The Oakes times., 1909-04-29

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notU, not Uou."
A dry sob answered him. He turned
and leaned his elbows on the narrow
window sill. every nerve aching, but
p0werless to comfort. He heard her
step. The door closed sharply
Then he faced into the empty cell.
sat down on the cot aud threw ont his
arns, with a hopeless cry:
"Jessica, .Iessicav'
Jessica 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 for her to do?
Like swift wind, she went up the
street to Felder's office. She groped
her way up the unlighted stair and
tapped on the door. There was no an
swer. She pushed 1t open and entered
the empty outer room, where q study
lamp burned on the desk.
A pile of legal looking papers had
been set beside it, and with them lay a
torn page Of newspaper whose ia.
miliar caption gave her stab Of pain.
Perhaps the news of the trial had
found It's way across the ranges to
where the names of Stires and Moreau
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 1t hastily. There
was no hint of the trial, but her eye
caught the news which had played its
role In the courtroom. and she read 1t
to the end.
Even In her own trouble she read it
with shiver. Yet, awful as the fate
which Harry sanderson had so mar
rowly missed. 1t was not to be com.
pared with that which awaited Hugh.
for. awfu! as it was, 1t held no shame.
In gust Of feeling she slipped to
her knees by the one sofa the room
contained and prayed passionately. As
she drew out her handkerchief to
stanch the tears that came something
fell with musical tinkle at her feet
It 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 it
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 bis constant liking.
to the wrong that friend had done him.
She looked at the date. 1t was May
%. She shuddered, for that was the
month and day on which DR.. 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. A 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-
don. This cross, the very emblem of
vicarious sacrifice! Suppose Harry
sanderson had never given it to Hugh!
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,
fearfully beyond the murder of DR..
Moreau. Her face burned. and her
breath came sharp and fast. Why