El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-01
JUDGMENT
(By Ivan p. p. Gore,

InOLlOnieSS I1Sur0 OF MS Wl1S-
- the mist that had obscured his
brain slowly drifted away, and the
doctors parting words hammered in
his ears.
tShe must have good food-fruit.
champagne, poultry-the best Of every
thing, in fact, then when she is suffl-
GENTLY recovered, you must get her
away to the south of France. Do these
things and she may live"
Fruit, champa gne. poultry. The hus-
band shuddered, for the doctor might
just as well have ordered the moon for
the sick woman Out of work, i'll him.
self, how could he hope to get these
things? Only yesterday the wedding
ring, which had slipped from her vast
ed finger, went to provide the fuel that
burned DULY in the dirty CRATE Hard
~ any of their little home was left.
He flung his hand heavenward with
wild, iInpassioned gesture and cursed
the cruel city that had lured him from
his country home. The great and I'M
known world had beckoned. and at
last fascinated by the stories he had
heard of its light and glitter, he had
come. With hope in his heart he had
trudged the crowded streets; had wait
ed hours in long lines of men from
which one only would be taken to fill
an ill-paid position. But he never
wavered. never lost hope until one day
he noticed that the roses had raoeu
from her cheeks, and the thin gold
band she wore was loose upon her fin
ger.
Suddenly he sprang to his feet His
hands were clenched his face was white,
but determination blazed in his haggard
eyes She should have the things that
meant life to her, should have them at
any cost.
AS the Brighton express drew slowly
out OF the terminal David Moore
company promoter by profession, and
knight by virtue of his success as a
well advertised philanthropist-gl
from his paper and gfared angrily at
the man who had just sprung in. Then.
making a mental note TO the effect that
he must write to the manager of the
line and report the negligence of his
subordinates in allowing one of the
common herd to invade the privacy of
the first smoker in which he travelled,
he turned once more to his perusal
OF his paper
The newcomer shot quick glance
at him, then edged a little nearer. The
train Numbered on, swaying from side
to side, and David Moore made another
mental note, relating to the excessive
speed and the increased danger in trav-
cling.
The compartment was becoming hay
with cigar smoke, and the stranger
>coughed, with a dry, hecking cough,
that left red stain on the white rag
he held to his lips. and as he listened.
David Moore smiled; evidently his Gums
panion was. not finding the journey
quite so comfortable as he thought it
would be- Suddenly his satisfaction
turned to anger as he saw the man
rise, and with outstretched hand ap-
proach the window. Excitedly he sprang
up and expestiulated against it being
opened; then he saw the mad light in
the others eyes. and, with a cry of ter
ror dragged the window down himself
as he tried in vain to reach the bell
cord.
Too late He was dragged back
Fingers, strong in desperation, dug into
his fat throat. and they struggled
backward and forwards the train
rushed on.
It was soon over, and all that was
human OF the man who had been
power in the city slipped back upon
the cushions, while the murderer leaned
against the padded door and looked
with fascinated eyes ar the purple face
turned up to him.
Gradually he recovered, and, covering
the hideous face with the newspaper
proceeded to search his victim. The
jewelry he did not touch, but he took
the contents of the sovereign purse and
a handful of loose silver that was in
the dead mans pockets. Then panic
seized him, and dragging the stiffening
body on to the floor he crammed it
well back beneath the seat.
Then, rearranged the cushions and
has own disordered clothing, sat down
to await the journeys end.
1t was close to midnight when John
Crane. his arms full of the things the
doctor had ordered for his wife, re-
turned to the house beneath the roof
CT which lay the one room he now
called home.
His hand trembled as he fitted the
key into the lock, and he reeled against
the Intel as the door opened, but,
steadying himself, he closed it softly
and climbed the stairs.
How quiet the house was.
At the door of their room he paused
Inside she was waiting. AS he stood
on the threshold trying to shake off
the effects of the liquor he had tried
to drown his memory in, the door sud
denly opened and the landlady faced
him. As she recognized her ledger,
Sne put ner apron To her eyes and DurSs
into violent fit of sobbing, but he
thrust her roughly to one side and
entered
The room was Illuminated by sin
gle guttering candle. but the light
was sufficient for him to see the cold
pallid face upon the pillow; the neatly
crossed hands upon the wasted breast
For minute he stared at the sight,
then his jaw dropped, and with a wild
cry he fell forward across the he'd.
s-4ETith the first gray light of the morn
ing heaSX footsteps sounded on the
stairs. They mounted higher, to
stop at last Def the door which
shielded the dead woYI1en and the muir
derer. For moment al was silent,
then sharp command to 6pen rang
through the quite house, but no >SHS%er
came With a whispered warning to
those who accompanied him, the speak
er wrenched the door open and entered.
The light poured in, showing the uni
forms OF the police who stood stolidly