The Marshall republican., 1913-03-28

from her %petticoat; her stockings
| she had no shoes, were in rags, and
her feet were cut and bleeding. In
one hand she clutched the revolver.
Even now I'm not quite clear just
what happened. I know went down
on my knees and prayed-or tried to
and ! know that when John put 10
down tenderly he leaned forward and
| caught her in his arms again and
kissed her: I know that Mrs. Hazards
eyes and Laura's eyes opened In
amazement-Hap wasn't surprised.
Because he had understood.
10 was sobbinR frantically, and she
! could not have answered questions
even II we had dared to ask them.
We had only one object In life right
then--to get the doctor. 10 let the
revolves clatter to the floor, and bur
led her face In her hands.
IL had 70 shoot himl" she moaned.
II had TO shoot him!"
Thank God you could shoot!" John
calculated fervently.
ut was horrible-horriblel" che
cried. II had to aim. oh! I shot him,
deliberately shot hint"
The mystery OF the unknown man
at the Lfidge was no longer q mys-
terry. We didn't know how IL had
core about, but II seemed reasonably
cc.ii In that he was the man she had
shot. We didn't tell her he had been
found; We didn't do anything but
grow hysterical ourselves, and I'm
sure I don't know what would have
become of us II II hadn't been for
orr immaculate, mucbly starcbed
Miss Gibbs. the nurse. She knew er.
actly what to do. She began by put
ting us all out OF the room. including
myself: and finally succeeded In get
ting 10 10 sleep.
For an hour We, all OF US, we're In
n fever OF Impotence. I felt that II
John didn't quit pacing back and
forth. back and forth, and Hap didn't
quit smoking so many silly cigar.
cites. I'D scream. John said firmly
that no n must know just yet that
she had returned. The newspaper
men would be coming back presently.
ard he wanted 10 know whore sBe
had been and what had happened TO
her before tho news got out. And
keeping her return a secret Vas sim.
pie, after all. since no one but the
family had seen her come in. Natalie
was IN town and Mlnette WAS with
her; We swore Celie and the nurse
TO secrecy: and the doctors coming
would cause no comment.
Doctor Graham was "A long time
coming. lie didn't know what We
wanted. and didn't hurry. when he
did appear he anticipated our anxious
Inquiries about his unknown patient.
Some n made n nice clean job
OF g." he said. "a hairs breadth
more and the bullet would have
touched the Jugular vein. lie may
pull through. He's a husky chap, but
II looks pretty bad. We got the bull
let. It's a tbirty-two."
JOS revolver was a ~thirty.two.
Then We told, him about 10; he
whistled understandingly.
Good work.. he said.
Are you sure the man will die?"
] asked IN agony. And what will
happen to Jo II he does. She shot
him deliberately; she said so"
II don't think Wen have "a worry
about that" John smiled grimly. He
got what he deserved"
"Oh, but he must not diel" I cried,
and ] seized Doctor Graham's hand
I~mploringly. * II he could prevent Il.
You don't understand how she would
eel about II. She would never get
over II. She shot him deliberately"
John has one beautiful character.
istic-he level stops TO argue the
ioolishness Of a woman's reason: he
Tor Graham and told him that the
man simply had to live II Il took all
the money and every surgeon IN the
state. and that's all there WAS 10 that.
TO which Doctor Graham replied. and
no one doubted Il for a moment. that
ned pull him through II that's how
a,stters stood. Doctors are worse
>r b~etter-than lawyers for guessing.
After an interminable time. II
seemed Ia me. Doctor Graham let us
n 10 see 10. She was proppel up
N a couch. her beautiful face flushed.
and there was a strange glitter In
ner dead eyes. For an instant her
gaze met mine, then shifted to John.
He dropped on his knees beside the
couch with tense, white face, And
from John her gaze travelled to Laura,
"Mr. Abbott" she began falter
ingly, "Mr, Abbott" She stopped.
smiling vacantly.
Laura swayed a little. as II from
a blow. Hap noted Il, ana his teeth
clicked together as he went To her,
Il think he said gently. Il think,
Laura, IL would he better. perhaps.
II yeu-tf you went TO your room II
may be- worse than We think.
Il won't believe II? won't believe
IT." Laura's slender fingers gripped
in her palms. IN s%taS--Il hear all
- &tfp