The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-09-05

tor and constable, both apparently I'M
hurt by the shots, dash on in pursuit.
I saw mans figure rise up from the
path. 1 seemed to hear him call out:
Louise, Louise, where are you? Are
you hurt?"
There was no answer. Almost I had
persuaded myself that the strain on
my nerves, the horror of the night
and the shock of the shooting had CIV
en- me a hallucination, that the wom-
ans shrek I had heard was but a
phantasm of a fsYered brain, when
the figure l had seen rise from the
path, dashed into the thicket, repeat
ing It's agonized cry Of Louise, Louise,
where are your"
At the sound, life came again into
me. l dashed my revolver to the
ground and sprang after him l found
him bending over an unconscious form
on the ground, Just as | reached the
spot he mad lighted match. He lift
ed it to see my face, and as he did so
l saw that the woman lying there ap-
parently lifeless was indeed my Lou
iss
Overwhelmed with anguish and re-
morse, l flung myself beside her, en-
treating her forgiveness. The other
man showed me roughly aside.
Don't be a fool" he exclaimed.
"She has only tainted"
She's shot! She's killed." / cried.
II shot her!"
II tell you she has only tainted" he
cried angrily. Help me carry her over
there by the window
Together We lifted her and bore her
gently to the side Of the cottage.
where we laid her on the ground. Joy
surged in my heart as saw and heard
that she was still breathing, joy that
was not even abated when l saw by
the window light that my companion
was none other than Hugh Crandan.
But just then all other thoughts
were driven out CT nv head by the
sight Of thin stream Of blood trick
ling down the sleeve of Louise's auto
mobile coat.
81 tell you she is shot. See"
cried. all my anguish coming back
anew.
With trembling hands helped Gran
dali cut away her sleeve, dreading all
the time to see and know the worst
Its only scratch" said Crandali,
with a sigh of relief.
Across her rounded arm was a red
dening cash where the bullet had cut
its way through the tender flesh.
While my head told me that Crandall
was right, that it was only a flesh
wound and not in the least dangerous,
in my heart I stih felt little better
than murderer. Three inches to the
right, and the bullet from my revolver
would have stilled her heart for ever.
she opened her eyes and stared at
US in a puzzled way.
''Why, Harding, DEAR" she said in
feeble surprise, ARE you here-here
with Mr.. Crandall?"
For answer l bent and kissed heT
What mattered it if Hugh Crandsll
was the criminal? What mattered IL
if the chain of mystery was still un.
solved? What mattered it if the au.
thor of the yellow letters had escaped
from the inspector? Louise lived, She
loved me!
Davis and the constable came run.
ming up the path, painting from their
chase, but empty-handed.
rs she hurt?" asked Davis as he
saw the three Of us grouped under the
window.
"A flesh wound, not at all danger
GUS" Crandall answered, while l knelt
there caressing Louises hair and whis-
pering softly to her.
How about you?" asked Davis.
"He didn't hit me-" CrandaH an.
swered with a short laugh. y tumbled
over the bucket Of milk he was carry
ing and dropped when he saw me.
Didn't you get him?"
He's SAFE" answered the inspector.