Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-25

saw that l was gaining on him. For q
second his pace slackened. Then he
turned himself squarely about, and
fired twice at me with leveled re-
volver.
The shots rang out in the stiffness
like the thunder Of cannon. turned
and ran at the top Of my speed back
to the house, for was very much
afraid the shots might have awakened
Nancy.
had left the front door unattached
80 that let myself In without sound,
and, remembering the stairs that had
creaked in my descent, was able to
gain the second floor almost noise
lessly. listened again at Nancy's
door. She was moving softly about the
room, and l thought that could hear
the rustic of clothes, as If she were
dressing.
did you call me?" asked in q low
voice.
mo-" she answered, speaking as
softly as had. "but thought that !
heard you go out, and then some one
fired a revolver. Was it you?"
mo-" said; ut was probably some
village roisterer, who found the night
too quiet for him. Go back and get all
the sleep you can: we have all our do
main to explore in the morning
Have you been out Of the house !"
hesitated moment. One the whole
1t would be better not to let her think
that had even been worried.
mo-" I answered finally.
Her door swung open, and she stood
before me, completely dressed. She
looked at me for long time without
word It was an effort not to drop
my eyes before the searching inquiry
of hers.
"Mr. Ellsworth" she asked at last
why is it necessary to lie to me?"
Il am not lying"
"Oh!" she cried, "why do you say
that? You know that you have beeH
away, you whom I trusted to stay
within call, whom trusted enough to
think that might have the truth.
Have I not trusted you in everything!
Every one, every one, I tell you. has
lied to me for the last five years,
every one has cheated and betrayed
me-till today you came-and now you
see fit to lie to me tool"
She turned her head away from me
and sob struggled at her voice.
was too much hurt, too much ashamed
to answer, but stood with bowed head.
cursing my shortsightedness, not
knowing what to say. But could not
endure the sound of her weeping.
81 will lie no more" said.
She raised her lamp to see me the
more plainly to read If this, too, we're
a lie. Her face went white. took the
lamp from her and set 1t on little
table in the hall. IL
Are you hurt?" she asked. TELL
me. are you hurt?"
"It Is only scratch" I laughed.
"Some fool thought I was the devil.
and punched me for my interference.
She came, very close to, me, and
touched my forehead with one soft
hand, then held it suddenly to the
light. There was little stain of blood
on 1t. A.
Mason! Mason!" she cried, and her
hands went to my shoulders, "is that
all, are you quite sure that that was
all? You are not wounded, are you?
Oh. tell me the truth! You have no
right to hide such thing from me-"
mo, am not hurt" answered
gruffly, for her touch unsteadied me.
Then, because could not help 1t, and
she was very near. would 1t make
any difference to you If were?
She did not answer me. she did not
even look up. and grew very much
ashamed. A puff of air blew down the
hall; the lamp flickered and went out.
Her hands dropped from my
"Will you forgive me?' asked,
after what seemed an age there in the
dark
There was another long silence,
and l thought that heard her sob
again very softly Then her hand
mine. There is nothing to
forgive" she said YEARLY. Good
night"
For little stood in the hail. then
I went into my own room, leaving my
door ajar. ] sat in my chair by the win
dor, dizzy and sick and perplexed.
wild hopes and dull despair gripping
me ever and in turn. Then I heard
the soft click Of her door again. She
had set it altar. I threw myself dressed
upon my bed. In a moment was
asleep.
CHAPTER vi.
I awoke rather late the next morn
ing. In fact, my first glance at my
watch made me spring from my bed
in horror. It, was long past 8 o'clock.
There had been no sign Of any servant
about the place the night before. and
for all knew Nancy might have been
up an hour or 80 and waiting for her
breakfast. stripped and bathed hur.
ried!y. dressing again rapidly and
ont my rumpled clothes as
best I could
One of my pockets bulged insistent.
ly,, and put in my hand to find out
the cause of It, To my surprise, |
drew out the collar and necktie that
had been so suddenly left in my hand
the night before. They were much torn
but seemed to be of good make. ! put
them carefully in my drawer, with
soma vague idea of looking them over
more closely in the future. I was irri.
lated that the bruise on my forehead
,oa h1ool>apod duripo fho NIGHT Pyrf