The Washington times., 1913-05-23

, the bed, THE file! Oh. surely. thou
How should 1 fail to bring it," grum-
bled Joan. Did 1 not pledge ye SO to
do?' .... -..-,-.---. -.-.
She dropped the thin tool on the COW.
erlet. Thomsine snatched 1t up and
fairly kissed II.
And I told 'em below stairs" placid
| ly ended JOAN ''that / was in great fear
lest twas not grief alone had 5rouehs ene
you low. I wagged my head and spoke
O. smallpox"
Oh. wise Greataunt Eustasia! In that
hour did young Thomsine know why she
had chosen that ancient, dour woman TO
be her main dependence.
| to her knitting
''Mr. Won Kerstenbroock!" Thomsine
whispered into the coverletes. 1--WE have
a file to stead thee"
so 1 heard spoke Won Kersten-
brock. He crept out Of his crevice,
somewhat flushed OF countenance and
SO, and subsidized on the foot Of the bed.
From the file to his fettered hands he
looked. and his look was rueful.
Il can make shift" said Thoms!ne.
Perforce they were close together, as
his hands rested on her knees. Thom-
sine bent above him. while she dragged
the file ceaselessly back and forth.
Her white hands soon were stained
with brown. Her breath came quickly
She shook back the hair from her
| flushed forehead, and. as she did 50, let
her eyes stray and meet his, steadily
fixed upon her.
At what she saw In his eyes sne oent
hurriediv to the work again.
II do not hurt thee?" presently she
painted.
didst.''
She looked her question at this cryptic
utterance
Then she realized. Those slender. con-
trolled hands Of his-hands like no
others that she could ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ing 50 helpless now against her knee,
had been hands to slay.
Basil Dormer he had cruelty slain at
them tell. But. looking on his face.
Thomsine thought little Of his victims
Instead, she realized what 1t were TO
him, who all his life had made his hands
keep his head, and more. & II rSr the rest
"Oh! breathed Thomsine In his eyes
she plumbed the depth of misery that
his bravely smiling lips tried hard to
make a jest
So much she felt herself that moment,
! by virtue Of her pity. his elder and his
She ached to put her arms about him
and comfort that tousled brown head on
his against her breast.
! Instead she filed on, with q heavy
Thou didst not tell me twas no
brother's work." she spoke again.
$40 what end?' he said.
Il hate him for it," she burst out.
He smiled upon her wryly.
Neither do love him."
At that she caught her breath.
Thou wilt slay him yet
'Haply, 1 shall not strike again. ne
A'isS She saw the file and his helpless
hands blurred through the mist of her
aThere, rest thee. kleiner Tom! 'Tis
too hard for thee" he said in a voice
that might have made her doubt II In
his eyes her state were motheriy
She shook the tears from her eyes.
and gripped again the file that bit her
Doubtful II with such means she could
have rid him Of those irons ere next
But fate was kind. and Thomsine so
complete a woman as to work wonders
in mechanics by sheer instinct and
hairpin. -.
tho ale what would happenT' she asked.
"Peradventure nothing" said he
Il shall try" she said, If 1t works
thee no pain"
She tried with the point Of the file.
with the penknife from her work box.
with a knitting needle-this the sugges-
fion Of Joan. who rose and Joined her
self to the conclave-with strong bod
kin.
found the spring that locked those
Handouts and blood-stained wedges. the
Ugly apparatus lay on the bed.
Won Kerstenbroock stretched his arms.
a free man, and knit his brows over
such gouges on his wrists as Inomsine'
for the moment, sickened to look upon
But now we can dress the hurts,
Thomsine recovered herself and spoke
presently, after she had tucked irons
and wedges into her one safe hidlns
place, between the mattresses.
Joan will fetch ointment She Is a
skilIy woman. And haply-oh. indeed.
indeed"-her hand was on his arm-in
little while thy wrists Will be as they
were aforetimc."
He looked down into her eyes as she
sat beside him on the bed.
said.
And now" spoke Joan. when Thom-
sine had swallowed the cruel. and Won
Kerstenbroock awkwardly enough. with
his numbed hands, the bread and meat.
"'twere well you lay quiet. for fear OF
surprisal"
Docilely Won Kerstenbroock tucked
himself into his crevice. Thomsine lay
down IN her old place. while Joan Lay
cock went her placid way to SOW moro
hints of direful sickness above stairs
and below.
The clock struck T. A heavy knock
sounded at the unbolted door and upon
1t entered Walter Musgrove.
"How is II with thee, sister,"
Dear Lord. let him not see In mine
eyes" prayed Thcmsine. what ] have
learned and what I hate him forr'
IT was asleep" she said aloud. "and
/ am passing weary. Nay. kiss me not:
jean fears lest it be smallpox whereof
/ sicken."
At that onlinous word and the omin-
ous sight of the girls fevered cheeks,
Wat forgot the germ Of a suspicion thai
had lodged in his not too active brain.
Swiftly he put six PAGES between him
and the bed.
Heavens light" said he. WHY was