The Washington times., 1913-07-01

shortly. You have ever understood
me. Perhaps when you have the rope
about your neck you win read wo-
mans nature more truthfully.
You are vindictive. JOAN"
II want justice" she replied sharply.
land I hate your
Listen" he said. IT am not going
to make any attempt to escape. / will
time comes. Meanwhile there is some
thing which I want to show you. 1t
will not take long. and II may alter your
purpose
Nothing could ever alter my pur-
pose" she remarked. emphatically.
Now. declare to you most solemnly
that IL you have me arrested before you
do what ! ask, you will never cease TO
repent 1t all your life"
What do you want me to do?" she
He took down his hat from a peg be-
hind the door.
1T is something 1 have to show you.
We must 60 to my rooms. They are
only just the other side Of the Strand.
together. Joan had but one fear-the
fear which had made her grant his re-
quest-and that she put resolutely be-
hind her.
God was just" she muttered to her
self again and again. and He would not
behind her thick veil she looked at
Douglas.
He was pale and serious but there
was no look Of fear in his face. Then
bered that from the old days. He would
walk to the scaffold like that She
! shuddered, yet without any thought Of
relenting. On the way he met acquaint-
anees and greeted them.
Crossing the Strand he held out his
nf
vehicle. but she shrank away with
little gesture of indignation. When at
last they reached the street where his
rooms were. and stopped in front OF
him for the frst time.
What place is this? What are you
bringing me here for?"
This is where / live" he answered.
There is something in my rooms which
must show you.
She stood still, moody and inclined
to be suspicious.
why should I trust you? We are
enemies. you and I. There may be evil
inside this house for me-"
He threw open the door.
You are quite SAFE he said curtly.
not mine, that have brought You
here"
She entered and followed him upstairs.
A vague sense of coming trouble was
upon her. She started when Douglas
ushered her into dimly lighted room,
with a bed IN one corner. A hospital
nurse rose to meet them. and looked re-
proachfully at Douglas. A man was
leaning back among the pillows, wild
eyed. and with flarlng color in his
cheeks. When he saw Joan he called
out to her. ~.
You've come, then" he cried. you
know. Joan. l never meant to do It;
upon. my soul. I didn't"
The nurse bent over him. but he
thrust her aside.
MY sister!'' he shouted. my sister,
l must talk with her. Listen, Joan. /
struck only one blow. It was an acci-
dent. i swear that II was an accident.
l mao the money safe-I was ready to
60 He was mad to interfere with me,
Tor 1 was desperate. 1t was only one
blow-I wanted to free myself, and
down he went like a log. / didn't want
his life. / wanted money, for I was in
rags. and she wouldn't look at me-
1, who had ruined myself for her, Joan,
hist! Come here"
They were under the spell of his ter
rible excitement. The nurse fell back,
Joan took her place at his pillow. He
gr1pped her arm with clawlike fingers.
but though he drew her down till his
lips nearly touched her ear, his hoarse
whispering was distinctly heard through
out the room.
Two OF us-father and son. Will you
avenge US. eh? Listen, then. I will
tell you her name. She played with my
life and wrecked II. she took my time,
my love, my life, she gave me nothing.
II was she who poisoned my blood with
the lust for gold; it was she who sent
me over the hills TO Feldwick. Aye, II
was she who neryed me to steal and
to kill.