The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-01-03
BY HARRIS
Author Of
The Blaek Wolfs Breed. ne
e~se-~7ReOa-~Ah~ss-@
lcopyrisht $50. 10 D. Appleton a Coz
cHAPTER Xv-contlnued.

~ H"" NAN 6AAA &
self. an u%nshrinking determination
flashed into her eyes, such as he had
seen in few mems, and never in a
woman's. It told him plainly that
her time for fear had passed, the
hour for endurance had come. She
shrank no longer. she trembled no
longer; the truth was out, 1t stared
her in the face, and she met It like
q woman OF the Romans.
Joe tried to slip away.
Wait" she said. And he waited.
Halfway up the stair, she turned;
Joe was going out the door.
I'm just going out to see IL I can't
catch a cab he explained.
She looked at him a moment doubt
ful whether he was telling her the
truth. Il shall go alone il you leave
me"
Church bells pealed from every tow
err: worshipers hurried through the
doors, and votaries Of pleasure strolled
along the promenade, In Gods vast
sunshine there was abundant room for
recluse and for r%eveler. for hutterers
Of fashion. and for che widows garb
OF sorrow. The crowding people. the
banners. the gayeties Of the streets,
ali made grated cells and gloomy
prison yard seem more terrible to
Anita Yet II she changed color, or
hung back at the gate, even Joe could
moi detect it.
Jimmy Fitz and the other officers
seemed much disconnected that she
had come; it was no place for ladies:
they we're in the way. Fitzgerald did
not know what to do with her.
Let US sit in that little room.
Joe suggested; where we can see him
when he's brought in. She thought
perhaps she might identify him"
Anita thanked him with one CRATE
ful glance for thinking Of an excuse.
however insufficient.
Jimmy FitE showed them into the
ante-room, and went out again, leav-
ing the door aiar. Anita sat breath
less beside Joe. her eyes fixed on the
crack In the door, her whole soul
pouring itself u in an agony Of APP
prehension. There was the iailer, ana
Jimmy Fits and Baker sitting there
IN the i~ailer's private Office; Anita
scarcely saw them; they we're nothing
20 her.
Joe laid his hand upon her arm.
fearing that she might cry out. She
turned such a quiet face toward him
that he tool his hand away, and felt
ashamed.
Steps came along the corridor
two men. Anita grasped the arms OF
her chair and listened. What little
color there had been in her lips faded
out completely. She knew the step.
she could not be mistaken: one Of
those men was Noel Duke. She turned
and clutehed Joe's hand. but she did
not even moan.
Duke came into the jailer's Office.
and she heard Jimmy Fitz asking him
questi0ns-heard every syllable.
"Weli. sir. will you tell US now who
you are. and why you've beer hang
ing around the Hotel Louis le Grande
since midnight on Thursday"
The prisoner did not open his lips.
Why aid you sit in Pedro's Place
all day Friday and watch the door
70 that hotel? Why did you sneak IN
there twice while the police were
searching it2 Why did you try 70
kin Mr. Vance IN that cafe yesterdays"
Anita heard them ask a hundred In
solent questions, heard them threaten
and promise and calole But she lis
tened vainly for a denial which never
came from the prisoner.
Why did he not say s%omethingg
Why dld he not tell them that they
were liars? How could he be silent
under such accusations? Anita
glanced a~ppealingly to Joe. Joe
turned his face away. and a numb
ness as Of death stilled the t~hrobbing
Of her heart.
Take him back" the jailer or
dered, and Anita caught a glimpse Of
Dukes tight-shut lips. as he passed
out to his cell again.
His heavy steps went tramp
tramp-tramp down the long corridor;
she felt that they were going 10 the
utttrmost boundaries Of the EARTH.
She ionged to cry Out after him.
20 call him back, 90 tell him that
there had been a mistake-that-
Then she heard the shutting Of a
heavy door. miles and miles away.
When Jimmy Fit aud Baker first
appeared In the ante-room. Anita did
not see them; she was conscious Of
nothing
well, miss. DO -1u know Inf"
Joe rose quiokl and tried to save
her the necessity Tor an answer. but
she did not wait.
4 have never seen the man. she
replied steadily; nov, take me
home"
BAKER followed them 20 the edge Of
tho banQuette where their cab was
waiting
That's q sharp un, he remarked,
iefling his thumb IN the direction o.
enc ~prisoneri fe's q new 'end, but