The Calumet news., 1912-02-20

Ing With the cold but Just as determfn.
ed as ever. Come whispered: y
have found a way
"She gave me her hand. and I led
her around to the shed. She was Ike
a snow woman. and her touch was
fee Itself. Wait It'll get a box or
board or something said. Hunting
about. ] found box leaning against
the kitchen side. and. bringing Il.
helped her up and soon had her on a
level with the window.
"As she made her way I'm she turned
and whispered to me: Go back now.
Carmel has a horse and will see ma
home. You have served me well. Za.
dok.'
Il nodded. and she vanished into the
darkness. Then | shoulc have gone.
but my curiosity was TOO great
wanted TO know just a little more.
Two women In this desolate and bitter.
~ cold clubhousel What did IL mean7
II could not restrain myself from
following her In and listening for n
few minutes 10 what they had 10 saw.
But ] did not catch much Of II, and
when heard other sounds from soma
place below and recognized these
sounds as mans heavy footsteps com.
Ing up the rear stairs | got a fright
at being where | should not be and
slipped into the first door found. ex.
pecting this man TO come out and Join
the ladies.
but he did not He Just fingered for
moment IN the hall had left: then
! heard him Chamber out OF the win.
dow and go. now know that this
was Mr.. Arthur. But did not know
1t then. and was frightened for the
horse had run OF with and so got
out Of the building as quickly as [
could.
"And all might yet have been well IL
! had not found lying on the snow at
the foot of the shed bottle OF whisky
such as ! had never drunk and did
not know how 10 resist Catching IL
up. ! ran about the house TO where I
had left my rig. It was safe. and I'm
my relief at finding II | knocked Off
the head of the bottle and took long
drink.
"Then drank again; then I sat
down in the snow and drank again.
In short, | nearly finished 1t: then
became confused. looked at the piece
OF broken bottle In my hand, took a
fancy to its shape and. breaking Off
bit more. thrust II into one of my
big pockets: then ] staggered up to
the horse. but did not unite him.
Curiosity seized me again. and l
thought would take another look at
the iadies-perhaps they might want
me--perhaps-I was pretty well con-
fused. but l went back and crawled
once more into the window.
This time the place was sient-not
a sound. not breath--but could see
faint glimmer OF light. / followed
mis- glimmer. Still there was no
sound
Il came TO an open door, A couch
was before me. beaped with cushions.
A long ray OF moonlight had shot in
through communicating door. and
could see everything by II. This was
W 1
tened before. but they were not here
now.
Weren't they? Why did tremble
so. then. and stare and stare at those
cushions? Why did feel | must pull
them away. rs presently dd2 ] was
mad with liquor and might easily have
imagined what there saw. but | did
not think OF this then. believed what
saw instantly. Miss Cumberland
was dead. and I had discovered the
crime. she had killed herself--no; she
had been killed!
SHOULD | yell out murder? No. no;
could he sorry without that. ] would
not yell Mistresses were plenty.
had liked her. but need not yell.
There was something else could do.
''She had n ring on her fingev-a ring
that for months I had gloated over
and watched as had never watched
and goated over any other beautiful
thing In my life. wanted It'll had
always wanted It, 1t was before me
for the taking now. | should be
fool to leave II there for some other
wretch to pllfer. had loved her. /
would love the ring.
Reaching down. took It. drew
1t from her finger. put it In my
pocket I-God In heaven. the eyes
had seen glassed In death were look
ing at mel
she was not dead; she had been
witness OF the theft. Without
thought OF what was doing my hands
closed round her throat. Ii was drink.
fright. terror at the look she gave me.
which made me kill her. not my real
self. My real self could have shrieked
when In another instant 1 saw my
work
But shrieking would not bring her
back. and II would quite ruin me. Miss
Carmel was somewhere near. heard
her now at the telephone. In another
minute she would come out and meet
ne. l dared not linger.
Tossing back the pillows, I stun
,led from the place Why l was not
ieard by my young mistress do not
know. Her ears were deaf. just MS my
yes. were half blind. In half hour