The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-05-08


must not go 10 the inn"
You knowgr faltered the girl
"les. You poor thing!" There was
infinite pity in her voice.
The Girl laid her head on her arms.
Mrs. Wrandall sat above her. look
ing down. held mute by warning emo
tions. The impossible had come TO
pass. The girl for whom the whole
world would be searching In a day or
two, had stepped out OF the unknown
and. by the most whimsical Jest OF
fate, into the custody Of the one per-
son most interested OF all In that self
same world. IL was unbelievable. She
wondered N II were not dream, or
the hallucination OF an overwrought
mind. Spurred by the sudden doubt
as 20 the reality of the object before
her. she stretched out her hand and
touched the girls shoulder.
Instantly she looked up. Her fn-
gers sought the friendly hand aud
clasped IL tightly.
"Oh. II you will only take me To the
city with you! II YOU only give me
the chance" she cried hoarsely. Il
don't know what impulse was drlv-
ing mo back there. only know |
could not help myself. You really
mean it? You will take me with your"
"Yes. Don't be afraid Come, Get
in." said the woman in the car rapidly.
"You-you are real?'
The girl did not hear the strange
question. She was hurrying around
20 the opposite side OF the car. Az
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
fluttered with the unsightly veil. Her
hands, she recalled. were clad In thin
suede gloves. She would be- half
frozen. She had been out I'm all this
terrible weather-perhsps since the
hour OF her flight from tho Inn.
The odd feeling of pity grew strong.
or within her. She made no effort TO
analyze Il. nor to account for II. Why
should she pity the slayer OF her hus-
band? II was n question unaBked un.
considered. Afterwards she was 10
recall this hour and It's strange I'm
pulses, and 10 realize that II was not
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 word. Sara Wrandall drew
the great buffalo robe over her and
tucked IL In about her feet and legs
far mp about her body. which had
slumped down I'm tho seat.
You are very, very good" chattered
the girl, almost lnaudlbly. II shall new
er forget" She did not complete the
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 must
be searching for me. You are not
going to give me up TO them, are youy
There will be a reward /"
There IN no reward" said Sara
Wrandall sharply. II do not mean TO
chance 10 get away. ] have always
felt sorry for the fox when the time
for the kill drew near. That's the
way feel"
"Oh. thank you! Thank youl But
what am saying? Why should per-
NIT you TO do this for me? meant TO
go back there and have IL over with.
know I can't escape. II will have 10
come. IL Is bound 90 come. Why put
Il or? Let them take me, let them
do what they will with me. /"
Hush Wen see. First OF ALL un-
derstand me: shall not turn you
over 10 the police. ! will give you tho
chance. will help you. | can do
no more than that"
But why should you help meY L
I-oh. ! can't let you do Il! You do
not understand I--haye--committed
--a-terrible--" she broke OF with n
groaD.
IL understand" said the other, some
thing like grimness In her level tones.
II have been tempted moro than once
myself" The enigmatlc remark made
no impression on the listener.
II wonder how long ago II was that
II all happened" muttered the girl. az
II 20 herself 1T seems ages-oh.
such ages"
Where have you been hiding since
last night" asked Mrs. Wrandali.
In the clutch. The car start
ed forward with jerk. kicking up tho
snow behind II.
Was II only last night? oh, I've
been" The thought OF her suffer
ings from exposure and dread was too
much for the wretched creature. She
broke out In a soft wall.
You've been out In all this wealth
err" demanded the other.
II lost my way. In the hills back
there. I don't know where I was"
Had you no place OF shelter?'
where could I seek shelter?
spent the day I'm the cellar OF a farm
er's house. lie didn't know l was
there. have had no food"
why did you kill that man?"
Qrn pr CONsrINTrTnl