El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-15

1 heard above my own hoarse breath
! ing the rustic of a woman's clothes
and 1 called to her.
"Open-open, I'm locked in
But before she made answer the
/ sound OF many hurrying feet sounded
| from the body of the building. the front
| door was opened and slammed
Stand backr' I heard a gruf COM
mand, and the door opened sending me
| Keeling back as a policeman came in.
My horror Of the fellows devilish
cunning kept me dumb. Before I could
collect myself, the man who had left
me pointed at me. saying coldly:
81 give that man in charge. For
years he has blackmailed Mrs. Abbott
1 gave him every chance to sell me
the letters. He refused and tried to
escape by a cock-and- story"
But 1 broke in on his level tones
half in admiration. half in disgust at
his calmness.
Its a lie-a mistake. officer" i
cried. I came here in error. My sister
at No. I'll
"a Mrs. Leslie doesn't live there" in
terjcted the man triumphantly. That's
why 1 was sure. A captain-
Capt. Bond sublet the fat" I threw
back at him. This is a ruse," I went
on, turning to the stolid policeman: "a
crime>has been committed. Look therer
The policeman's jaw fell as his eyes
lit on the poor. crumpled figure lying
behind the screen
What's this? What's all this?" he
calculated heavily.
1 heard the man I accused laugh.
In fascinated~ horror 1 watched the po-
liceman as he numbered across the
room. Then I cried out in anger. in
passionate remonstrance at his desc
Grating hands as he laid hold of the
patent leather shoe and perked it and
the body into the middle of the floor.
Crime, is it?" he shifted.
And the things head, jerked from
its socket rolled to my feet, A dummy!
thing Of sawdust, plaster and can
vas
Mrs Abbott was at work on the
folds of the skirt today" 1 heard the
man explaining. TT was left in the
only comfortable chair in the room. so
I kicked it out
Then he turned to me, but before he
spoke woman came silently in
doubtless the woman I had heard in
the passage.
There's someone at the door, flick
ing the letter box lid" she whispered.
Keep SILENT muttered the man,
holding up his hand. He glanced.at me
as though for the first time doubtful
Behind the screen" he commanded.
Quickly. officer. I think this is the
ruffian I'm expecting. II may have
made mistake. Open the door," he
added in a whisper to the woman.
We heard her creep out. heard the
door open, watched her enter with a
sinister, muffled figure of man beside
her
The letters" she asked TREMENDOUSLY.
Five hundred down." he retorted,
without moving. Come, they're cheap.
You wouldn't like 'em read in court,
now as you're married. Five hundred"
The policeman seemed about to move,
but the, quivering man at my elbow
stayed him. I heard the rustic of bank
notes, saw the woman take the packet
and count the letters therein.
Thirty" said the newcomer
There should be 80" she muttered
He turned without speaking and
opened the door.
It's compromising of felony"
gasped the policeman.
ITS the salvation of a woman's
soull" cried the woman. and burst into
tears.
Later on the policeman rubbed his
chin, looked uncomfortable and pock-
eted five shining sovereigns before
swallowing a stiff whisky and soda
water before taking his departure.
My host and I were left alone
Apologies are such meager things"