The Forrest City times., 1914-07-10

lIOU lueIT COmIOTlHDIe 0T6SlQe-lOI what? They were asking the question of themselves and they were waiting stonily for the answer.
 Tt is very stuffy in here" Vivian had said with glance at the closed doors after Sara had successfully placed her jury in the box.
 Keep still, Viv," whispered Leslie, with a fine assumption of awe. It's a spiritualistic meeting You'll scare the spooks away"
 It was at this juncture that Sara rose from her chair and faced them, as calmly, as complacently as if she were about to ask them to proceed to the dining-room instead of to throw a bomb into their midst that would shat ter their snug serenity for all time to come. With a glance at Mir Carroll she began, clearly, firmly and without predatory apology for what was to follow.
 T have asked you to come here to- night to be my judges. I am on trial You are about to hear the story of my unspeakable perfidy. only require of you that you hear me to the end be- fore passing judgment
 At her words, Hetty and Booth start ed perceptibly; quick glance passed between them, as if each was inquir- ing whether the other had caught the extraordinary words of self-indictment. A puzzled frown appeared on Hetty's brow.
 "Perfidy?' interposed MT. Wrandall. His wife's expression changed from one of bored indifference to sharp in quiry. Leslie paused in the act of lighting cigarette.
 Tt is the mildest term I can com mand," said Sara "I shall be as brief as possible in stating the case, Mir Wrandall. You will be surprised to hear that I have taken it upon myself, as the wife of Challis Wrandall and, as l regard it, the one most vitally concerned if not interested in the dis covery and punishment of the person who took his life-I say l have taken it upon myself to shield, protect and defend the unhappy young woman who accompanied him to Burton's inn on that night in March. She has had my constant, my personal protection for more than twenty months"
 The Wrandalls leaned forward in their chairs. The match burned Les lies fingers, and he dropped it without appearing to notice the pain.
 What is this you are saying" de- manded Redmond Wrandall
 When I left the inn that night, after seeing my husbands body in the little upstairs room, l said to myself that the one who took his life had unwit- tingly done me a service. He was my husband; I loved him, l adored him. To the end of my days I could have gone on loving him in spite of the cruel return he gave for my love and loyalty. I shall not attempt to tell you of the countless lapses of fidelity on his part. You would not believe me But he always came back to me with the pitiful love he had for me, and l forgave him his transgressions. These things you know. He confessed many things to you, Mir. Wrandall He humbled himself to me. Perhaps you will recall that l never complained to you of him. What rancor 1 had was always directed toward you, his fam fly, who would see no wrong in your king but looked upon me as dirt be- meath his feet There were moments when 1 could have slain him with my own hands. but my heart rebelled. There were times when he said to me that ought to kill him for the things he had done. You may now understand what l mean when I say that the girl who went to Burton's inn with him did me a service. will not say that l considered her guiltless at the time. On the contrary. looked upon her in quite different way. l had no means of knowing then that she was as pure as snow and that he would have de- spoiled her of everything that was sweet and sacred to her. She took his life in order to save that which was dearer to her than her own life, and she was on her way to pay for her NS"N "4NAA HNA 4Ait II l4tAtSSdI9 Nutl l came upon her and intervened."
 "You-you know who she is?" said MT. Wrandall in low, incredulous voice.
 "I have known almost from the be- ginning. Presently you will hear her story. from her own lips"
 lnvoluntarly four pairs of eyes shift ed. They looked blankly at Hetty Cas- tleton.
 Speaking swiftly, Sara depicted the scenes and sensations experienced dur ing that memorable motor journey to New York city.
 T could not believe that she was a vicious creature, even then. Some thing told me that she was a tender. gentle thing who had fallen into evil hands and had struck becauee she was unevil. l did not doubt that she had been my husbands mistress. but l could not destroy the conviction that somehow she had been justified in doing the thing she had done My gravest mistake was in refusing to hear her story in all of it's details. l only permitted her to acknovledre fhot ha haA l.