Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-07-10

as ne listened, another sound came
20 our ears. At first indistinct, IT
| quickly took the rhythm of footsteps
1urrying along the path, man walk
! ing rapidly, l decided. The hurrying
i footsteps came nearer and nearer Da-
Wis now was crouching like a runner
! about TO make hundred-yard dash.
1t vas only minute OF suspense
and yet the effect on my nerves was
| Understandable. | wanted to scream
like historical girl; I wanted to run,
forward Or back, it made no differ.
ence; wanted to do something, any.
thins-anything but stand there and
wait in the darkness.
All Of 4 sudden the form Of man
hurryinS along the other path became
| visible. He seemed to be carrying
something. Davis took two or three
noiseless steps forward and stopped
| abruptly. From the shadows, from
nowhere it seemed, the figure Of an.
other man appeared directly in the
path Of the oncomer.
Hold on here" it said, or some,
thing like that
| With 2 curse the first man dropped
whatever he was carrying and start
! 81 TO run. The second man started
after him. With not more than ten
| PAGES between them the pursued man
| suddenly wheeled. 4 revolver flashed
and the pursuer with muttered curse
fell headlCng IN the path. The hunted
man turned and, with headlonG speed,
plunged down the path.
IT the revolver shot Davis had
leaped forward, and, needless TO say,
DCdds and We're not fur behind him.
Fast as the fugitive WAS vanishing Da-
Wis was even faster. With the move
ment OF j trained runner he, the wiry
Inspector, quickly outGistanced Dodds
ard myself and was close on the heels
Of his man.
As ran breathless behind him,
hoping 20 arrive IN time 10 help him
in his capture, saw the man ahead
hGlt and turn. In5tinctively knew he
waH about to shoot again, and, raising
the revolver ] had been carrying all
the while, wiihou. even trying to aim,
! fired in his direction just as | saw
tho fash from his revolver.
There was hardly second between
tic two reports and then
4 woman shrielled.
! turned sick with horror. There
could be 10 mistaking it.
i was the voice Of Louise Parrish.
With overwhelming disnay 1t came
to NE that ] had shot the woman
loved. Too stunned 70 move ] stood
there Ny whole body seemed turned
to stone. Ny arms hung helpless CT
ny sides, Ny legs refused to move,
Ny mouth was fevcrdry and my
tongue lay liIaless. Yet my vision, J
recall, seemed clear and strong, pnne
rating the darkness as il i had been
road Gay. seemed to see, as Il the
light belonged to some one else, some
2sc ou,aiLe myself. saw the inspec.
Tor and constable, both apparently IN
hurt by the shots, dash on in pursuit
saw a mans figure rise up from the
path. seemed to hear him call ont:
Louise, IOuiso, Whar= are you? Are
you hurt?'
There wGs no answer Almos, I had
persuaded myself that the strain On
my nerves, the horror OF the night
and the shock OF the shooting had CIV
en- NE O. haliurination, that the wom-
ans shrek J had heard was but q
Dhantasm Of q fevared brain, when
the figure ! had seen rise from the
path, dashed into the th!cket, repeat
Ing its 0gonizcd CRY Of Louise, Louise,
where arc you?"
At tho sound, life came again into
nc. I dnshod my revolver to The
ground and sprang after him. found
min bonding over an unconscious form
On the ground Just as reached the
spot he had lighted & match. He lift
cd it TO SEQ my face, and as no did SO
saw that the woman lying there ap-
narent!y lifeless was indeed my Lou
iss.
Overwhelmed with anguish and re-
morse, flung myself beside her, en-
treating her forgiveness. The other
man showed me roughly aside.
Don't be q fool" he exclaimed
"she has only tainted"
She's shot! She's killed." I cried.
Z shot her!"
81 tell you she has only tainted he
cried angriiy. Help ME carry her over
,hnrn b,. tho yyi,,6oNCn
Together We lifted her and bore her
gently to the side Of the cottage
where VIC laid her on the ground. JOY
surged in my heart as saw and heard
that she was still breathing, JOY that
was not even Qbatnd when | saw by
the window light that my companion
was none other thar Hugh Crandall.
But just then all other thoughts
were driven out Of my head By the
sight Of a thin stream Of blood trick
ling down the sleeve OF LOuise's auto
mobile coat
| in -l Go "