Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-20
F.. Don't you understand, my beloved

own?"
Some heavy gray veil seemed to lift away.
and the wounded>pan opened his eyes and
moved uneasily
TITS only the arm, poor boy but
I know It hurts!"
What Is H?' he asked vacantly
It's only the arm. and not a bone broken!
See, I've stopped the bleeding, and a week
or two OF quiet somewhere, and it'll be all
better! Then-then you'll sit up and thank
God for It!
He could hear her voice distinctly now
and could feel her hands feverishly caress-
ing his face and hair.
Speak to me. jim she pleaded pas
slonately. You're all I've got-you're all
that's left to me in the whole wide world!'
He opened his eyes again and smiled at
her: but 1t was such wan and broken
smile that TEMPEST of weeping swept over
the woman bending above him. He could
feel her hot tears scaldng his face
Then she suddenly drew herself up, rigid
and tense. for the sound of heavy foot
steps smote on her ear. Durkin heard
them. too, in his langud and uncompre-
bending way; he also heard the authorta-
tive knock that came from the hall door.
He surmised that Frank had opened the
splintered door. for in the dim sidelight of
the hall gas jet he could the flash of
metal buttons on the dark blue uniform
and the outline Of patrolman's helmet.
Anything wrong up here, miss?' the Off
Ger was demanding. little out of breath.
Dear me, no." answered her voice in
meek and plaintive alarm. Then she
laughed a little.
''She is lying-lying-lying' thought the
wounded man, languidly, as he lay there
bleeding. In the darkened room. not twelve
PAGES away from her. where the room was
stained and blotched and pooled with blood.
HIN! Folks downstairs said they heard
a pistol-shot up here somewheres!'
Yes, l know; that was the transon blew
Shut" she answered glibly. 1T nearly
frightened the wits out of me. too She
opened the door wide. But won't you
come in, and make sure?'
The, officer looked up at the transom.
wagged his head three times sagely ganc-
ed at the lines of the girls figure with
open and undisguised admiration. and said
it wasn't worth while Then be tried to
pierce the veil that still hung from her hat
and about her smiling face. Then he turn
ed and sauntered off down stairs. tapping
the baluster with his night stick as he
went. Then Durkin tried to struggle to his
feet, was stung with a second fierce stab
of pain. fell back drowsily, and remember
ed no more.
doorpost. She listened there for second
or two, and then crept inside and closed the
door after her
Thank God!' she gasped fervently. as
she tore off her hat and veil once more.
THANK God!'
Then, being only a woman and weak and
hungry and tired. and tried beyond her en-
durance, she took three evading half-stag-
faint over his feet.
The door opened and closed softly; and a
figure with an ashen face. blotched with
claret- color, skunk into the silent room.
Night had closed in by this time. SO having
listened for reassuring second or two.
he CROPPED slowly across the bare floor. His
trembling hand felt woman's skirt. EX-
ploring carefully upward. he felt her limp
arm, and her face and hair.
Then he came to the figure he was In
search of. He ripped open the wet and
soggy coat with a deft little pull at the
buttons, and thrust a great hungry hand
down into the inside breast pocket. The
exploring fat fingers found what they were
In search Of and held the carefully banded
packet up to the uncertain light of the
window.
There he tested the edges of the crisp
parchment of the bank notes and appar-
emily satisfied, hurriedly thrust them down
into his own capacious hip-pocket.
Then he crept to the broken door and
listened for a minute or two. He opened it
cautiously, at last. tip-toed slowly over to
the stair-balustrade, and finally turned
back and closed the door.
AS the latch of the shattered lock fell
rafting on the floor sigh quavered
through the room. 1t was a woman's sigh,
wavering, and weak and freighted with
wearings, but one Of returning conscious
ness For, a minute later voice was ask
ing, plaintively and emptily, Where
am -"
Go be Continued Tomorrow