The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-07
A Mystery
Romance
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38{R1 aaaa6a1@3@G
Copyright, 1909. by Dodd.
Mead e. Co.


his mouth than he was thrust aside
and there stood In his place spare,
gaunt, tottering Ggnre--a man DISNEY
eled. soiled. exhausted-James Law
renee Chnlloner had come homei
he young wfre-s face turned pale,
and fer moment words failed her
Then all of a sudden she sprang TO her
feet, crying in an ecstasy of JOY:
Laurie. Laurie. You've come home
to me at last!'' And throwing her
arms around hts neck, she kissed htm
many times, laughing Historically and
crying the while, You've come back
to Eier'
But Challoner cast her of with q
frantic sweep OF the arm.
Keep away" be cried I'm dog
tired, I've got to sleep. sleepr'
Shirley was keenly alive TO what bis
presence there might mean.
stevens" she called pointing to
window, pull that curtain down.
pulled it up after they went; pull 1t
down"
Challoner now turned upon her.
Leave the curtain alone tell YOU
he said. Il don't care II it Is up
don't care about you either. nor you."
looking at his wife II don't know
you. must have sleep. sleep. sleep"
Deep down Ia her soul Shirley knew
thas she should not hear all this. and
she would have fed If she had not
promised Miriam not 10 leave her.
Miriam now went over to the girl.
You re not going 10 leave me?'' she
exclaimed. citugiug to Ter. You aud
Laurie are the only friends | have.
You must stay here with Laurie aud
me"
Shirley patted her aGectlonateiy.
There. there Miriam. dear. of
course shall stay" Miriam. reassur-
ed darted back to her husband and
cried:
Laurie. dear" kissing him and push
Ing the hair back from his forehead.
so tired. so tired"
But Chaiiouer. wolf now and not a
man. jerked away from her aud an
sWered:
u came home. didn't l? Well then.
l must have sleep. sleep; tell yon,
sleep" And. totteriug over to dainty
silken covered sofa, he threw himself
upoa it. with a deep sigh.
Miriam went damn On her knees and
drew him to her in close embrace.
Every things all right hew that
you've come back" she told him ia
soothing tones. And, dear. youti for
give me for quarreling with you. I'm
SO sorry; yes, / am. Laurie" kissing
him on the lips. the face, the forehead
Say youll forgive me- Laurie, DEAR
His answer was suore.
Miriam whispered Shirley. 1--WE
must not forget that Murgatroyd and
his men have only just left. We must
NOT let him lie here. 1t was lucky they
searched the house when they did"
mo" objected Miriam. HE must
sleep"
mo. no. Miriam" persisted Shirley.
putting great emphasis on the words.
I'VE ought TO tell bin what kind OF
evidence is against HIN. If we didn't
warn him in time he'd never forgive
us"
Perhaps you're right. Shirley, You
seem 10 be always right. Yes. | sup
pose he ought 10 know" Gently Mir
lam shook him, rocked him to and fro
upon the snFa as some mother might
wake drowsy. growing boy on lazy
summer morn.
Lawrence" she cried softly in his
ear. wake m; dear wake up"
For an instant Challoner stirred.
Il can hardly realize that Laurie il I
back" murmured Miriam happily. Tn.
conscious Of the others words. she re
manned kneelIng at tho side ne the /
dainty sofa with it's far from dainty +
burden. her arm still about the neck o.
the man who slept upon it.
At that instant as Miriam and Shir
ley stood clustered about the sleeping
thing the bell once more broke out In
feeble clamor.
THE h"llr' chorused the women and
stood frozen silent. They heard ste
veus toilny up the stairs. waited.
watched The door. Finally they saw
him enter.
IT'S the prosecutors men again.
madam" said the butler, They've
core to-.
Stevens interrupted Shirley, "sure
you didn't tell them that
They said they saw him
Shirley greaned and pointed to the
sofa Mrs, ChaIioner rose TO her feet
and stood lSfore 1t as If to hide the
man upon. II.
You Jeff them outside. Stevens?'
"One Of them The other forced his
way In"
A maid. quiyering with fear and in
dighation, burst IN with:
There's a man coming upstairs,
madam, bu, ! stopped him. He said
bed wait out there on the landing 10
zee you said he knew Alr challsiler
x';s's1 ii-siie- hotise asii tir was gong TO :,
arrest him
"Oh. dear. There's nothing to be
lone, SUPPOSE but to lei the man ,
A." Mrs, ChalIoner was speakin. to
Shirley now. ard then without waiting
sor . repix she ordered t'osie1 TO-
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