The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-05-21
CHAPTER Il.-contInued.

10 out lnhI-
And why did you rob hlm7"
"Ah. had ample time to think OF all
that. You may tell the officers they
will find everything hidden in that
farmhouse cellar. God knows do not
want them. am not thief. I'm not
30 bad as that"
Mrs. Wrandall marveled. Not 30
bad as that" And she was murder
ess. a wanton!
you are hungry. You must be fam
ished."
mo, | am not hungry. have not
thought OF food" She said It in such
way that the other know what her
whole mind had been given over TO
since the night before.
A fresh impulse seized her. "Yop
shall have food and a place where you
can sleep-and rost." she said. Now
please don't say anything more. do
not want to know too much. The least
you say tonight, the better for-for
both OF u.s."
With that she devoted all Of her at
tention to the car. Increasing the
speed considerably. Far ahead she
could see twinkling, will-o'-the-wisp
lights, the first signs Of thickly popu-
lated districts. They we're still eight
or ten miles from the outskirts Of the
city and the way was arduous. She
was conscious OF a sudden feeling OF
fatigue The chill OF the night seemed
TO have made itself felt with abrupt,
almost stupefylng force. She won
dered II she could keep her strength.
her courage-her nerves.
The girl was English. Mrs. Wran-
dali was convinced OF the fact, almost
Immediately. Enthusiastically English
and apparently OF the cultivated type.
In fact, the peculiarities OF speech
that determines the London show-girl
or muslc.hall character we're wholly
lacking. Her voice, her manner, even
under such trying conditions, were
characteristic of the English woman
of cultivation. Despite the dreadful
strain under which she labored, there
were evidences OF that curious Sc
renity which marks the English wom-
an OF the better classes; an Unborn
composure, a calm orderliness Of the
emotions. Mrs. Wrandall was con
scious OF a sense OF surprise, OF a
wonder that increased as her thoughts
resolved themselves into something
less chaotic than they were at the time
of contact with this visible condition
For mile or more she sent the car
along with reckless disregard Tor com
fort or safety. Her mind was cropping
for something tangible in the way ol
intentions. What was she to do with
this creature? What was to become
of her? At what street corner should
abe turn her adrift? The idea oI
handing her over to the police die
not enter her thoughts for an instant
Somehow she felt that the girl was
a stranger to the city. She could no'
explain the feeling, yet 1t was will
her and very persistent. or course
there was a homo of some sort. ol
lodgings, or friends, but would he cir
dare show herself In familiar haunts'
She found herself wondering why
the poor wretch had not made wal
with herself. Escape seemed out o
the question. That must have beer
clear to her from the beginning, els'
why was she going back there to give
herself up? What better way out o
II than self-destructlon. She woult
advise the girl to leave the car wheI
they reached the center OF q certain
bridge that spanned the river! No on'
would find her.
Even as the thought took shape II
her mind, she experienced a grea
sense OF awe, so overwhelming tina
she cried out with the horror OF It
She turned her head for a quick glance
at the mute, wretched face shown!
white above the robe, and her hear
ached with sudden pity for her. Th'
thought OF that slender, alive thinl
going down to the icy waters-he
soul turned sick with the dread of 1t
In that instant, Sara Wrandall-n'
philanthropist, no sentimentalist-
made up her mind to give this errinI
one more than an even chance for sal
walton. She would see her safel,
across that bridge and many others
God had directed the footsteps OF thi
girl SO that she should fall in Wit
the one best qualified to pass jude
ment on her. It was in that person
power to save her or destroy her. TIL
commandment, "Thou shalt not kill,
took on broader meaning as she col
sidered the power that was hers; tn
power to kill.
A great relaxation came over Sar
Wrandall. II was as II every nerv'
every muscle in her body had reache
the swapping point and suddenly ha
given way. For moment her hand
we're weak and powerless; her hea
fell forward. In an instant sh
conquered = but only partially-th
strange feeling of lassltude. Then sh
realized how tired she was, how flerc
iy the strain had told on her body an
brain, how much she had really su
Tered.
Her blurred eyes turned once mol
for look at the girl, who sat ther
Just as she had been sitting for mile
her white face standing out with
most unnatural clearness. and as rig
as that OF sphinx.
The girl spoke. DO they hang woi
an in this countryf"
Mrs. Wrandall started. 'In some
the states" she replied. and was u
able to account for the swift impul
to evade.