Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1914-12-17

we have been Ted 10 believe mat you
lynch women here as readily as you
lynch men. | now know better than
that. From you alone | learned my
greatest lesson. You revealed 10 me
the true meaning of human kindness.
You shielded me who should not.
Even now | believe that your first
impulse was a tender one. | shall
not forget it. Sara. You will live TO
regret the baser thought that came
later on. | have loved you-yes. al
most as a good dog loves his master.
1t is not for me to tell the story Of
that night and all these months to
the world ] would not be betraying
myself. but you. You would be called
upon to explain. not l. And you would
be the one to suffer. When you met
me on the road that night l was on
my way back to the inn TO give my
self into custody You have made it
impossible for me to do so now My
lips are sealed. 1t rests with you.
Sara"
Sara joined her in the broad win
dow There was a strangely exalted
look in her face. gilded birdcage
hung suspended in the easement. With
out a word, she threw open the win
dow screen. The gay little canary in
the gilded cage cooked his head and
watched her with alert eyes. Then
she reached up and gently removed
the cage from its fastenings Putting
it down upon the window sill she
opened the tiny door The bird hoped
about his prison in a state OF great
excitement
Hetty looked on, fascinated.
At last a yellow streak shot out
through the open door and an instant
later resolved itself into the bobbing,
iluttering dicky-bird that had lived
in a cage all its life without an hour
of freedom. For q few seconds 1t
circled over the tree tops and then
alighted on one OF the branches. One
might well have imagined that he
could hear its tiny ifeart beating with
terror. It's wings were halfraised and
iuttering, its head jerking from side
to side in wild perturbation. Taking
courage, Master Dicky hoped timo-
rously to a nearby twig. and then VEN
tured flight to a tree top nearer the
window easement. Perched in it's top
most branches he cheeped shrilly as
II there was fear in his little breast.
In silence the two women in the
window watched the agitated move
ments of the bird. The same thought
vas in the mind OF each. the same
question. the same intense wish
\ brown thrush sped through the
air. close by the timid canary. Like
fash it dropped to the twigs lower
o~n, its wings FACILITATING in violent
alarm.
"Dicky." called Sara Wrandall, and
hen cheeped 6e-ne her teeth.
= moment later Diclly was futtering
about the caves; his circles grew
mailer. his winging less rhythmical.
II at last with a nervous little flutter
h perched on the top CT the window
shutter. so near that they might have
re ached to him with their hands. He
AT there with his head cooked to one
de
"Dicky!" CALLED Sara again. This
time she held out her finger. For some
lme he regarded it with Indifference,
lot to say disfayOr. Then he took one
more flight. but much shorter than the
hTst, bringing up again at the shutter
top. A second later he hoped down
and his little talons gripped Sara's
hnger with an earnestness that left
no room for doubt.
She lowered her hand until It was
even with the open door OF the gilded
cage. He shot inside with a whir that
suggested a scramble. With his wings
folded. he sat on his little trapeze
and cheeped. She closed and fastened
the door, and then turned to Hetty.
My symbol" she said softly.
There were tears in Hetty's eyes.
Leslie did not turn up at his fathers
place in the High street that night
until Booth was safely out of the way.
He spent dismal evening at the boat
club.
His father and mother were in the
library when he came home at half
past ten. From dark corner of the
garden he had Witnessed Booths early
departure. Vivian had gone down to
the gate in the low-lying hedge with
her visitor. She came in a moment
after Leslie's entrance.
Hello, Les" she said, bending an
inquiring eye upon him. Isn't this
early for your"
Her brother was standing near the
fireplace.
There's a heavy dew falling, Ma
ter" he said grufiy. "Shan't l touch
1 match to the kindling?"
His mother came over to him quick
y, and laid her hand on his arm.
Your coat is damp" she said anx-
iously. Yes, light the fire."
Its very warm in this ROOM" said
Mr.. Wrandall, looking up from his
book. They were always doing some.
thing for Leslies comfort.
No one seemed to notice him. Les.