Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-04-30

r--1,rs IN
The Man Lifted His Arm.
position of all. OF coure it might
have been only her imagination. The
little pinch Of fright engendered Of the
moving shadow and the eere hour
passed away Her eyes grew pensive'
again How still 1t was! Had Cor
don fallen asleep? He lay so quietly.
Had be grieved himself into slumber
as girl would do? No-men were
not like that.
An! There was the moving shad.
ow again She caught her breath
quickly. Then her eyes grew wide and
fixed with terror. This time the
shadow did not stink away again. 1t
came near the window, crouching. Sud-
denly, 1t stood up straight. Merciful
Father! Why is it that a human be-
Ing, creature Of reason and judy
ment, proving about at unnatural
hours, inspires ten-fold more terror to
his kind than does brute in like cir
cumstances of time and place? Louise
parched A sudden paralysis held her
speechless. 1t was like nightmare.
She writhed and fought desperately
to shake herself free Of this dumb
horror The cold damp came out on
her forehead. Afterward she remem-
bered that she knew the man and that
II was this knowledge that had caused
her nightmare Of horror to be so un-
speakably dreadful. Now she was
conscious only of the awfulness Of not
being able to cry out. II she could
only awaken Mary! The man lifted
his arm. lie bad something in his
nand. IT'S terrible import broke TIE
spell OF her eechlessness.
Mary Mary"
She thought she shrieked In reaf
ity she gasped out broken whisper;
but it thrilled so with terror anc
pleading that Mary was awakened OF,
the instant. She sprang out of bed.
AS her bare feet touched the floor q
pistol shot rang ont close by She
, had been trained to quick action, and
superb health LIFT no room for cob
/ webs to lingcr in the brain when she
was suddenly aroused. She had no
need for explanations The shot was
enough. n more was needed there was
the lighted window across the way
and here was Louise crouched before
! their own. Swiftly and silently she
seized her revolver from the bureau,
glided to the window and fired three
times in rapid succession, the reports
mingllng with the sound of shattered
glass.
Il think hit him the second time,
Louise" she said, with a dull calm.
II can't be sure
She lighted a lamp and began to
dress mechan ically. Louise stayed not
to answer. In the hall she encountered
Paul Langford, just as another shot
rang out.
Go back Miss Dale" he cried, hur'
riedly but peremptorily. You mustn't
come. am afraid there has been
foul play"
She looked at him. 1t hurt, that
look
He Is dead" she whispered, Il am
going to him." and glided away from
his OBTAINING hand.
He hurried after her. Others had
been aroused by the nearnesS OF tho
pistol shots. Doors were thrown open
Voices demanded the meaning Of the
disturbance. Putting his arm around
the trembling girl Langford fastened
across the street with her. At the dooI
OF Gordon's Office he paused.
~ will go in first, Louise. You stay
here"
He spoke authortatively; but she
slipped In ahead OF him. Her arm.
fell softly over the bowed shoulders
Her cheek dropped to the dark gray
streaked hair. There was little change
seemingly, The form was only lit
tie more relaxed, the attitude only
little more helpless. 1t seemed as 4
he might have been sleeping There
was sound, a faint drip, drip, drip
In the room. 1t was steady, monoton
Gus, like drops falling from rain pipe
after the storm is over. Lsngfort
opened the door.
Doe. Doc Lockhart! Some on
send Doc over here quick? Gordon
office BE quick about it," he cried
In a loud firm voice. Then he close'
the door and locked It, In respons
to his call footsteps were heard run
ming. The door was tried. Then cam
loud knocking and voice demandinl
admittance.
mo one can come IN but Doc" crie'
Langford through the keyhole. "Sen'
him quick somebody. for Gods sake
Where's Jim Munson? He'll get hin
here. Quick. ! tell you!"
He FASTENED back to the side Of hi
friend and passed bis hand gently eve