Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-12-10

open Rogers was standing in the han
outside, and I sent him hurrying for
the water, n turned back into the
room.
Godfrey was chatting the girls hands,
and the yelled lady was bending over
her, fumbling at the hooks Of her
bodice. Evidently she could not see
them, for, with q sudden movement, she
put back her Veil. My heart warmed
to her at that act OF sacrifice; and
after a single glance at her, 1 turned
away my eyes.
I saw Godfrey's start of recognition
as he looked down at her; then he. too,
looked aside.
Here's the water, sir" said Rogers,
and handed me glass and pitcher.
The next instant, his eyes fell Upon
the woman on the couch. He stood
staring. his face turning slowly purple;
then. clutching at his throat, he half
turned and fell, just as L a seen him
do once before.
HornbloWer. who was staring at the
unconscious woman and hopping his
race feVerishly, spun around at the
crash.
We'll, III be damned!" he said, in a
hoarse voice. as he saw Rogers extend
ed on the floor at his feet. whats the
matter with this house, anyway"
So great was the tension on my
nerves that j could scarcely restrain a
shout of laughter. / turned it into a
shout for Parks; but his face, when he
appeared on the threshold, was too
much for me, and l sank into a chair,
laughing Historically.
For Gods sake!" Parks began =
It's all right" Godfrey broke in.
sharply, Rogers has had another fit.
Get the ammonia!"
Parks staggered away. and Mr.. Horn
blower sat down weakly.
Il don't see the joke!" he growled.
glaring at me. his face crimson.
Get a grip of yourself, Lester" said
Godfrey, ~savagely, seized the pitcher
from my hand. and hurried with it to
madame.
did get a grip of myself, and when
Parks caIne back a m later with
the ammonia, was able to hold up
Rogers head, while Parks applied the
phial TO his nostrils.
Give me a Whit of it, too, Parks
] said, u~nsteadily, and in an instant
my eyes We're streaming; but / a
escaped hysteria. "Straighten Rogers
out and let him lie there" I sasped. and
sat dizzily down upon the floor. But
| dared not loo at Hornblower. I felt
that another glance at his dazed coun-
tenance would send me off again.
Madame, meanwhile, had dashed
some water into the face of the I'M
conscious Julie-much to the detri-
rnent OF her comDlexion!-watched her
a moment, then stood erect and low
cred her veil.
she will soon be all right again."
she said; and, truly enough, at the end
of a few seconds, the girl opened her
eyes and looked dazedly about her.
Then a violent trembling seized her.
What is it, Julie?" asked her mis-
tress, taking her hand. You knew
this man?"
a hoarse sob was the only answer.
You must tell me-" went on mad
anne, quietly but firmly. Perhaps a
crime has been committed. You must
tell me everything. You may rely upon
the discretion of these gentlemen. You
knew this nlan?"
The girl nodded, and closed her eyes:
but the hot tears brimmed from theip
In Paris?"
The girl nodded again.
He was your ~lover?"
A third nod, and a fresh food of
tears.
4 remember, now" said madame,
suddenly. Il saw him with her once.
What was he doing in this house?" she
went on, more sternly. Tell us!'
MADAME will never forgive mel"
sobbed the girl, and l began to think
that she was more concerned for her.
self than for her lover. The same
thought occurred to her mistress, too,
no doubt, for her voice hardened.
Try me- she said. Understand
Wen, you must tell-if not here, then
before an officer of the police"
oh, no. moi" screamed Julie, sitting
suddenly erect. Never that! 1 could
not bear that! Madame would not be
so cruel"
Then tell us now!" said the yelled
lady. i~neNorably.
Very well. madame!" cried the girl,
ldabbing at her yes with her hand
kerchief, n speaking in a mixture of
French and English which l shall not
attempt to transcribe. Il will tell; |
will tell everything. After all, I was
not to blame. 1t was that creature. l
did not o him-but l feared him. He
possessed a w i've me. He could
make me do anything. He even beat
mel And still 1 went back to him!"
"What was his name1' asked the
yelled lady.
Georges Drouet-he lived in the Rue
de la Huchette, Just of the Rue Saint
IJacques-on the top floor, under the
cutters. He was bad-bad;-he lived
off m l met him six months ago.
He knew how to fascinate one; l
thought he loved me. Then he began
to borrow money from me, until he had
taken all hat 1 had saved; then my
Erings-every one!" She held up her
hands to show their baroness. 'Then