The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-20
A Mystery
Romance
~,v''>
Copyright, 1909. by Dodd.
Mead u Co.


Continued from Yesterday
stop Iae blow that had struck
her face had suddenly transformed her
Into a desperate woman.
Chsiioncr stopped. Again, without
affecting her aim. Miriam tapped the
pistol.
Listen to me- she cried. her voice
growing hoarSer. This thing has been
responsible for one murder. and now,
Lawrence Challoner. I'm going to Kill
yur1 with It: tYste you. I r,eErtsu
Lnu" she RACED In7ed xnr nsaca;
have always loved you until now. You
ioved me- once. TOO. know. though
other people thought that you married
me for my money. But knew differ
ent. You c0urdn-r fool me about mar.
And it was beca use Of that love that /
have lived for you aud nothing else.
You have been everything In the world
to me--my god. almost, But 1t Is all
over now. I'm going to have you
thrown ike some soiled rag into the
cutters OF humanity where you be-
long"
She paused for breath.
''There are two things" she resurD-
ed. that stand out In my memory Just
now. The tirst is tire night when you
did not come home DO you remem-
Der that hight: No; there were TOO
many OF them later on, Hut ! have
never forgotten that night spent in
the torture chamber. II was white
night for ne.
Her voice deepened.
Lawrence Chailoner. the time win
come when you will wall and whine
and wonder why | don't come to you
But you will wait for me through a
long, long night, and 1 shall neTer
come.
''0h. il does me good when ] recall
the day that Prosecutor Mursatroyd
told those twelve men the kind of man
you were," she declared scornfuily-
But now I'm going to do more 10 you
than you ever did to me-more than
Murgatrcyd did to you"
She went on mercilsssly:
I'm going to tear your soul out!
Yes. you've got a soul or | would
never have gone down into the depths
/ with you! But now Pn through serv-
ing you without receiving so much as
a smile" she continued herceiy, her
body swaying. but her aim still true.
al don't ask for my rights or my just
dues A smile and a kind word now
and then are all ask. My pride Ia
not all gene I'd Hike to be proud OF
you Just once. | lie about you TO my
frieGds--to my dearest friends-and
vou convict me with the miserable
truth. chung to you through all your
vices: cIung 10 you even when you
killed: chung to you because knew
thar somewhere within you there was
something that clumored for me. that
chung 20 my affection. But. feeble as
II was, Il Is dead now. And you are
the shell. the ugly hulk. thing with
out the soul that cared for. But I'm
through with you. I'm going TO kill
you--dont you moye-l'm through
with you-through"- The next mo-
nent she dropped the weapon. and it
fell Gathering to the floor
at that instant Shirley Bloodgood
once more entered the room.
Miriam burst forth into another wild
laugh and threw herself into the arms
OF the girl unconscious
''She's tainted" said Shirley.
Chaiioner thrust bis hand into his
pocket and pulled out fifty dollar
bill. saying In a strange tone:
Shirley. ! took this nifty dollar bill.
You'd better take 1t. 1t belongs TO
you.'
The girl took it wonderingly.
I'll take care of her" Chailoner
went on. gently taking the form of bis
young wife in his arms. g"
Shirley Bloaagood left them. aud as
the door closed on her Chaiioner lean
ed over Miriam and ss-eaad her face
and kissed her ag-ect.onateIy, while
the tears r0ifHI dUwrE HIS cheeks. THAT
same night she was taken 10 Il hospi-
tai with raging fever