The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-07-04

He was staring at her with dilated
eyes. Slowly the truth was being
borne In UPON him.
THE woman was-Hetty?" came
hoarsely from his stiffening lips. MY
God, Sara"
She came close to him and spoke
in a half-whlsper. Nov you know the
secret. Is it safe with you?"
He opened his lips TO speak. but no
words came forth. Paralysis seemed
to have gripped not only his throat
but his senses. He reeled. She
grasped his arm inia tense. fierce way.
and whispered:
BE careful! No one must hear
what we are saying" She shot a
glance down the deserted hall. mo
one is near. l made sure of that.
Don't speak! Think first-think we'll.
Brandon Booth 1t is what you have
been seeking for months-the truth.
You share the secret with US now.
Again | ask, is it safe with your"
MY Cod" he muttered again, and
brow was wet He looked at his fin
gers dumbly as IL expecting to find
them covered with blood.
rs il safe with your" for the third
time.
Safe? Safer" he whispered. follow
ing her example without knowing that
he did so. IL can't believe you.
Sara. 1t can't be true"
1T is true"
You have known-all this timer"
From that night when l stood where
we are standing now"
"And-and-she?"
Il had never seen her until that
night. l saved her."
He dropped suddenly upon the trunk
that stood behind him, and buried his
face in his hands. For long time
she stood over him. her interest divid-
ed between him and the hall. wherein
lay their present peril.
Come" she said at last Pull your
self together. We must leave this
place. If you are not careful they
will suspect something downstairs"
He looked up with haggard eyes,
studying her face with curious intent
| ness.
What manner of woman are you.
Sara?" he questioned. slowly. won
deringly.
Il have Just discovered that I am
very much like other women, after
ALL" she said. For awhile l thought
| was different. that l was stronger
than my sex. But / am just as weak,
just as much to be pitied. Just as
much to be scorned as any one of my
sisters. have spoiled a great act
by STOPPING to do a mean one. God
will bear witness that my thoughts
were noble at the outset: my heart
was soft. But come! There Is much
more to tell that cannot be told here
You shall know everything"
They went downstairs and out into
the crisp autumn air. She gave direc-
tons to her chauffeur. They were
to traverse for some distance the same
road she had taken on that Inflated
night a year and a half before. In
course of time the motor approached
a well-remembered railway crossing.
SLOW down, Cole" she said. This
Is a mean place-a very mean place. {"
Turning to Booth, who had been sit
ting grim and silent beside her for
miles, she said, lowering her voice: 81
remember that crossing yonder. There
is a sharp curve beyond. This is the
place. Midway between the two
crossings. l should say. Please re-
member this part of the road, Bran.
don. when / come to the telling OF
that nights ride to town. Try to pic.
ture this spot-this smooth. straight
road as 1t might be on a dark, freezing
night in the very thick of a screaming
blizzard, with all the world abed save
two women"
In his mind he began to draw the
picture, and to place the two women
in the center of 1t. without knowing
the circumstances. There was some
thing fascinating In the study he was
making, something gruesome and full
Of sinister possibilities for the hand
OF a virile painter. He wondered how
near his imagination was to placing