The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-04-27
CHAPTER xxvIII.--continued

CHAPTER XxVIiI.--Continued.
Married." she said finally, in al
nall voice. "Why, l don't think it is
ossible, is it? II was on my way
TO Baltimore to marry him myself,
when the wreck came"
"But you said you don't care for
hint" I 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 a motor trip in the mountains with
out Mrs. Curtis, of a lost road and a
broken car, and rainy night when
they-she and Sullivan, tramped eter-
nally and did not get home And of
Mrs. Curtis. when they got home at
dawn, suddenly grown conventional
and deeply shocked or her own
pIOUOt COuS0uI W
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 Heav relief, to me.
in spite of my rage against Sullivan,
that | laughed aloud. At which she
looked at me over the handkerchief.
81 know. It's funny she said, with
catch in her breath. When I think
that / nearly married murderer
and didn't cry for sheer joy" Then
she buried her face and cried again.
please DON'T" I protested INSTEAD
lily. Il won't be responsible if you.
keep on crying like that. may for
get that have 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. II meant to be SO
helpful" she said, "and I've thought
of nothing but myself! There were.
some things / meant to tell you. III
Jennie was-what you say, then | I'M.
derstand why she came to me just be-
fore / left. She had been packing
my things and she must have seen
what condition | was in, for she came
over to me when was getting my
wraps on, to leave, and said, Don't
do 1t, 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, message. He read it
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--1 don't
know which Then, when we boarded
the train, a woman in black, with
beautiful hair, who was standing on
the car platform, touched him on the
arm and then drew back. He looked
at her and glanced away again, but
she reeled as If he had struck her.
Then WHAT" The situation was
growing clearer.
Mrs. Curtis and had the drawing
room. / had a dreadful night just
sleeping a little now and then. /
saw his cigarette case in your hand.
had given 1t to him. You wore his
clothes. The murder was discovered
and, you were. accused of IL. What
could do? And then, afterward,
when saw him asleep at the farm
house, IL was panic-stricken, l
locked him in and ran / didn't know
why he did It, but-he had killed O.
man."
Some one was calling Alison
through megaphone, from the veran-
da. 1t sounded like Sam. Alice"
he called. Alice. I'm going to havo
some anchoyies on toast! Affect"
Neither of US heard
IT wonder" reflected, If you
would be willing to repeat part OF
that story--just from the telegram on
Ito q couple Of detectives, say on
Monday. If you would tell that, and
how the end of your necklace got into
the sealskin bag
NY necklace she repeated But
1t isn't mine. ] picked it up in the
car"
"All-ee;s Sam again T see You
fown there. I'm makirg julep .