Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-05-23
CHAPTER n.-contInued.

CHAPTER II.-ContInued.
There was nothing left for me to
do but that"
And why did you rob him?"
All, had ample time to think of all
that. You may tell the officers they
will find everything hidden in that
farmhouse cellar. God knows do not
want them. 1 am not a thief. I'm not
SO bad as that"
Mrs. Wrandall marveled. Not so
bad as thati" And she was a murder
ess, a wanton!
You are hungry. You must be fam
tshed''
No, 1 am not hungry. 1 have not
thought of food" She said it in such
a way that the other knew what her
whole mind had been given over to
since the night before.
A fresh impulse seized her. You
shall have food and place where you
can sleep-and rest" she said Now
please don't say anything more 1 do
not want to know too much. The least
you say tonight. the better for-for
both of us.
With that she devoted all of her at
tention to the car. increasing the
could see twinkling, will-o- the-wisp
lights, the first signs of thickly popu-
lated districts. They were still eight
or ten miles from the outskirts of the
city and the way was arduous. She
was conscious of a sudden feeling of
fatigue. The chill of the night seemed
to have made itself felt with abrupt,
almost Supplying force. She won
dered If she could keep her strength.
her courage-her nerves
The girl was English. Mrs Wran-
dali was convinced of the fact, almost
Immediately. Enthusiastically English
and apparently of the cultivated type.
In fact, the peculiarities of speech
that determines the London show-girl
or music-hall character were wholly
lacking. Her voice, her manner, even
under such trying conditions, were
characteristic of the English woman
of cultivation Despite the dreadful
strain under which she labored, there
were evidences of that curious Sc
renity which marks the English WON
an of the better classes; an Unborn
composure, calm orderliness of the
emotions. Mrs. Wrandall was con-
scious of a sense of surprise, of a
wonder that increased as her thoughts
resolved themselves into something
less chaotic than they were at the time
of contact with this visible condition.
For a mile or more she sent the car
along with reckless disregard for com
fort or safety. Her mind was cropping
for something tangible in the way of
intentions What was she to do with
this creature? What was to become
of her? At what street corner should
no of
handing her over to the police did
not enter her thoughts for an instant.
Somehow she felt that the girl was
a stranger to the city. She could not
explain the feeling, yet it was with
her and very persistent. OF course,
there was a home of some Sort or |
lodgings, or friends. but would he girl
dare show herself in familiar haunts?
She found herself wondering why
the poor wretch had not made way
with herself. Escape seemed out of |
the question. That must have been
clear to her from the beginning, else
why was she going back there to give |
herself up? What better way out of !
it than self-destruction. She would |
advise the girl to leave the car when |
they reached the center of a certain |
bridge that spanned the river, No one |
would find her.
Even as the thought took shape in |
her mind. she experienced a great |
sense of awe, so overwhelming that |
she cried out with the horror of it |
She turned her head for a quick glance |
at the mute. wretched face showing
white above the robe. and her heart |
ached with sudden pity for her The
thought of that slender, alive thing |
going down to the icy waters-her
soul turned sick with the dread of it,
In that instant, Sara Wrandall-no
ph1lanthrOpiSt, no sentimentaliSt-I
made up her mind to give this erring
one more than an even chance for sal
walton. She would see her safely
across that bridge and many others.
God had directed the footsteps of this
girl so that she should fall in with
the one best qualified to pass judg-
ment on her 1t was in that persons
p0&er to save her or destroy her. The
Thou shalt not kill"
look on a broader meaning as she con-
sidered the power that was hers; the |
power to kill
A great relaxation came over Sara
Wrandall. 1t was as if every nerve,
svery muscle in her body had reached
he swapping point and suddenly had |
given way For a moment her hands
we're weak and powerless; her head
'en forward. In an instant she