The Forrest City times., 1914-04-03
CHAPTER Il.-Continued.


There was nothing left for me to
do but that"
And why did you rob him."
"Ah, 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. am not thief. I'm not
so bad as that"
Mrs. Wrandall marveled. Not so
bad as that" And she was a murder
ess, wanton,
you are hungry. You must be fam
ished."
No, am not hungry. l 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 a place where you
can sleep-and rest" she said. Nov
please don't say anything more. | do
not want to know too much. The least
you say tonight. the better for-for
both of u.s.
With that she devoted all of her at
tention to the car, increasing the
speed considerably, Far ahead she
could see twinkling, '-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 II 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 showgirl
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 wom-
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
she turn her adrift? The idea 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 1t.
She turned her head for 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
philanthropist no sentimentalist-
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. Ii was in that person s
power to save her or destroy her, The
commandment, Thou shalt not kill"
took on 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,
every muscle in her body had reached
the swapping point and suddenly had
given way. For moment her hands
were weak and powerless; her head
fell forward. In an instant she
conquered - but only partially-the
strange feeling of lassitude Then she
realized how tired she was, how fierce
~ 81 10