The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1910-10-13
AINsLEE MAGAZINE COMPANY

llOUS. ucIe NdS OiIIs OhS Nh"hSS W
get out Of sight-the open window OF
a strange house l took it and. he
finished with faint smile. that's
where l am"
She was silent. Then, But you said
1t was a fair meeting. Why. then,
should they
T can't prove it was fair" he inter
rupted grimly. II left him lying with
his pistol in his hand. but it wasn't
there when they found him. They
think / shot down an unarmed man
because they found no weapon upon
him"
"You mean it was stolen" she asked
wonderiBgly.
He smiled, shaking his head. mo
common thief would have dared to-.
Whoever did it must hate me worse
than did the dead man. Stealing that
pistol finishes Be if don't get away.
That's all. and all l can say. II you
can't believe me-" he added quietly,
there's only one thing for you to do
go to that window and call those
men in here for me. But If you can
believe Newell, permit me to take
this hat"
There was q pause. during which
they looked each other In the eye, he
calmly waiting for her decision, she
as calmly estimating him. Then she
quietly left the room. quickly return
ing with a black felt planters hat.
Take this instead" she said evenly,
tendering it. 1t is my brothers."
Thanking her. he turned to 80. But
now she was at the window, and after
one hurried glance she confronted him
with white, drawn face and eager, re-
straining hand.
DO you know they are still there,
watchingr' she cried. How cruel to
hunt a man down like that! You will
never be able to get by them. They
viii in you"
IF l start they'll know somebody
tried to get BY" he returned lightly,
"and theyn probably finish me one
way or the, other. This. way doesn't
involve any legal procrastinahons.
That's why l prefer It."
Don't try it. please don't" she
whispered, pushing back ber heavy
hair. Il cannot let you make the at
tempt. 1t Is suicider
Why, that's about all that's left to
me-to make a good try" he smiled.
Then. suddenly serious and dinadent,
he added: May tell you something?
Perhaps the circumstances might ex-
cuse it II 1t sounds overbold for
stranger to say. But it is something
mighty precious that the last thing I
heard before going out to make my
try was the voice Of merciful lady
speaking kindly to me and, more
precious still. somehow. that it was
you. l only wish was going to have
a chance to remember 1t longer"
1T isn't Kindness" she returned sim.
ply. Il know that you told me the
truth. believe you are an honorable
gentleman wrongly in great danger. l
Il have suffered so much myself that
1t is enough for me to know about you.
Listen. Would it be safe for you to
cross from our front door to a car
riage?"
Don't try to do anything for me
that
If 1t were closed travelling car
riage-just by the door?" she persisted
steadily.
My story is true. and you have be-
lieved it-somehow. But nobody else
would" he said grin1y. Please. do
not try to do anything for me. ! don't
know your family. but I'm mighty GER
tain that they'd turn me over to-
You really must permit me to do
as ! think best" she interrupted. with
an imperious little gesture softened by
her eyes. I'VE must make the best
plan possible under the circumstances.
1t is out of the question for you to
boldly leave the house, and that set
ties it. / couldn't let you make the at
tempt if you were my worst enemy.
Now. | will see that the General prom
ises to keep entirely secret the method
Of your entrance and on no account
to mention the word escape | know
he will promise faithfully, and we can
rely upon it. Meanwhile we must
think of some plan. There must sure
" be some way She stopped and
assumed an unconcerned expression as
Poulette, one Of the servants, entered.
The French mulatto hesitated and
then. pointing straight at Kirby, in
uuired. shall l take the colonel gen
tleman's portmanteau to the carriage"
Adele turned. sudden inspiration in
her eyes. Yes, yes" she cried,
breathless with excitement "And.
Poulette. tell them to lift the top and
let the carriage be closed"
The servant obeyed, picking up the
late Colonel Moreau's green portman-
teau, and when she had gone Miss
Randall cried:
Now 1 know! Now I have found