Lower coast gazette., 1913-01-11

tor and constable, both apparently uI-
hurt by the shots, dash on in pursuit.
| saw = mans figure rise up from the
path, ! seemed to hear him call out:
Louise, Louise, where are you? Are
you hurt?"
There was no answer. Almost l haG
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 WON
ans shrek I had heard was but a
phantasm Of a fevered brain, when
the figure | had seen rise from the
path. dashed into the thicket, repeat
ing its agonized cry of Louise, Louise,
where are you?"
At the sound, life came again into
me. / dashed my revolver to the
ground and sprang after him. / found
him bending over an unconscious form
on the ground. Just as | reached the
spot he had lighted a match. He lift
ed it to see my 8ace, and as he did SO
I saw that the woman lying there APP
parently lifeless was indeed my LOus
Use.
Overwhelmed with anguish and re-
morse, I 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.
81 shot her!"
81 tell you she has only tainted" ne
cried angrily. Help me carry Aer 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 I saw and heard
! that she was still breathing, joy that
; was not ever abated when saw by
5 the window light that my companion
!, was none other than Hugh Crandall.
Y But just then all other thoughts
4 were driven out Of my head by the
t sight Of a 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
Il anew.
With trembling hands helped Gran
dali cut away her sleeve, dreading all
e tie tine to see and know the worst
% IT'S only a scratch" said Crardall
with a sigh Of relief.
Across her rounded arm was q RED
dening cash where the bullet had Gu
ID it's way through the tender flesh
,e While my head told me that Crancal
10 was right, that 1t was only q fiesi
"a wound and not in the least dangerous
IN in my heart I still felt little bette
than a murderer. Three inches to tf
right, and the bullet from my reVoiFe
. would have stilled her heart for efel
o Che opened her eyes and stared a
US in q puzzled way.
70. "Why, Harding, DEAR" she said j
" feeble surprise, ARE you here-hGr
with Mr.. C%randall"
81 FOR answer l bent and kissed hel
-. What mattered ii if. Hugh Cranda
,;s was the criminal? What mattered
Nv if the chain Of mystery was still III
IN. solved? What mattered it If the al
NV thor Of the yellow letters had escape
! from the inspector? Louise lived! sl
Oh. loved me!
Davis and the constable caTe rul
, ming up the path, painting from thei
= chase, but em~pty-handed.
:, IS she hurt?" asked Davis as Il
~. saw the three Of us grouped under til
no window.
On. flesh wound, not at all DANCE
49,, GUS" Crandall answered, while kne
there earessing Louise's hair and Whi
200 pering softly to her.
"How about you?" asked Davis.
Gle didn't hit me-" Crandall a
swered with a short laugh. y tumble
over the bucket Of milk ne was carr
ing and dropped when ne saw m
I'D Didn't you get him?'
"IIe's safe" answered the inspccte
T.-sr-srVr-uas,Ers