Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-03
THE GREAT DIVIDE--BY ALICE WINTER.

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that skeletons ought to he kept i'm closets
and not ratified in peoples faces. After
they've once gotten out OF their closet =
it's almost impossible to shut them In
again. In my books. this is the end OF
Judge O'Nei'
ITS Just the beginning OF him in mine -
said Mrs. Carlton sharply.
Mrs. Herries gave a cynical laugh and
then gladly brought the discussion to q
close.
Here We are at home Would you aslA
Your man 10 wait moment until 1 sue
cessfully manipulate NV latch key. Nv
maid had "A sick headac che. and told her
that no one need wait up for me tonight %
a moment later the carriage disappeared
into the night and Mrs. lIerries and Miss
Eveleth stood in the little hall. A sudden
hush born of bewilderment fell upon them.
for down the stairway there streamed an
unexpected light. brilliant and inexpiic-
able in a sleeping household As they
stood and listened. a sound OF steaIthy
movement came from above. Mrs. Herrfes
srasped Miss Eveleth's arm convulsively.
and her eyes shone with the excitement
of one who loves adventure.
ITS burglar I know IL is. keep per-
fectly still! she whispered.
The next instant she vanished into tho
darkness toward the dining room, while
the girl tremhled and obeyed. And now
the elder woman came as silently back.
ndnu-SOnle-
thing that she UNFINISHED as she moved to-
ward the stairs.
Aunt Mana" Marion caught her in
agony. Don't. oh. don't, Don't 60 up.
Let's get out of the house and give the
alarm"
BE stil,' whispered the aunt angrily.
Hes vastly more to fear than I have.
Let me alone.
She wrenched herself away from the
girls clutching hand picked high her
silken skirts that they might not rustic
and started steadily upward After a
moments agonized hesitation. Marion foi-
lowed. to die the death. IL need be. rather
that let her aunt face IL alone.
At the head of the stairs Mrs. Herries
paused. There was dead silence in the
room before her. then abrupt noise.
and out from the doorway came a man
who moved toward her with an oath that
was a threat.
For fraction OF a second she gazed at
him with stupefaction, then. even while
his mouth was opened 10 speak. she hung
up one white bare arm and the next in
slant the creature before her WAS a rag
ing. fumbling beast. with nostrils. eyes
and throat full OF red pepper
Now scream" shrieked Mrs. Herries
to Marion. Scream, 1t isn't all gone
yet. I'll give him some more.'
And Marion screamed up the hall ana
a desperate game Of blind-mans bun
with the man who CROPPED and stumbled
toward her. but was too helpless to pro-
tect himself from her deadly shower I'M
til the fumes OF her own powder set her
to sneezing. too. Then came the rush OF
half-dressed servants. A late passerby
burst In from the street. Blear-eyed. and
hitting out wildly the intruder was bound
and left a heap on the floor OF Mrs. Her
ries' dressing room. while the rescuer
from outside went to the police station.
for this was in the days before the tele-
phone.
Then the two women. excited and trium-
plant, found time to speak to each other.
while the servants gathered in the hall to
wait for the next chapter.
"Nana.' Marion exclaimed. who would
ever have believed that those fluffy little
curls of yours covered the head OF her
oine. How did you ever dare to do II!
Why. Mana you are a regular war-sonG"'
POOH said Mrs. Herries. Dare! I've
always Ionged to do it, OF course. I
dared. II you'd thought of Ii you'd have
dared too"
Never" exclaimed the girl fervently.
We'll, perhaps not in this case" her
aunt sneered a little. You are the kind
that would dare anything to help a per-
son you loved. I would dare anything to
worst a person I hated. That's the diff
ference between u.s. But Marion, she
went on solemnly. didn't you know
him."
Know him. exclaimed the girl: how
should l know criminal?'
II knew him in a Hash. only I didn't
have time to think about 1t. Come and
look at my captiver
She tucked her arm through the girls
and drew her into the next room. where
the helpless mass still underwent convul-
sive movements and swore and wheezed.
AS she looked at him the jubiant eX-
preston died out of Mrs Herries' face
and something like fury took its place.
Suddenly she stopped.
What's your name. my man." she
asked.
He tried to peer at her through his
swollen eyes
None o your damn business. he
coughed.
.Oh. isn't it," she said. Isn't it in
deed? / fancy il is,' She turned to Mar
ion shaking with excitement, and caught
her by the shoulder.
Marion, come here-here, she COM
manded.
We've done more than all Johnny's'
advertisements and detectives. my dear.
Look at him. It's a coarse. dirty parody.
ism t il? But if il were shaved. and washed
and clothed. it might be a Judge. mightn't
our judge has to preside at the trial OF
his double, Another pleasant family
surprise, And to think that man, with
such connections. dared to fancy himself
in love with me, Well, Providence has
given my revenge into my hands, she
went on piousy. I'm as sure of the
whole affair if il had been shouted
from the housetops-as ii soon will be-
She was trembling with passion that
she hardly looked at the girl. who was
staring down with whitening face at the
wretched bundle. All. there are wheels
up the street. 1t must be the patrol
wagon cried Mrs. Herries and she
swept from the room and downstairs.
Marion hesitated not a moment after her
flight
Mike O'Neil,' she said sharply.
'How-how'd you know" he blurted
out.
Instantly her hands were deftly at work
on the knots that held him.
I'm going to give YOU a chance tn
escape" she said. Don't be caught And
If you are, don't-in heavens name-give
your own name. Never let your brother
know that his own blood is such as you.
If you've spark of manhood left in you.
don't break your mothers heart. She's
a good woman. They're hunting for you.
Don't let them find you. Take the rope
and let yourself out of this back window.
This way! Can't you see plainly? Here!
Oh be quick. I'll keep them as long as
| can"
She was downstairs and i'm the midst
of the excited group which flung open the