Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-08-13

III should be ne tmmotdttng himself
noac- not pcil'
A dry sob answered him. He turned
and leaned his elbows on the narrow
window sill. 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 and threw out bis
arms. with a hopeless cry:
"Jessica. Jesslca!''
Jessica left the jail with despair In
her heart The hope on which she had
fed these past days Ind failed her
What was there left for her To do?
Like a swift wind. she went mp the
street to Felder's Office. She CROPPED
her way up the uniighted stair and
tapped on the door. There was no an
swcr. She pushed 1t open and entered
the empty outer room. where a study
lamp burned on the desk.
pile OF legal looking papers had
been set beside II, and with them lay a
torn page 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 to
where the names OF stires and MORGAN
had been known. Perhaps every one
at Aniston already knew OF IT, was
reading about 1t. plying her. She pick
ed 1t up and scanned II 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 II
to the end
Even In her own trouble she read II
with q SILVER Yet. awful az the fate
which Harry Sanderson had SO mar.
rowly missed. 1t was not TO be com.
pared with thar which awaited Hugh.
for. awful as 1t was. It held no shame.
In gust OF feeling she slipped 10
her knees by the one sofa the room
contained and prayed pnssionateIy AS
she drew out her handkerchief TO
stanch the tears that came something
fell with musical tinkie ut her feet
1t was the little cross she had found
in front OF the hillside cabin that had
lain forgotten in her pocket during the
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 10 his constant liking.
to the wrong that friend had done him.
She looked at the date IL was May
28 She shuddered. for that was the
month and day on which Or. Moreau
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
Dol had stood for Harry Sanderson.
and the chance coincidence of date
had irresistibly pointed to the murder.
To her excited senses the juxtaposi-
ton held bizarre. uncanny sugges-
ton. This cross, the very emblem Of
vlcarious sacrificed Suppose Harry
Sanderson had never given It to Hughl
Suppose he had lost 1t on the hillside
himself
She snatched up the paper again
who has been for some months on q
prolonged vacation"-the phrase stared
sardonically at her. That might carry
far back-she said 1t under her breath,
fearfuIly-beyond the murder OF DIR.
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 all afire. A rec
tor murderer A double career? Was
1t beyond possibility? 1t came TO her
like an fmpinging ray Of light, the old
curious likeness that had sometimes
been made a jest OF at the white
house In the aspens. Moreau and Prem
dergast had believed 1t to be Hugh.