The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-06-10

BY the moonlight, while his mind was
plying back and forth between half
dozen contradictions.
lie went over the night OF the at
tack on Keatcham; he summoned
every look, every motion OF Janet
Smith; in one phase OF feeling he
cudgeled himself for wooden fool
who had been absolutely brutal to
defenseless woman who trusted him;
he hated himself for the way he would
not see her when she looked toward
him; no wonder at last she stiffened,
and now she absolutely avoided him
But. In a swift revuision against his
own softness. he was instantly laying
on the blows as Justify because OF HIS
Incredible, pig-headed credulity. How
absolutely simple the thing was! She
cared for this scoundrel OF an At
kins who had first betrayed his EN-.
ployer and then tried to murder him.
Very likely they had been half en-
gagged down there In Virginia; and he
had crawled out Of his engagement;
II would be quite like the cur, Later
he found that Just such a distinguished.
charming woman, who had family and
friends. was what he wanted; II would
be easy enough for him TO warm up
his old passion. curse him! Then, he
had mot her and run IN q bunch Of
plausible lies that had convinced her
plain clothes; hadn't done thing to
Cary or to her. Atkins was such a
smooth devil, Winter could just pic
ture him whining 10 the girl, putting
his life in her hands and all that rot:
and making all kinds OF tool OF her
board! So she was ready to throw
them all overheard TO save Atkins
from getting his feet wet. That was
why she looked SO pale and haggard OF
a morning sometimes. In spite OF that
ready smiles OF hers; that was why her
l eyes we're so wistful: she wasn't a
false woman and she sickened OF her
squalid part. She loved Aunt Rebecca
and Archie-all the same. she would
turn them both down for him; while
as TO Rupert Winter. late OF the United
States army. a WORKOUT. lame, elderly
idiot who had flung away the profess
sion he loved and every chance OF a
future career in order to have his
hands free TO keep her out OF danger
where were there words blistering
enough for such puppy-dog follyl Al
| this point in his jealous imaginings the
pain in him goaded him into motion
he began furiously pacing the room
although his lame leg. which he had
beer using remorselessly all day. was
sending jabs and twists OF agony
through him. But after a little he
halted again before the easement
window.
The wide, darkening view; the
great. silent city with its myriad
lights: the shining mist OF the bay;
the foothills with their sheer, straw
colored streaks through the forests
and vineyards; the illimitable depths
OF star-sown, violet sky-all these
touched his fevered mood with a sud
den calm. His unrest was quoted, as
one whose senses are cooled by q run
ming stream.
"You hot-headed southerner!" he up
braided himself. don't get up In the
air without any real proof"
Almost in the fitting of the words
through his brain he saw her. The
white gown, which was her constant
wear In the sickroom. defined her fig
ure clearly against clump Of Japar
plum-trees. Their purplish red foliage
rustled; and an unseen fountain be
yond made a delicate tinkle OF watel
splashing a marble basin. Her fac'
was hidden; only the moonlight gentl!
drew the oval OF her cheek. She wal
standing still. except that one foot wa
cropping back and forth as II trying 4
find something. But, as he looked. hi
face growing tender. she knelt on thu
sod and pulled something out OF tn
ground. This something she seeme'
TO dust on with her handkerchief
he could not see the object, but h
could see the nutter OF the handker
chief; and when she rose the Whit
linen partly hid the thing in her hand
Only partly, because when she passed
around the terrace wall the glow from
an electric lantern. in an arch, fell full
upon her and Furnished long, THU
blade of steel.
He looked down on her from his IN
lighted chamber; and suddenly sh
looked up straight at the windows o
the room where she thought he wa
sleeping; and smiled a dim, amused
weary, tender smile. Then she spe
by, erect and light Of foot; and tn
deep shadow OF the great gatewa
took her. All he could see was tn
moonlight on the bluish-green lawn
and the white electric light on III
cleaning rubber-trees and dust
palms.
He sat down He clasped his hand
. over his knee. He whistled softly
! little Spanish air. He laughed yer
gently. My dear little girl" said h'
r Il am going TO marry you. You ma
r be swindled into helping dozen mu
r derers; but l am going to marry you!
\ CHAPTER XVI.