New-York tribune., 1912-02-04
A COWARD'S STAIRS

-our score will be paid shall not miss
you, Beatrice; and | shall not mss mySe1
afterward.
81 was afraid that he would hear me
shiver.
"Nlercv!' she screamed in low whisper.
Mercy
"Be uuetl he commanded.
"She was quiet, very quiet. 1t was VINO
almost screamed. | held myself tor tear my
trembling should be audible. -,
"What was | to do? What could 90:
If could have got straight over him, might
have dropped a chair or heavy box on MS
head. thought of that; but he stood, not
under the balcony, but at the foot OF the
stairs. If went down he would shoot me as
well as her. | knew | ought to go and be
shot: but the thought of the revolver seemed
to paralyzc me, and could not move. dug
my nails into my flesh; but that dld not
make me move. My senses seemed asleep
| did not even hear what they said for a
time, though saw that they were speaking:
but at last her voice broke IN upon me, as II
| had suddenly awokc. ~
a. am so young. she pleaded: 50
voung | don't want to die! don t
want-to-dic.'
TSUPPOSE nobody is such a coward that
nothing will stir him to risk his wretched
life. Her pitcOuS voice stirred me. de-
cidcd that | would go to her, If threw my
self down the stairs, Just to be shot; Dut l
wanted to save her. forced myself to think
at was now nine minutes TO two. At tne
end Of those nine minutes she was to ole. IL
could not save her, must die too. must
find some weapon and 60 down stealthlly
and try 10 catch him unawarcS. Even II ne
heard me and turned my way, shc Would
have chance TO escape while ne killed me;
She was nearly as quick as ne. looked
round and saw some golf clubs standing IN
corner of the corridor. crcpt to them ana
selected one | took of my slippers to walk
quietly over the thick carpet, hoping to sur
prise him from behind as he stood back 10
the stairs | thought it all out to the ac-
commitment OF her pleading tor lite Her
voice seemed to draw me toward her, ana
nv fears seemed to draw me back. Her
voice prevailed slowly, very slowly II had
not been a coward, | must have run to her:
There were only six minutes lett, when
came 10 the top of the stairs.
"You will think me a coward OF cowardS'
fingered there for whole minute. MY
limbs would not move. L IllCb ~ PANtHi
myself rushing on him and striking him
down before he turned; but another picture
always came in my mind instead. imagined
a betraving look on her face, or perhaps Sne
screamed at the sight of me, and then he
turned, and the revolver blazcd. | tried to
picture myself missed and rushing on and
telling him: but instead | saw the four aces
blottcd out one after the othcr-Snip-
-snip-snip! counted the steps, twenty
four: ten to the turning, and fourteen be-
yond | feel as if | shall 60 on counting
them for the rest OF my lltc-a coward
stairs
"Fivc minutes more he said, and then
death
Death ! took one step down the stairs;
then counted. Twcnty-three more.
"Death!' she repeated and Shivered. She
had sunk into chair, and her face was IN her
hands. That was why she did not see me.
81 took another step-twenty-two more!
If she did not look up and scream, he would
not be likely to see me till | turned the cor
ner, at any rate. Twenty-onc!
Death! The word seemed to reecho IN
my mind and to freeze me still. couIdn
move. She gave a faint sob, and that sent
me a step forward. Twenty! Nineteen!
heard my own step even on the soft carpet.
If he should hear
"Have you anything more to say: he
actad Hinder cover of his voice | took an