The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-04-20
Copyright. 1908. By the Bobbs.merrin compssy

II loved her reputation" was her
quiet answer. and The rest died
TN her throat
But we all--such of us, mean, who
were possessed of the least sensibility
or insight-knew how that sentence
sounded as finished in her heart, "And
| loved him who asked this sacrifice
OF me-"
Yet was her conduct not quite clear
E And to save that reputation you
tied the pistol TO her wristT insinu.
ated the major
mo" was her vehement reply. :"
never knew what was tying to her.
My testimony in that regard was abso.
lutely true. She held the pistol con
cealed in the folds of her dress did
not dream-I could not-that she was
contemplating any such end to the
atrocious crime to which she had con.
fessed. Her manner was too light, too
airy and too frivolous-a manner adopt
ed, as | now see. to forestall all ques.
lions and hold back all expressions of
feeling on my part. Tie these hanging
ends Of ribbon to my wrist were her
words. Tie them tight; knot under
and bow on top. | am going out.
There, don't say anything. What you
want to talk about will keep till to.
morrow. For one night more | am
going to make merry-to-to enjoy my
SELF She was laughing. thought
her horribly callous and trembed with
such an unspeakable repulslon that /
had difficulty In making the knot. To
speak at all would have been impossl-
Bile. Neither did dare TO look in her
face. | was touching the hand that
and she kept on laughing-such n hol.
low laugh covering up such an awful
resolved When she turned to give me
that last injunction about the note this
resolve glared still in her eyes"
And you never suspected?"
mot for an instant. ] did not do
justice either to her misery or to her
conscience. I fear that / have never
done her justice in any way. thought
her light, pleasure loving | did not
know that 1t was assumed to hide n
terrible secret" .
Then you had no knowledge of the
contract she had entered into while a
schoolgirl"
"Not in the least. Another woman
and not myself had been her confdant
woman who has since died. No init.
nation of her first unfortunate mar.
rage had ever reached me till Mr. JEFF.
frey rushed In upon me that Tuesday
morning with her dreadful confession
on his lips"
The district attorney, who did moi
seem quite satisfied on certain point
passed over by the major. now took
the opportunity of saying:
"You assure us that you had no idea
that this once light hearted sister OF
yours meditated suicide when she LEFT
your?
"And repeat It, sir"
Then why did you Immediately &C
to Mr.. Jenrey's drawer, where you
could have no business, unless 1t was
To see ii she had taken his pistol will
herr"
Miss Tuttle's head fell and sof
flush broke through the pallor Of hel
cheek.
Because was thinking of him; be
cause 1 was terrified for him. He haC
left the house the morning before In 1
half maddened condition and had no
come back to sleep or eat since. die
not know what man so outraged II
every sacred feeling Of love and homo
might be tempted to do. thought o
suicide | remembered the old hOus
hn no "A.
her. | don't believe she ever did 81
cold blooded an act or that any sucl
dreadful machinery Is in that house
never shall believe it till have secl
and handled it myself. 1t is n night
mare, Cora. We are insane ! though
of this, sirs, and when | went Into he
room to change the place Of the littl
note in the book | went to his bureau
drawer not to look for the pistol di'
not think of that then-but to see !
the keys of the Moore house were still
there. | knew that they were kept Il
this drawer, for had been present Il
the room when they were brought Il
after the wedding. | had also beel
shortsighted enough to conclude tina
If they were gone 1t was he who ha,
taken them. They were gone, and tina
was why | few Immediately from tn
house to the old place in Waverley ay
enue. was concerned for Mr.. JET
frey. feared to find him there, dc
mented or dead"
"But you had no key"
mo; Mr.. Jeffrey had taken one o
them and my sister the other, but tn
lack of key or even of light, TO
the missing candles were not taken b
me 1--WE afterward found that thes
candles were never delivered at tn
house ut all; that they had been place
in the wrong basket and left in
neighborng kitchenl, could not kee
me at home after | was once col
WINGED that he had gone to this dreat
full house. If could not get in
could at least hammer at the door
rouse the nelghbors Something mus
be done. did not think what;
merely few"
"Dld you know that the house ha
two keys?"
"Not then"
"But your sister did,"