The Washington herald., 1911-01-11
CHAPTER XIV.
Rachel Falk's Destination.

Rachel Falk's Destination.
Rachel FaIk stepped out Of the station
at Birkham and looked about her. She
saw what she wanted-a cab-and beck
oned to the man.
Where are you for, missis?' he asked.
thinking she didn't look the sort that
usually indulSed in cab drives.
Drive me to the JAIL" she said. in .
quiet, matter-of-fact tone-
Cabby laughed
Are you going to do time and in .
hurry to get there. or maybe you're go
ing to visit the governor" he said, In .
jocular tone.
Whats your faro to the governors
house?" she asked. In . quiet, deliberate
| tone.
Two bob, missis.''
| She laid the money in his hand. and.
opening the door, stepped in. and cabby
mounted to the box. wondering what the
queer little party wanted at the gov
| ernor's.
no one would have know il was a time Of
| stress for her and that she was telling
| herself not to lost heart
| The drive seemed long to her. She
| wanted to be past the possibility of turn
| ing back. and as she entered q big walled
garden that ;nclosed the governors house
and shut the gate behind her she felt re-
| lieved. Going direct to the front entrance
she asked to see the governor. The parlor
maid looked puzzled.
IF you'd tell me your business she
| said.
Rachel leaned forward, looking At the
girls honest fact.
My girl, / must see the governor. be-
cause it's a matter OF setting wrong
right" she said persuasively.
The girl had not been long in her place
and scarcely knew what to do; so after
| q moments thought. she said:
Come along" and she led the way
| through the hall, then down a side pas
| sage, and tapping at door she opened
it, saying:
There's q person to see you." and IS
she spoke Rachel stepped into the room
An elderly man who was seated at
desk turned round. His face was deter
mined. but the expression was kindly.
What do you want. my good woman!
he said. thinking that she must have
come to see the head warder and got to
his house in mistake
Rachel Falk uttered a prayer to the
God Of her fathers, but il was not heard
by the governor. Then she said:
IF you please, sir, I've come to set .
wrong right. / shot Judge Shenstone."
"You!'' pair of keen eyes were fixed
on the resolute face of the woman. and
the governor realized that she had
screwed her courage up to tell him this.
and that whatever the motive, she vas
not an ordinary criminal Then he won
dered il she had lost her reason. There
was no insanity in the eyes that met
his; still her mania might take the form
of thinking she was q murderess, so he
said very gently:
I'm afraid reading Of the case has
upset you. and your imagination Is play
ing you a trick Mrs. Shenstone is con-
victed on the clearest evidence.
Rachel drew nearer.
"Oh, sir, don't tempt me You don't
know how hard it's been to force my
self to come here and give myself up
to the hangman. but that poor lady is
innocent, and rights right"
The governor rose and led the way out
of the room. through a door at the end
Of the passage, and along q covered cor
ridor.. Unlocking a heavily barred door
he stepped into the room, and. touching .
bell. he seated himself near q table on
which were pen and ink
''Sit down. he said, glancing at Rachel,
and his tone was not unkind.
A minute later an official entered. and
the governor said a few words In low
tone. Then the man withdrew, return
ing in a minute or two with another on
cial. and both remained standing.
The governor turned to Rachel.
You have a statement to make re-
garding the murder Of Judge ShenstoneT
he said.
yes, sir: I came to tell you that I
killed him. 1 wouldn't have told II MIS-
evp nfvys
The governor studied her face. as he
wondered IL she was telling the truth
She seemed to be sane enough. and there
were not many sane people Who would
accuse themselves Of murder to save an
other person. yet she might be an old
family servant, but that was unlikely,
seeing she was a Jewess. for Rachel bore
the distinctive marks OF her raoe.
He dipped his pen In the ink.
what is your nameT"
.'Rachel Falk." she answered.
''FaIk. seem to have heard the name
Have you ever been convicted?
mo, sir; but it's my grandson you'n
be thinking off, and her face grew sad.
''What did he do?" asked the COVER
nor, trying to remember In what way the
name OF Falk had been brought before
hia notice. That ~he had heard 1t he
was certain.
Rachel drew herself up.
He died the death Of q martyr. Poor
BENJAMIN, his mother died when he was
born, and I brought him up"
One of the Warders interrupted:
IT you please. BENJAMIN Falk was
the name Of the young man who was
found guilty Of the murder OF man
in Whitechapel. and his sentence was
commuted He died in prison. and
shortly after his death the real murderer
confessed. on his deathbed."
'Yes: and II was Judge Shenstone's
summing up that made the jury ind him
Ruilty. They were inclined to be doubt
ful. but the judge made the most Of every
bit Of evidence against him. and be-
lieve he would have liked TO have had
him hanged. It vas the prison life that
killed him. BENJAMIN was . good lad.
but not strong. and altogether Il wAs too
much for him. and at the last he satd
to me:
IT'S been murder keeping me here.
ana I've not done anything against the
law. I tell. y0u. sfr. It was lsealised
murder Then. when tlAe truth came out. /
and there vas netlsing oone to TIE Judge-
thou9ht he'a nevef hAva bosa sallove4
n - into coart aanin. bit ~ UaD 5uDt