The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-03-16

@GsEZ duty to detain her till the fire
ka.fSN:.: =. II escape had given up its secret,
but he did not hesitate He
refused to think of what it all
meant. He only knew that he her side
heart and soul, and must her bidding till he died
Hurry, he repeated. There isn't a moment to
lose"
But the girl held back "The letter" she pleaded
II cannot go without it,
You must. | didn't to tell you-but-Wil-
klns has been murdered and the police are coming
The letter is of reach for the moment anvhow
You must go at once. The police will be here in a
moment" He hurried her to the door and peered
out Bare and silent in the first break of dawn, the
street stretched interminably away. No human be.
ing seemed to stir But as he listened faraway
rumble grew on his ears.
THE patrol wagon" he gasped "Ths way,
Quick God help you!"
In an instant she gone hurrying swiftly down
the street with steps that did falter. Caruth
watcned hll ne saw mans figure step from the
shadows to join her and the two vanish around
corner Then, sick at heart, as only the young can
De when they find their hearts idol clay, he turned
n pack to greet the police. They at his elbow
SIX OF tneno' leaplng from wagon and hurrying for
ward. What's dong?" demanded the foremost.
Murder! On the third floor fire escape. The
The officer spun round. ION YOUR way hovs,,, no
ordered Front and back" He turned to Caruth
Who did it?" he demanded
IL the young hesitated il was only for an in
slant Il don't know" he answered Its NV valet
he robbed me and fed discovered it moment
be after IN him He had disappeared
empty Some confederate must have been waiting
for him"
HE two men We're alone in the hall. The other
officers had all vanished, some through the rear
entrance; some the stairs The crowd that was tn
come had not yet gathered, though the sound of
running footsteps outside showed that it's first units
were coming, attracted from nowhere by the clatter
OF the patrol.
The officer used to scenes of excitement and
Knowing the Importance of ideas expressed before
those in touch with tragedy had time consciously or
unconsciously to mould their opinions waited to ask
one more question before he hurried to the rear
Suspect anybody?" he demanded "seen anv.
body suspicious?'
Caruth looked him straight in the face mo" he
he'd NO I've seen nobody. AS said, the man
killed him for his booty"
When the officer had gone, Caruth turned and with
eaden feet climbed the stairs that led to his
room He did not stop at the third floor nor 20
again to inspect the lump pallid flesh that alone
remained OF his servant In fact for the time he
had altogether forgotten Wilkins. The murder had
driven the murdered man from his mind
He had answered the officer on the spur of the
moment thinking only to shield the girl and not
considering the possible-yes, the inevitabe-conse-
quences The words once said, he would have given
worlds to recall them, and yet he knew that he
chance.
He would have such chance however The
true tale OF the nights would have been pre-
posterous enough at best; he could fancy how
hardheaded American jury would have listened to
1t, and now even fourth-rate lawyer would have
proved its impossibity But all events in telling
1T he would have been telling the truth, and would
have had the consciousness of rectitude to support
him.
But his hasty had made the truth impos
slble and he must go on pilng lie upon lie in sick
enng iteration. Liars need good memories; would
his prove equal to the task? Would no one catch
him tripping? His had made him a criminal
IN the eyes OF the law-an accessory after the fact
The thought sickened him; and yet mingled with
mis- dsmay was fierce joy that he doing it for
her sake-for the sake of the woman who had
walked into his life a few moments BEFORE a woman
OF whose status and probably of whose real name
he was ignorant
Why had he done it? he asked himself with dazed
wonder He owed her nothing. She had forced her.