Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-02-13

lit should ne ne tnmotattno himself
p0t0. not y0iL-
A dry sob answered him He turned
and leaned his elbows or the narrow
window sin. every nerve aching. but
powerless 10 comfort. He heard her
step The door closed sharply
Then he faced into the empty cell.
sat down on the cot aud threw out his
arms. with hopeless cry:
'Jessica. Jessicar'
Jessics left the jail with despair In
her heart The hope on which she had
fed these past days had failed her
What was there left TOR her 10 do7
Like swift wind. she went up the
street 10 Folders office She CROPPED
her way up the unlighted stair and
tapped on the door There was no an
swer She pushed II open and entered
the empty outer room. where a study
lamp burned on the desk
A pile OF legal looking papers had
been set beside IL. and with them lay a
torn pege OF a newspaper whose Ia
miliar caption gave her stab OF pain.
Perhaps the news OF the trial had
found its way across the ranges 10
where the names OF Stires and Moreau
had been known Perhaps every one
at Aniston arpsady knew OF a. was
reading about IT, plying ser. She pick
ed II up and scanned IL hastily There
was no hint OF the trial. but her eve
caught the news which had played Its
role in the courtroom. and she read Il
20 the end
Even In her own trouble she read Il
with sh!ver Yet. awful as the fate
which Harry Sanderson had so nnr.
r0wly missed. IL was not 10 be COM
pared with that which awaited Hugh.
for. awful as IL was. IT held no shame
In n gust OF feeling she slipped 20
her knees by the one sofa the room
contained and prayed passionately. As
she drew out her handkerchief 10
stanch the tears that came something
fell with a musical tinkle M. her feet.
IL was the little cross she had found
In front Of the hillside cabin that had
lain forgotten In her pocket during the
past anxious days. AS she pressed II
the ring at the top gave way. and the
cross parted IN halves Words were
engraved on the Inside OF the arms-a
date and the name Henry Sanderson.
The recurrence OF the name Jared
and surprised her Hugh had dropped
tan old keepsake OF the friend who
had been his beau Ideal his exemplar
and whose ancient influence was still
dominant He had chung loyalty to the
memento. blind IN his constant liking.
TO the wrong that friend had done him
She looked at the date IL was MAY
IS She shuddered. for that was the
month aud day on which DR. Mcreau
had been killed The point had been
clearly established today by the prose
cution. To the original owner OF that
cross perhaps the date that had come
into Hugh's life with such sinister
meaning was glad anniversary
Suddenly she caught her hand to her
cheek weird idea had rushed
through her brain The religious sym
bol had stood for Harry Sanderson,
ana the chance coincidence OF date
had irresistibly pointed TO the murder
To her excited senses the Juxtaposi-
ton held a bizarre, uncanny sugges-
ton. This cross, the very emblem OF
vicarious SACRIFICED Suppose Harry
Sanderson had never given Ii 20 Hugh!
Suppose he had lost ii on the hillside
himselfl
She sn..tched up the paper again
"Who has been FOR some months on a
prolonged vacation"-the phrase stared
sardonically at her. That might carry
far back-she said IL under her breath,
fearfully-beyond the murder OF DR..
Moreau. Her face burned. and her
breath came sharp and fast Why
when she brought her warning to the
cabin had Hugh been so anxious to get
her away unless TO prevent her sight
OF the man who was there. to whom he
had taken her horse? Who was there
In Smoky Mountain whom he would
protect at hazard OF his own life?
JesSica's veins were ali afire. A rec
tor murderer? A double careerf Was
IT beyond possibility? IL came to her
like an impinging ray OF light. the old
curious likeness that had sometimes
been made Jest OF at the white
house IN tho osr,anS kfaroou IA r,ra..-