn't you let me kiss your hand when I laid there on the bed. That very l bed, though it was turned around with l the head in the corner and there was table where you are now. And those | flowers was on it for days and days. | and the bees kept comiBg in because they were sweet. And yet you didn t know!"
 I lowered my pistol T wanted you, I tell you" he went on after a moment. T want you now. That's why I took you off your horse when you came to bid me good-by, and | it's why I kept you here I thought maybe you might give in after a while. | Stranger things than that have hap pened, haven't they? And thought maybe it might happen to me: l | thought maybe it might. But there's no use going over all that again. Be- sides, times up; you can go now. you can go"
 He arose from his shaiE RaEx slowly