The Delta independent., 1912-11-29

throwing his few effects into q suit
case
I'm ready, Bess." he said hurriedly.
while I'm trying to turn this trick,
you slip out and see If briggs is
waiting It's an hour too soon, but he
may be there. Good-by, little girl,
NUNS the word" giving her loving
hug.
The mayor sped down the hall to
| Jackie Ninirg's room.
Cad he calculated, this is a rum
thing I've got to do-but everything is
fair in love and politics-and this is
both"
Taking key from his pocket, Be-
dight slipped it softly into the door
The lock yield j. Cautiously he
opened the door i entered the apart
ment of the Judge" high-low in
candescent was burning with the dim
light on, and in the glow Bedights
eyes surveyed the apartment carefully
AS his eyes swept the room, he sought
to locate two objects of intense inter-
est-the dresser, on top of which was
supposed to lie the letter containing
the bill, and Jackie vining! They
we're both in evidence. the one in the
farther corner OF the room. the other
In her bed asleep. her round arms
thrown upward about her face. her
beautiful hair in . braid that fell
across the white linen like a rope Of
gold. Beside the bed on a chair lay
q pile Of filmy lingerie, and on top Of
the heap a pair OF black silk hose.
Bedight, fascinated, turned his face
away. Even q political career would
scarce excuse a man for such an in
trusion
But she will never know" flashed
through Bedight's mind as he slipped
quietly across the room to the dresser.
Yes. the package was there-and un-
sealed. Hastily slipping the envelope
of. he tucked the bill away in his
pocket From a second pocket he
brought out another manuscript and
substituted this for the one he had
lost on the morning OF the run through
.he swamp. He did not read the let
ter. returning 1t with the manuscript
to the envelope. Wetting the muci-
lage. he closed and sealed the letter
and laid 1t back on the dresser. Turn
Ing to go. his eyes fell upon the face
Of the sleeper. How beautiful she was
and how unreasonable. For the
merest second he hesitated opposite
the lacy couch OF my lady's dreams
but the moment was fatal.
BY some strange freak of fate the
highlow light, feeling an impulse Of
fresh current. automatically shifted
from low to high. The brilliant glare
fell directly in the girls face. She
stirred. opened her eyes and would
have screamed but for Bedight's pres
ence Of mind. Springing forward. he
spoke her name, muffling her startled
ejaculation with his hand. gently laid
ACROSS her lips.
And then as her eyes blazed like
torches with their outraged fires. he
dropped to his knees beside the bed
and said hotly:
you will never forgive me for this
and do not blame you. But some
day you will understand. have done
nothing at Squirrel Inn to make a
gentleman blush for shame-except
this-and--I had to do 1t. thought
could-could say good-by without
awakening you. l am going now.
When first We met, you gave me q
kiss-or II you please. stole 1t. In
going I am giving in return my heart,
and taking as the sweetest memory
Of my life this last good-by!"
Bowing his head over the face OF
the half stupefied girl. he touched his
lips to hers reverently--and slipped
from the room.
As he did SO piercing shrek arose
The Judge" was coming to her own.
II was answered from below.
Bedight. scudding along the hall
heard the answering cry and knew
the sheriff had arrived. Exit from
the hotel by way Of the staircase was
out OF the question. He darted to
Bsss Winters room. tried the door and
breathed a sigh Of relief as II yielded.
From the room veranda opened and
from the floor of the vcranda to the
ground was not ton much OF drop for
an agile man. Bedight hung for a mo-
ment on the rail. Then he let 10.
landing almost In the arms Of - :t-