Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-05-05
for the shock That

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pared for the shock that"
II shall not faint, DR.. Sheet. II It
IL my husband shall ask You to leave
me. alone in the room with him for 1
little WHILE" The flnAl word trailed
out into long. tremulous vail. show.
ing how near she was to the breaking
point in her wonderful effort 1t self.
control. The men looked away hast
lily. They heard her draw two or
three deep. quavertng breathe: they
could almost feel the tension that she
was exercising over herself.
The doctor turned after q moment
and spoke very gently. but with pro.
fessional f1rmness. You must not
think Of venturing out in this wretched
night, madam. It would be the worst
kind Of folly. Surely you will be
guided by me-by your own common
sense. Mrs. Burton will be with
you"
THANK you. Dr.. Sheet" she inter.
posed calmly. III what We all fear
should turn out to be the truth,
could not stay here. could not
breathe. could not live. II, on the
other hand, Mr.. Drake IL mistaken.
shall stay. But II It is my husband, I
cannot remain under the same roof
with him, even though he be dead. I
do not expect you to understand my
feelings. It would be asking too
vpns,Nh ir>> ronn-kr0 v@noh
II think I understand" murmured
Drake.
Come" said the sheriff. arousing
himself with an effort.
She moved swiftly after him. Drake
and the coroner. following close be-
hind with Mrs Burton, could not take
their eyes from the slender, graceful
figure. She was revelation to them.
Feeling as theE did that she was about
to be confronted by the most appalling
crisis imaginable. they could not but
marvel at her composure. brakes
mind dwelt on the stories of the guillo-
tine and the heroines who went up to
1t in those bloody days without 20
much ~ . CULVER Of dread. Somehow,
~ AAuS ku15 HOIH0A WU0 - 0CIO4A0s
I They passed into the hall and
mounted the stairs. At the far end
Of the corridor . man was seated in
front Of closed door. He arose a.
the party approached. The sheriff
signed for him to open the door he
guarded. As he did 30, chilly blast
of afr blew upon the faces Of those In
%h~ h~n a. $hA
Of tho room we're tapping and whip
ping In the wind. Mr.. Wrandall
caught her breath. For the briefest
instant 1t seemed as though she was
on the point of faltering. She dropped
farther behind the sheriff. her limbs
suddenly stin, her hand going out to
the wall a. II for support. The next
moment she was moving forward res
olutely into the icy, dimly lighted
room
"A single electric light cleaned in
the corner beside the bureau. Near
the window stood the bed. She went
swiftly toward II, her eyes fastened
upon the ridge that ran through the
center Of It: still. white ridge that
seemed without beginning or end.
With nervous fingers the attendant
lifted the aheet 1t the head Of the
bed and turned Il back. AZ he iet It
fan across the chest Of tho dead man
no drew, back and turned his face
away.
She bent forward and thsn straight
ened her ngurs to IL full height, with
out for an instant removing her gaze
from the face Of the man who lay
before bar: . dark-hstred man gray In
death, who must have been beautiful
70 look upon In the Hush Of life.
1 For . long time abe stood there
looking. a. motionless a ths object On
which she gaxed Behind her were the
tense. keen-eyed men. not ono OF
whom seemed TO breathe during the
grim minutes that passed The wind
howled about the corners OF the inn,
but no one heard It They heard the
beating Of their hearts. even the tick
ing OF their watches, but not thew
Of the wind.
At last her hands. claw-like In their
eenseness, went slowly to her temples.
Her head dropped slightly forward,
and great shuddsr ran through her
body. The, coroner started forward,
expecting her 70 collapes.
please 90 away" she was saying
In IN absolutely smotioolsss voice.
LIST me stay hsre alone for littls
whils."
That - ail rhA nsn rslaxsd Thsy