The new era., 1909-07-29

year, and that their name was lru-
ro. They seemed to have plenty OF
money, and were very pleasant. the
handsomest couple I ever saw in my
life, and were wholly wrapped up In
each other"
What was the mans business?"
81 don't think he had any business.
think he had plenty of money. He
always paid his bills promptly, any
way"
"Yes-for two weeks. Good judg-
ment!" grunted the sergeant, cyni-
cally. We'll" he continued who do
they know-who calls on them?"
II can't say whom they know, but in
all the time they have been here only
one person has come to see them, and
that was a woman"
At this moment the wounded man
groaned, and the physician who was
caring for his hurt put his ear to the
lips which were moaning some scarce
ly Ineligible words.
Coward! Oh, coward, .coward!" the
doctor thought he said.
Can he talk?" the sergeant asked.
eagerly, coming nearer.
Coward! coward! coward" the pa
tient groaned again, this time in
stronger tone, the syllables sounding
distinctly.
ASK him who shot him?" whispered
the officer to the medical examiner.
The groaning man suddenly opened
his eyes and looked at the sergeant.
What are you here for-what has
happened?' he asked, family.
Here, take this" said the doctor.
putting restorative to the pale lips.
He gulped 1t painfully, the doctor hold
ing his head. Then he closed his eyes
wearily.
Cant you tell who shot you?" the
sergeant insisted. speaking in low
voice, but with a trace of command
in 1t.
The eyes flew open again, the man
attempted to raise his body and look
toward the bed, but the effort was
too much for him. He sank back.
stammering one word:
"Sh-sh-she?"
his. The patient looked pitifully into
MS eyes ana UNDERSTOOD.
"Oh, God! Coward! coward! cow
ard!" he cried, with bitter energy.
But who was he?" said the SER
geant, advancing still nearer and look
ing down into the handsome eyes.
Il don't know" he answered.
But how did he get in here? Mrs.
Philpots saw him slide out-he was
in here all right He didn't fire
through the winder or this door. Did
you see him at all? Tell US how it
was"
With great difficulty, and making
many pauses for breath. he succeeded
in informing them that In the night
he had been suddenly awakened by
noise In his room, and saw a man at
the pockets of his trousers which hung
on hooks near the foot of the bed. The
weather being extremely hot the win
dows we're open, and the shades, raised
to their full height, allowed enough
moonlight to enter to enable him to
see that the figure was that of man.
and that was about all. His face was
undiscernible. He could not tell how
the intruder was dressed. Immediately
he made movement to spring from
bed and grapple with the thief. but
his wife, who must have been awake.
threw herself upon him, whispering:
Let him take what there is and go.
Don't risk your life, dear. He has a
pistol" At that instant the burglar
fired, the wife receiving the shot. The
husband sprang to the floor and
rushed upon the man, who then fired
again and ran from the room, pursued
by the victim only as far as the sofa.
where he collapsed. He supposed the
villain had gained entrance through
the window. 1t was some common
thief, who wanted money and, being
detected, had shot them in order to
escape.
"You called him coward because
he shot a woman, then, and not be-
cause you knew him?" the sergeant
asked
Certainly. A thousand times yes.
How could l be supposed to know a
common thief"
Two of the policemen, who had been
searching the premises for evidence,
approached the sergeant with man
attired only in shirt and trousers.
He was one of the several dodgers who
had crept down from their rooms to
the parlor to see what the trouble was.
but had been excluded by the officers.
This feller says he seen woman
come up the steps," said one Of the
policemen.
"A woman!" the sergeant exclaimed.
The official was big, bluff, choleric
appealing parsonage, and he regarded
the new witness with belligerent eyes,
But the newcomer smiled amiably.
my room is two flights up, over
this one," he said. THE night was SO
hot that put my head out Of the win
dow for air, and 1 saw woman come
down the street and up our front steps.