Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-03-14

window. But she was very sleepy.
The crash had not awakened Mary.
She was breathing quietly and deeply.
But she would be amenabie TO a touch
just light One-and she did not
mind doing things. How mean. though.
to administer Il In such a cause. She
could not do It. The dilspidated green
blind was tapping dismally. What
time was it, Maybe IL was nearly
morning. and then the wind would
probably go down. That would save
her from getting up. She snuggled
under the covers and prepared 20 slip
deliciously of into siumber again.
But she couldn't so TO sleep after
all A haunting suspicion preyed on
her waking faculties that the crash
might have been the water pitcher.
She had been asleep and could not
gauge the shock OF the fan. Il had
seemed terrific. but what awakens one
from sleep Is always abnormal to
ones startled and unremembering
consciousness. Still. Il might have
been the pitcher. She cherished no
fond delusion as TO the impenetra-
bility OF the warped cottonwood floor
ing. Water might even then be trick
ling through 10 the room below. She
found herself wondering where the
bed stood. and that thought brought
her sitting up in a hurry only to re-
member that she was over the mustv
sittingrOom with its impossible car.
pet. She would be glad 70 see Il
soaked-it might put a little color into
t. temporarily at least. and lay the
dust OF ages. But sitting up. she felt
herself enveloped In gale OF wind
that played over the bed. and so wise
" concluded that n she wished 20 see
this court through without the risk OF
grippe or pneumonia complications
she had better close that window. So
she slipped cautiously out Of bed. ner-
vously apprehensive OF plunglng her
feet into a pool OF water. 70 had NOT
been the pitcher after all. Even after
the window was closed there seemed
70 be much air in the room. The
blind still tapped. though at longer in
tervsls. II IL really turned cold. how
we're they 20 live IN that barnlil,e
room. she and Mary? She thought OF
the campers out on thas fat and shiv-
cred She looked out OF the window
musingly a moment. II was dark. She
wondered II Gordon had come home.
or course he was home. Il must be
nearly morning. Her feet we're get.
ting cold. SO she crept back Into bed
The next thing OF which she was con-
scious. Mary was shaking her excit.
eddy.
what is it?" she asked. sleepily.
Louise. There's a fire somewhere!
Listen"
Some one rushed quickly through
the hall: others followed. knocking
against the walls in the darkness.
Then the awful. heart-clutching clang
OF a bell rang out-near, insistent. me.
tallic. It was the meeting-house bell.
There was no other In the town. The
girls sprang TO the floor. The thought
had found swift Judgment IN the mind
OF each that the hotel was on FIRE. and
In that moment Louise thought OF the
poisoned meat that had once been
served to some archenemies OF the
gang whose chief was now on trial for
his liberty. So quickly does the brain
work under stress OF great crises, that,
evea before she had her shoes and
stocking on. she found herself wonder
ing who was the marked victim this
time. Not Williston-he was dead.
Not Gordon-he slept in his own room
back OF the Office. Not Langtord-he
was bunking with his friend in that
same room. Jim Munson? Or was the
judge the prescribed one? He was not
n corrupt judge. He could not be
bought II might be he. Mary had
gone to the window.
'Louise!" she gasped. THE court
housed"
True. The cloudy sky was Redeemed
above the poor little temple OF justice
where for day and weeks the tide OF
human interest of a big part OF a big
statc-ay. a big part OF all the north
west country, maybe-had been stead
lily setting In and had reached It's cul-
mination only yesterday, when a
gray-eyed. dropping shouidered, firm
jawed young man had at last faced
quietly In the bar OF his court the
NCACl VI tue CIV country. lO-llknL,
II would dance its little measure, re-
cite its few lines on its little stage Of
popularity before an. audience frenzied
with appreciation and interest; to-
morrow. II would be a heap Of ashes,
its scene played out.
MY note booksi" cried Louise, in
a fash Of comprehension. She dressed
hastily. Shirt waist was too intricate,
so she threw on a gay Japanese XII
mono; her jacket and walking skirt
concealed the limitations Of her at
tire.
What are you going to dor" asked
Mary, also putting on clothes which
were easy OF adjustment She had
never gone to fires in the old days
before she had come to South Dakota;
but II Louise went-gentle, highbred
Louise-why, she would 20 too, that
was all there was about it. She had
constituted herself Loulse's guardian
in this rough life that must be so alien
TO the eastern girl. Louise had been
very good to her. Louise's startled
cry about her note books carried little
understanding to her. She was not
used to court and its ways
They fastened out into the hallway