The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1910-12-22
CHAPTER xxvlli.-Continued.

Married." she said finally, in a
small voice. why, | don't think 1t Is
possible, is 1t? II was on my way
to Baltimore to marry him myself,
when the wreck came"
"But you said you don't care for
himl" | protested, my heavy mascu-
line mind unable to jump the gaps in
her story. And then, without the
slightest warning, | realized that she
was crying. She shook off my hand
and fumbled for her handkerchief,
and failing to find it. she accepted the
one | thrust into her wet fingers.
Then, little by little, she told me
from the handkerchief, a sordid story
of q motor trip in the mountains with
out Mrs. Curtis, of a lost road and a
broken car, and a rainy night when
they-she and Sullivan, tramped eter-
naily and did not get home. And of
Mrs. Curtis, when they got home at
dawn, suddenly grown conventional
and deeply shocked. OF her own
proud. half-disdainful consent to
make possible the hackneyed com.
.promising situation by marrying the
rascal, and then-of his disappearance
from the train. 1t was so terrible to
her, such a Heaven-sent relief to me,
in spite of my rage against Sullivan,
that 1 laughed aloud. At which she
looked at me over the handkerchief.
Il know it's funny she said, with
a catch in her breath. when think
that | nearly married a murderer
and didn't cry for sheer joy" Then
she buried her face and cried again.
please don't" | protested INSTEAD
lily. II won't be responsible If you
keep on crying like that. / may for
get that | have a capital charge hang
ing over my head, and that | may be
arrested at any moment"
That brought her out of the hand
kerchief at once. Il meant to be so
helpful" she said, "and I've thought
of nothing but myself! There were
some things | meant to tell you. If
Jennie was-what you say, then | I'M
derstand why she came to me just be-
fore l left. She had been packing
my things and she must nave seen
what condition | was in, for she came
over to me when l was getting my
wraps on, to leave, and said, Don't
do it, Miss West, | beg you won't do
1t: you'll be sorry ever after And
just then Mrs. Curtis came in and
Jennie slipped out"
THAT was all"
mo. AS we went through the sta.
ton the telegraph operator gave Har
Mr.. Sullivan, a message. He read il
on the platform, and it excited him
terribly. He took his sister aside and
they talked together. He was white
with either fear or anger-I don'
know which. Then, when we boarded
the train, a woman in black, with
beautiful hair, who was standing OF
the car platform, touched him on the
arm and then drew back. He looked
at her and glanced away again, blu.
she reeled as If he had struck her"
Then WHAT" The situation wa!
growing clearer.
Mrs. Curtis and ! had the drawing
room. had a dreadful night, jus
sleeping a little now and then.
saw his cigarette case in you hand
/ had given it to him. You wore hi
clothes. The murder was discovered
and yc,d were accused of 1t! Wha
could | do? And then, afterward
when saw him asleep at the farm
house, IL was panic-stricken.
locked him in and ran. didn't know
why he did 1t, but-he had killed
man."
some one was calling Also
through o megaphone. from the verar
da. II sounded like Sam. Alice,
he called. Alice! I'm going to hav
some anchovies on toast! Alice!
Neither of us heard.
A=.5ac-. reflected "if yo
would be willing to repeat a part
that stcry-just from the telegram 0
to a couple of detectives, say o
monday. II you would tell that, and
now the end of your necklace got int
the sealskin bag
my necklace!" she repeated. "B'
It isn't mine. ! picked II up In u
car"
aAILeel" Sam again. Il 9 ye
down there. I'm making . juiep!