The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-29
CHAPTER xxi.
The Hollow of Her Hama.


The Hollow OF Her u.rs
40 her secret amazemeAt, tho old
lawyer did not offer a single nro,ea.
when she repeated her oonyyctto
that the girl was innocent and ahorIa
DE projected agairLt herself ms we'll n,
ueaihRt the police. There was eon,e'
ming very disquieting In the wav h.
acquiesced She began to experience
"a vague. uneasy sense Of wonder and
apprehension. N4u
Il am beginning to agree with th,.
" ,n.1 ,,'a ssoundrtl Smith," he said, az
in'' ms inscrutab Bile gaze on the snan.
ping Goals In the fireplace. "A ciev-
efei woman than this Mjsa-or
WHAT'S Her Name managed that ary,,r
at Burton's Inn"
She watched hts face closely sora-
how she felt that no was about :,
mention the name of the woman ho
suspected and it seemed to her thai
her heart stood still during Tho ne
mcnt Of suspense.
He lifted his eyes to her face She
saw something in them that set bo,
TO trembling '''
Why not be fair with me, sara.
he asked calmly. She stared at him
transhxed. who killed Chall!s wran,
daIl?"
sho opened her lips 10 prote.,
against this startling question. bni
something rushed up from within 70
completely change the whole course or
her conduct; something she could not
explain but which swept away every
Vestisc or strength. and left her weak
ana trembling. open mouthed and pal
III, with the liberated truth surpinp
W. from It's prison to give itself into
me Keeping OF this stnunch loyaI old
friend and counselor.
Carroll heard her through to trio very
emu or the story without an intcrrun-
tloh. Then no crossed over and Ibid
his hands on her shoulders; there was
Il CLEAN OF relief and satisfaction In
his cyes.
i am sorry you did not come TO me
With all this in the beginning, Sara.
a rev words from me-kindly words
my dear.-would have shown YOU III.
error OF your ways and you would
have cast out the ugly devils that be.
set you. You would not have planned
,tho thing you arc so ashamed of now.
Together We could have protected Het
ty ard she would not be your accuser
now. You began nobly. am sorry
you have the other part of IL to look
back upon. Sut yo;; may rest assured
or one thnR-you and Miss Cast1eton
have nothing 10 fear. We will keep
tho secret, If needs be. but IL 1t should
come to the worst no harm would re
suit 10 her through the law The
main thing now Is to protect that un-
happy girl out West against the inQui-
sition."
Sho sat with bowed head
When Smith returned at o'clock, he
found not only Mr.. Carroll waiting for
him but Bra ndon Booth as well. Hls
Instructions were clearly defined and
concise he was to proceed without
~ IN
bolster up the frail girls courage and
prevent " possible the disaster. More
over. he was to assure her that Chal-
lis Wrandalls wife forgave her and
would contest every effort made by the
police TO lay the crime at her door He
was empowered TO engage legal coun-
sci on hts arrival In the Western town
and to fight every move of the police.
not only in behalf of the girl herself,
but OF Sara Wranda1l. who thus pub
licly pronounced her faith In the young
woman'9 Innocence.
1t was all very cleverly thought out.
and Smith went away without being
much wiser than when he came. Be
tore departing he offered this rather
sinister conclusion for Sara's benefit
"Of course, Mrs. Wrandall, you un-
dcrstand that the police Will wonder
WIN you take such an interest In this
girl. They're bound ID think, and SO
viii every ono else, that you know a
good deal more about the case than
you've given out. See what / mean?"
They are at liberty to think what
they like. Mr.. smith, said she.
After Smith had gone, the three dis
cussed the advisability of acquainting
fIctty with tho deplorable conditions
that had arisen.
II don't believe it would be wise to
tell her" said Booth refiectively.
Shed be sure to sacrifice herself
rather than let harm come to this girl
Wo couldn't stop her."
mo. she must not be told" said
Sara, with fnality.
she Is almost sure to find this out
for herself some time" said tho law
yer obviously II think we'd better
only right and just, you know"
Not at present, not at present. said
Sara irritably. ut would ruin every
thing"
Booth appreciated her reasons for
delay much more clearly than they
appeared to the ma tier of fact lawyer
"rhe girl may die at any time" he
explained, addressing Mr.. Carroll, but
not without a queer thrill OF shame
THAT Is not what I meant. Bran
don." she exclaimed. 81 want Hetty to-
come back with but ono motive in her
heart. Can't you seer
AS Booth and the lawyer walked
down Fifth Avenue toward the club.
where they were to dine together the
latter. after long silence, made a re-
mark that disturbed the young man
vastly.