The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-11

can imagine. This thing has been as
great blow TO me as IL has to you,
for your happiness is my greatest care.
I've always"
"Oh, please don't talk like thal, Tom"
pleaded Bess.
Put L must" he said You have
no one to look after you now. You are
estranged from your family Scandal
concerning you is all over town IL is
only a question of time when you will
lose your home here. I wan. you TO
know that you have one loyal friend,
one who loves you, yes, Ress, I've never
/ told you before. But now I must say it,
L have always"
"Oh, don't talk like thatr' cried the
girl trying to overcome the weakness
that had changed her in the last two
days.
But I must" went on the other,
taking her nsryeIess fingers within his
and pressing them. I've wanted to
tell you this for 50 long, Bess. so long.
But 1 haven had enough money. I've
worked so hard to be able to ask you
whether or not you would marry me.
But never had enough TO support two.
Now it doesn't matter. Now every
. thing has changed. I come to VOC and
offer myself I haven't lost a particle
OF faith I'm you, Bess. T."
Don't Tom" she insisted. struggling
with herself, fer while the affection ex-
pressed by Tom was abhorrent to her.
she could not find 1t in her 10 denounce
him for his love
IT can't help it. Bess. Everything
IS ould have been far better far bet er,
col
been Ike a Canker-sore. 7 have con-
cesied my love for you so carefully that
II has broken me down IT has led me
to do things that never would have
done had I been in a position to let
you know of my feeling. But now. now
that Jim Holden has proved himself to
be such rascal, now that you yourself
know he was never worthy
stop There was q command in her
tone that he could not disregard.
The girl sat there. quivering with
suppressed q. otion.
Tom picked mp courage from her 81
lenee and began on a new tack
Now that Jim Holden is out OF your
life as though he were dead-now that
there is no doubt ia your mind but that
DE was guilty Of robbery and muir
der"
mo doubt in my mindlr cried Bess,
jumping 10 her feet with a suddenness
that took Toms breath away mo
doubt In my mind2 no. there isn't"
There was q cutting sarcasm and a
soaring scorn that scorcheL Tom and
made him shrlvel up in helpless heap.
All along he lad misinterpreteG her ST.
lence. Now a glimmerinR of under
standing came to him.
mo. Tom" Bess continued IN a low,
strong voice, " there Is no doubt In my
mind at ali but that YOU committed the
robbery and the murder"
'Bess. y0u-ah---' His bIanched face
gave her added reason TO believe that
she was right
Tom. you may go now she went
. on Your face admits your guilt"
"Ias that rascal George said-'
George has said nothing TO me al,ouf
/ it," Bess took the words out OF his
mouth. -I repeat. your face admits
your guilt. and your manner in coming
here to tell me that YOU love me and
trying TO take advantage Of a very
. helpless moment in my .tfe shows You
TO be the meanest kind of coward.
. chats all Tom Good-by.
With that she left the room, her eIen-
Ter fingers knotted and her whole form
-ense with hatred for the man who had
attempted TO take advantage of her
pitifuI p0siuOn-the man, too, she was
now certain should be in the cell that
Jim had occupied
The Continuation of This stogs VIII
BE Found In Tomorrow
Issue Of This Paper.