The Washington herald., 1907-07-07

field street once. but after the murdei
he retired-suddenly. Lord Fanshaw,
sent him away. He had been expecting
him to drink himself 20 death for eigh
years, but he is still alive The drinl
does not kill him. When l told Bessi,
she said that God kept him allve-or
purpose"
His voice faltered and stopped HIl
hands moved restssly about his char
red clothes.
Perhaps it is true" he went on in z
/ whisper. Women know things some
times, and it IS funny how near Brooks
| is TO death-and he never dies H'
/ gave the poison to Lord Fanshawe th,
very day Mr. Lancaster was found dead
/ Lord Fanshawe killed him, because d,
knew too much. He had found out about
/ John Andrews, and he meant exposing
/ us. Everybody thought John had EN-
| bezzled Giles money but il was | who
| did 1t. I doctored the books, and Fan
Shave and / shared the money-Fan.
/ shawe's crime as well as mine-and not
| the first-God help me now, II was not
| the first nor the last"
once more his voice trailed away into
| silence and then suddenly he reused
/ His dull eyes frightened a little.
/ Have you got tnat?' he asked Have
| You written II? Then let me sigh"
/ He tried TO raise himself, but fell back
/ helplessly. Geoffr,y with his face set
| and desperate. leaned forward.
| For heavens sake help him 20 prove
| this before it is too late" he whispered
/ 20 the doctor Let him sign what be
| has said-help him 10 do II, for heaven s
| sake"
The doctor shook his head and pointed
to Barker's charrcd and helpless hands,
"A mark will be all he Hill be able
TO make. he whispered back. and you
viii have % wait for that"
GeuffrCy put down his hands helpless
~. Wait? Hetty had waited eight years.
and God was forcing the silent lips 20
speak at last. Surely he could wait
another five minutes lie looked down nj
the changing face before him, and his
heart stood still. Suppose he did not
speak again? Suppose he could not sign
after an?
Waves Of shadow went swiftly over
Barkers face, and with sudden, strange
strength he raised himself
"A pen-aud be quick" he gasped un-
steadily Let me sign"
Geoifrey thrust one into his numb.
burned fingers. They could scarcely
grasp IT, They chung stifiy round it.
dead. helpless. lifeless fngers-aud moved
it slowly along the paper.
y dozen heads bent forward to watch,
and as Barker scratched his name with
difficulty on the nudl r. a dozen hanas
were thrust out To Godfrey and per
haps almost the last words the dying
man heard were the whispers Of the men
who had heard his confession.
'IH sign-Iu bear witness 10 that. "
they said.
II was that paper. carefully. legally
signed. that Geonrey took TO Hetty an
hour or so later. Bessie met him az the
door, her face ghastly and her eyes
strained.
I've heard o. the burning o. the mill. 20
she said "an they say as Barkcrs the
only one hurt That's true. ain't it, Tell
me fair-Ted isn't hurt. is he?"
She caught him by the arm. and Geof-
frey looked down al her. gravely.
I'm afraid he may be. De said. "and
think you had better 90 10 him Bark
cr-Barker died a quarter OF an hour ago.
Ted nearly killed himself in trying 10
save him. for you. Bessie. and they
can't tell YET how seriously he may be-
hurt
Bessie threw up her arms above her
head with sudden sharp cry.
'Oh. God forgive me,' she said. IT'S
a judgment on me, Where is he2" She
lifted her head again. sharply TEL
me where he IS, I'm goin 10 him,
she said
\ minute later. while Godfrey was
mounting the stairs 10 Hetty, she was
flying down the road 70 red
Hetty. living on couch. half lifted her
self as Geoffrey knocked. Her white
face turned helplessly to him. was the
only thing he saw when he entered
''HeJty." be cried She put ont her
hands. and then dropped them again. He
hurried toward her. crossing the room
with swift strides
'Hotty,' he cried again. at last He
sat down beside her and took one Of her
little hands in his. There was so much
10 tell her he scarcely knew how 70 be-
gin. and how she would take il an ne did
not know The thought of the miniature
she had worn at her neck swept back
upon him as he sat facing her. She
had trampled it under foot Jt last. it was
true, but why had she kept il for eight
years?
Bessie has left me 20 tell you every
thing he said. "and how TO begin
don't know So much has happened
Hetty. do YOU care for Fanshawe still?'
The question hurt her. but it hurt him
as well. and his heart seemed 20 stop IN
is beat. as he saw the palloW sweep over
ler face and the shadow deepen in her
eyes. She put her one hand over them.
"I hate him. she said, with sudden
ierccncss. "Oh. Geomray, can't you see
now 7 must hate him?"
He made no reply for a minute, and
She went on.
Bessie says you know everything
she said, but there must be many things