The Elbert County tribune., 1908-10-08

when riding to hounds they found
themselves far from the peck Night
was coming on, beautiful moonlit
night that no lover could resist. Ar
they logged their horses side by Bifie
along the bridle path he took her Tn
his arms across the saddle. She strug-
gled feebly, yielded and their lips met
In ono long, passionate kiss. At last
she freed herself and told her pitifuI
story. She could not marry him. She
could not In honor say that siIe loved
him. She was already the wife OF an
other. welded before the registrar,
although she did not tell him this ntan
was the Hon. Algernon Sidney Hop
pington. The marriage must be kept
secret because II Hopplngton mar
ried against the wishes Or without
the knowledge and consent or tho
great-uncle in America he forfeited
all right. to his vast estate. Yes, sfIo
had thought she loved him, but now
but she might not say; honnr sealed
her Hips.
Then they executed their coup.
Capt. Graham went in hrst, Ieasing
the countess in the carriage and gain
ing easy admittance through the I'D
tency OF the name OF fhe baby
orchid.
They bargained for awhile. and then
the captain got Hoppington out OF tho
room for a moment while he signaien
and admitted the countess. When
Hoppington returned he found himself
face to face with his wife. Tho orchid
| seller was gone.
High words followed after his first
surprise was over. bitter words that
coupled the name OF the countess with
that of the captain In a way chat n.ade
Graham clench his fists and grit HIS
teeth to keep from dashing from the
dark corner behind the stairway where
she had his promise to remain no mat
ter what happened short OF actuni vio-
1ence.
Then she charged him with tho
woman they had seen leaving the
! door.
And you know that, you she devii,"
he shouted, rushing upon her with up
lifted fist.
He failed to notice that she was
toying with keen-pointed hunting
knife, an ornament to his library table.
The captain rushed out but he was
too late. Involuntarily. Graham
maintained, and for the sake OF tho
dead and the inability to disprove II
let Us believe so, she had raised the
knife. the whole force OF his body
came against II, and 1t sank into his
| heart.
| The countess gave piercing scream.
and then the house was stili. They
were alone with the dead When the
horror OF the deed had lifted sufficient
| ly for them to think OF the future,
i Graham drew the knife from tho
wound, and, lifting 1t high over the
table, brought It down with all the
power of his muscular right arm. Tfpe
blade sank through the wood up to
| the hilf.
| There" he said, mo matter what
comes, darling, no woman's hand
| did it,
Though innocent In everything, the
very manner OF their being in the
house was against them. They planned
to return to their hotels, keep ciosB
for day to avoid the suspicion or "A
quick departure, and then leave Chi
cago with Its mystery unsolved But
the lost slipper on the stoop, the baby
orchid and Kismet willed otherwise.
And who sent the telephone mHs-
sage to the police? Was II the wom-
an they had seen who later returned
and discovered the crime? Was II the
countess who shuddered to think Of
the man she once thought she loved.
and whose name she had right to
bear lying there dead and alone? Ora
ham did not know. and we did not
find out.
| / have no doubt but that 0rahanl,s
| story, told as we heard II to the cor
oner's Jury would have set him scot
free. But some complication, some
fever doubtless that he had picked up
in the tropics, set In and proved too
| much for his weakened body. the
law had no chance to correct the error
OF his arrest.
| Hon. Bertie Hoppfngton cana into
his own. Chief Shipp got the credIf
for the solution Of the mystery, Clarke
got the reward, at least SO suppose.
for he is uniformly silent on those
matters, and !. well got the story.
and now You have that.
| Copyright. 1908. by w. q. Chapman.l
] copyright In Great Brittany