The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-05-21

mean it? You will take me with you?"
Yes. Don't be afraid. Come! Get
in said the woman in the car rapidly.
ou-yOu are real?"
The girl did not hear the strange
question. She was hurrying around
to the opposite side of the car. AS
she crossed before the lamps, Mrs.
Wrandall noticed with dulled inter
est that her garments were covered
with mud; her small, comely hat was
in sad disorder; loose wisps Of hair
f1uttered with the unsightly veil. Her
hands. she recalled, were clad in thin
suede gloves. She would be half
frozen. She had been out in all this
terrible neutrality-suspicious. since the
hour of her flight from the inn.
The odd feeling of pity grew strong
er within her. She made no effort to
analyze it, nor to account for it. Why
| should she pity the slayer of her husr
band? 1t was question unasked. UNI
considered. Afterwards she was to
recall this hour and it's strange i'm
pulses. and to realize that it was moi
pity. but mercy that moved her to do
the extraordinary thing that followed.
Trembling all over, her teeth chat
| tering, her breath coming in short lit
tie means. the girl struggled up be-
side her and fell back in the seat
Without a word, Sara Wrandall drew
| the great buffalo robe over her and
! tucked it in about her feet and legs
far up about her body, which had
slumped down in the seat.
You are very. very good" Chartered
the girl almost inaudibly. 81 shall new.
er forget" She did not complete tire
sentence, but sat upright and fixed her
gaze on her companions face. You
you are not doing this just to turn
me over TOTO the police? They musv
be searching for me. You are not
going to give me up to them. are you?
There will be a reward L"
There is no reward" said Sara
Wrandall sharply. Il do not mean to
give you up. I am simply giving you
a chance to get away. l have always
felt sorry for the fox when the time
for the kill drew near. That's the
way l feel"
"Oh. thank you! Thank you, But
what am I saying? Why should l per
nit you to do this for me? l meant to
go back there and have it over with.
l know | can't escape. 1t will have to
come, it is bound to come. Why put
it off? Let them take me- let them
do what they will with me- l.
"Hush! Well see. First of all, un'
derstand me: l shall not turn you
over to the police. l will give you the
chance I will help you. l can do
no more than that"
But why should you help me? l.
I-oh, can't let you do it! You dc
not understand. I-have-committed
-a-terrible-" she broke off with a
groan.
81 understand" said the other. some
thing like grimness in her level tones
Il have been tempted more than once
myself" The enigmatic remark made
no impression on the listener.
'1 wonder how long ago it was that
: it all happened" muttered the girl, al
if to herself. ct seems ages-oh
such ages
where have you been hiding since
last night?" asked Mrs. Wrandall
throwing in the clutch. The car start
ed forward with jerk, kicking up the
snow behind it.
WAS it only last night? Oh, I've
BEEN The thought Of her suffer
ings from exposure and dread was toe
much for the Wretched creature. She
2 broke out in soft vail.
you've been out in all this wealth
err" demanded the other.
Il lost my way. In the hills bach
there I don't know where | was"
Had you no place Of shelter?"
Where could | seek shelter?
spent the day in the cellar of farnt
l ers house. He didn't know l wal
: there. / have had no food"
l why did you kill that MANI"
! (TO BE Continued