The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-11-25

are you waiting LOT: NoUouy sLop
ping you: why don't you shoot?"
The upward movement of the hand
was checked: the weapon hung level
to Judfths breast-as level and un.
equivoca1 as the glance that probed
her eyes and the tone Of Roses voice
as she demanded:
What were you doing there?"
IF you must know. from me what
you already know on the evidence OF
your eyes-1 was bidding good.by to
the man loye-kisstng him without
his knowledge or consent before 1eav'
ing him to you for good and all"
What do YOU mean?"
"That I'm going away-that can't
stand this situation any longer. Mario
plat and Jimmy are dead. my fathers
helpless-and I mean to see that he
remains so. Nothing, then, stands in
the way OF your marrying Alan but
me. And such being the case-and
because he's as dear to me as he is
to you-1'm going to take myself on
and keep out Of the way"
"For fear lest he find out that you
love him?"
Judith's lip curled. do you think
him SO witless he doesn't know that
already?"
"And so you leave him to me out OF
your charity Is that it," ..,
ANY way you like. But II it's so
intolerable to you to think that dare
love him and confess it to you-if
you begrudge me the humiliation of
stopping to kiss man who doesn't
want my kIsses-if you are so afraid
OF losing him while I live and love
him-very web. then!"
With a passionate gesture Judith
tore open the bosom of her waist,
offering her flesh to the muzze Of the
revolver. ..=...
A cry broke from the lips of Rose
that was like the cry of a forlorn child
punished with cruelty that passes its
understanding. She fell back against
the wall. The revolver swept up
through the air-but it's mark was
her own head rather than Judith's
bosom.
But before her finger found strength
to pull the trigger the man Mt the
table. startled from his sleep by the
sound of angry voices, leaped from.
his chair with violence that sent 1t
gathering to the floor, and hurled him
self headlong across the room, i'm
prIsoning the wrist Of his betrothed
with one hand while the other wrested
the weapon away and passed it to
Judith.
..Rose!" he cried thickly, what does
this mean? Are you mad? Judith
Dragging the bosom of her waist
together. Judith thrust the weapon
into its holster and turned away.
BE kind to her, Alan" she said In
an uncertain voice: "She didn't under
stand and-and I goaded her beyond
endurance, I'm afraid. Forgive me
but be kind to her a1ways!"
Somehow, blindly, she stumbled out
of the cabin into the open, possessed
by a thought whose temptation was
stronger than her powers of resist
ance. What Rose had failed to ac-
complish might now serve to resolve
Judith's problem. !. None, she told
herself, bitterly, would seek to hinder
her. But she meant SO to arrange the
matter that none should see or sus-
pect and be moved to interfere.
Round the shoulder of the noun
tain, on the road along the edge Of the
cliff, she was sure Of freedom from
observation.
And yet, such ia the inconsistency
OF the human animal, the instinct for
selfpreservat!on was stronger than
her purpose: when a touring car swung
round the mountain and shot toward
her she checked herself hastily and
Jumped aside in ample time to escape
being run down.
The next Instant the machine was
1urching to a halt and the sonorous
accents Of Seneca Urine were saluttng
her:
judith! You here! What the devil!
wherc've We been? Where are Mario
plat and Jimmy?"
Digging the nails Of her fingers pain
fully into her palms, she breathed
deep, fighting down hysteria, reassert"
ing her selfcontrol in so short space
of time that her father failed to ap-
preciate that there was anything un.
common in the mind of the girl
'Where?" he demanded angrily as
she approached the car. where,
want to know, are Marrophat and Jim
my? Haven't you seen or heard any
thing of them? They left me at six
O'Clock this morninS, to go after"
Dead" the girl interrupted, sen
tentlous, cycling him strangely.
II don't believe It'll" the old man
screamed, aghast. II won't believe it.
You're lying to me. you jade! You're
lying" =.
am telling you the plain truth
They followed us all morning in that
red racer, firing at US all the while.
Finally they caught up with US here,
about noon-came up this road shoot
ing over the windshield. Twas ou1