Omaha daily bee., 1914-11-08


down and confessing the utter wretchedness that
threatened to overwhelm her each time she forced
herself to face the thought that this parting must
be hnal
to Alsns side, hesitated bent her head to his and
touched her lips 10 his cheek-a oaress so light
that he slept on in ignorance OF H.
Then. az she lifted her head and stood erect
bosom convulsed with silent sobs, she looked
squarely into the face OF Rose
1.-THE OLD ADAM.
long minute elapsed before either woman
moved OF spoke
Transfxed beside Alan's chair. steadyine herself
with q hand upon its back, judith stared at the
figure in the NORWAY in a temper at once discon-
hted and defiant With this she suffered a phase
Of increduliy, scarce able to persuade herself
that this was truly Rose who confronted her-Rose
whose sweet and gentle nature had ever served as
the butt OF Judiths supreme contempt and ruthless
ridicule.
Here revolution with a vengeance when
Rose threatened and Judith shrank!
II was as If the women had exchanged natures
while they slept
The countenance that Rose showed her sister
was thundercloud rent by the lurid lightning Of
her angry eyes, Her pose was tense and alert
like the pose OF an animal Set to spring. In her
hsnd hung a revolver.
And slowly. toward the end of that long, mute
minute, the girls grasp tghtened upon the grip OF
the weapon and its muzzle lifted.
Remarking this, fash OF her one-time temper
quickened Judith. OF a sudden, with a start, she
crossed the floor in single. noiseless stride, and
threw herself before her sister
"Well?" she demanded hotly. What are you
waiting for7 Nobody's stopping you why don't
you shoot?
The upward movement OF the hand was checked:
the weapon hung level to Judith's breast-as level
and unequivocal as the glance that probed her eyes
and the tone OF Roses voice she demanded:
What were you doing there7"
III you must know from what you already
know on the evidence of your eyes-I was bidding
good-by to the man love-kissng him without his
knowledge or consent before leaving him to you
for good and ALL"
What do you meant"
THAT I'm going away-that l can't stand this
situation any longer Marrophat and Jimmy are
dead, my fathers helpless-and 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-Tm going TO take myself OF and keep out
OF the way"
For fear lest he find out that you love himH"
Judiths lip curled, DO you think him so witless
he doesn't know that already"
And so you leave him TO me out OF your char
ity Is that it?'
ANY way you like But II it's SO intolerable 10
you to think that dare love him and confess Il
TO you--if you begrudge the humiliation OF
STOPPING to kiss a who doesn't want my kisses
and love him-very we'll, thenl"
With passionate gesture Judith tore open the
bosom OF her waist, offering her flesh to the mug
ale OF the revolver.
cry broke from the lips OF Rose that was like
the cry of a forlorn child punished with cruelty
that passes it's understanding. She fell back
against the wall The revolver swept up through
the air-but it's mark her own head rather
than Judths bosom
But before her finger found strength TO pull the
trigger nj tha tab lad ala
by the sound of angry voices leaped from his chair
with violence that sent II Gathering to the floor
and hurled himself headlong across the room, Inn
prsoning the wrist of his betrothed with one hand
while the other wrested the weapon away and
passed It to Judith.
'Rosei" he cried thickly, what does this mean?
Are you mad? Judith"
Dragging the bosom OF her waist together. Judith
thrust the weapon into It's holster and turned away
BE kind TO her, Alan" she said in an uncertain
voice: she didn't understand and-and goaded
her beyond endurance I'm afraid Forgive me-
but be kind to her always"
Somehow. bndly 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 70 accomplish might
now serve TO resolve Judiths problem None
she told herself bitterly, would seek TO hinder her
But she meant so TO arrange the matter that none
should see or suspect and be moved to interfere
Late though the afternoon hour was, the busi-
ness OF hydraulic mining still engaged the undi-
vided attention Of every man In the camp. None
noticed the girl she sped up the road toward the
cln-at least. II any one did. II without
marking the symptoms OF the hysteria which
at the bottom OF this mad impulse toward self.
destruction.
And yet. such is the Inconsistency Of the human
animal, the instinct for selfpreservation was
stronger than her purpose: when a touring
swung round the mountain and shot toward her.
she checked hastily and jumped aside In ample
time 10 escape being run down.
The next instant the machine was lurchins TO .
halt and the sonorous accents OF Seneca Trins
sAluting her:
Judith! You here What the devil! whereVs
you been? Where are. Marrophat and JIMMY
Dead" the girl replied. sententious. eyeing him
strangely
"Dead?" he echoed. Who's dSad2- A gleam
OF Internal Joy lighted up his grim and lowering
eountenAnes. You don't mean to tell me Alan
Law"
mo" she cut him short again. Il mean 70 tell
you that MarrophSt and Jimmy dead"
Il don't believe H." the ,old man screamed.
Aghast Il won't believe It. You're Tying 70 me-
you jadei You're lying"
She indicated with a gesture two forms that Law