The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-11-03

/ said Sternly. Who did 1t! NOT you,
Mary 0 my God, not you!" he
groaned.
s'No-nol But they wouldn't have
believed me-, she looked at him I'M
ploring1y, for I was there-it was a
piece of my raincoat you found on the
nail, aDd-I carried the pistol home in
my pocket" she added pitifully.
Gilbert sliced her hands almost
roughly 81 can't bear the suspense
tell me-tell me quickly why you were
there and how it occurred
He did it himself-he was half
drunk-and insanely unhappy. went
there to get my sisters letters,
mortified flush came over the paleness
Of her cheeks.
The man went to her suddenly and
put his arm around her.
Your young married sister?" he
asked quietly.
She looked at him with a flood Of
gratitude in her gray eyes.
"Yes-shes my twin sister-she was
Mr.. Rawlton's typewriter before she
ever knew Dick,-and she had written
some very foolish letters. Mr.. RaWl-
ton was madly in love with her and
wanted to marry her. Marjorie is fool
ish and imprudent, but she's a good
girl" anxiously "She had let him
give her a diamond ring and hand
some presents of all kinds. After she
met Dick-she sent them all back. Mr.
RaWlton has worried her ever since.
The notes were undated, and he has,
when drinking, threatened to show
them to Dick. Marjorie was very del
icate just then and when she received
the note containing his threat
thought it would kill her-I went to
see Mr.. RaWlton that night myself.
made the appointment with him over
the telephone, and he had sent the
servants out purposely. He had been
drinking-he. took the letters out Of
the desk and waved them tauntingly
in my face. There was a pistol in the
same drawer where the letters had
been. He picked it up suddenly and
brains out-just to make the mink I'M
happy for the rest of her 1ife-to let
her think she was the cause of it. He
was as crafty intoxicated by then as
a man could possibly be. | seized the
pistol to prevent any chance Of his
harming himself The pistol went off,
hitting him in the forehead I only
had one lucid idea--that must not be
found there. I put the letters in my
pocket, and the pistol, which had been
partly in my hand when the shot was
fred also put in my pocket uncon-
scfously. ! slipped through the side
window and went home. That's ALL
she said
Gilbert lifted her face with both
hands and looked into her eyes.
Why did you apply to me for
position as stenographer?" he asked
quietly.
She returned the look quietly as one
who had told the worst and no longer
feared.
Il saw ia the papers that you had
charge of the case, and I wanted to be
where l would know the minute you
found out anything. I could not bear
to expect to see my name in any paper
I Glanced to pick up. The suspense
was too dreadful"
Gilbert sat on the edge of his desk
and reviewed the circumstances rap
idly.
"No-there's too much circumstan-
tia1 eyidenee-you would perhaps be
|,14 oily No
people who remembered-and who
doubted he said. Mary, will you put
the affair in my hands entirely and
let me manage it as l think best?"
Her face suddenly relaxed into re-
lieved content.
e could not find more capable
hands, she answered softly.
At the end of 80 days Gilbert re-
ported to the chief.
You can mark me down one fail
ure,.' he said, lighting s cigar, non
chafantly. I'm tired of the blooming
thing. I'll acknowledge that 1 haven't
been able to give it my undivided at
tention. The fact of the matter is
I'm going to be married tomorrow to
Miss Silverton, granddaughter of old
Gen. Silverton you know
The chief raised his spectacles
above his shaggy eyebrows.
"Confound it. Gilbert, thought you
had more sense than the rest of 'emi
But there are times when no man has
the use of his BRAINS
He rose and put his hand on the
younger mans shoulder.
But good luck to you, boy; good
luck! l shan't expect anything-er-
sensible-of you just now"
Copyright, 1906. by Daily Story Pub. Coz