The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-19

, not aetermane Wnetnef me glri mocKed or spoke in sincerity and could dis cover nothing in the expression of her face to yield me clue. Perhaps she was better able to decipher my state of mind. for she said gravely:
 ''l wish you to go away before
 either Colonel Donald or Lieutenant Dunn returns. The latter will cer- tainly attempt to hold you prisoner. and is will be better for the former not to be any further involved in this matter. If you depart now. alone am responsible for the escape. and ana perfectly willing to assume the blame. You will find horse waiting for you in the front of the house." "But do leave you alone hereY' questioned. recalling/the tragedies of the past few nights.
 ''There Is guard of five men about the place. so you need have no fear as to my safety. The others will doubtless return before nightfau." I> This. then, Is to be goodby?" l asked. unable to refrain from one last effort.
 "Yes. Lieutenant King. It shall be a friendly parting, but goodby never, theless."
 She held out her hand and I took 1t. almost unconscious of the action, my eyes looking into hers.
 You will go? You will not make this any harder for me?' she asked, a note of appeal in the soft voice.
 "Yes, l will go."
 lifted the hand to my lips. and she drew back with flushed cheeks. hold ing the door ajar to glance back at me.
 'sI thank you-goodby."
 She was gone, and, feeling the re action of weakness. 1 dropped back again into the chair. resting my head upon sone hand. It seemed to me that door. now tightly closed. typified everything. and l remained staring at it, sitting mo- tionless. with hand shading my eyes. 1t was all over. then-all over. Her heart belonged to another; she
 had definitely told me so. and this knowledge alone was sufficient to de eide my action. l could no longer trouble her and retain my self-respect. got up slowly, feeling greater
 weakness than had been aware of during the excitement of our inter view. and advanced to where I could survey myself in the mirror. Evidently one of my nurses had bathed my face. but my uniform jacket was sadly tern. and my appearance was not i'm
 proved by the cloth bound across my forehead. was gazing into the glass. fascinated by its revelation. when. 1t seemed to me. the door leading into the hallway opened slightly. I could perceive the movement within the mirror. although it was noiseless Gazing into the mirror. never moved. waiting motonless to discover who this silent visitor might be. My hands gripped the dresser. every nerve throbbing. as saw that countenance the haggard. ghostly iineaments of the mad woman. Our eyes met in the glass. met as if fascinated. each stand ing rigid from surprise. too greatly startled to cry out. There was no doubt as to the insanity in those wild orbs staring at me. and for the in stant 1 could not escape their power They seemed to hold me as the snake does the bird. Then my fingers grip ped hard on the dresser. and I swung around. desperately resolved to make the creature captive. With my first
 hostile move the door clicked shut
 and before I could touch the latch
 my foot caught the edge of rug. and
 l fell to my knees.
 Could she have gone down the stairs
 I sprang to the railing and glanced
 below. A guard. fully armed. stood just within the front door. leaning on
 his rife. No one could pass that way
 unobseryed. Then she must be hiding
 within one of the rooms. So certain
 was I of this that I took time to the
 search. opening door after door and
 surveying each interior thus revealed
 with a carefulness which convinced
 me they were absolutely empty.
 Gro Be Conunued.)
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