The Oakes times., 1914-06-18


turned OF 70 dead and humid that
sleep was in any case doubtful pos.
sibility.
She was still sitting In her room ut
late hour when she heard the outside
door close and COrtlandt's footsteps
mounting the stairs. She was glad be
had his own room and never entered
hers ut such an hour, for even to talk
with him In her present state Of mind
and body would have been more than
she could bear.
She was unreasonably. annoyed there
fore. when he came boldly into her
| chamber without even knocking.
Rather late for good night" she said
coldly.
1--WE just come from Anthony's sup.
per party."
! His voice made her look round sharp
+, ~. She saw that bis linen, ordinarily
stir and immaculate. was sodden and
crumpled. his collar limp. bis forehead
glistening with drops Of moisture.
"What ails you. stephen7" she cried.
"Have you been drinking?'
mo. didn't drink much. brought
you something"
He took the loving cup from its
flannel bag and set It upon the table.
"They gave me this.
"And this too" He tossed the watch
with Its enameled monogram into her
lap.
"Ah! That's very handsome"
"Yes. l thought you'd like It. It's
from Anthony" He laughed, then
sluddered.
"Why. you seem excited over these
souvenirs. You surely expected
He broke ina thing he rarely did
while she was speaking:
Anthony made q speech when he
gave 1t to me-a very nice speech, full
Of friendship and love and grntitude." !"
He repeated Kinks words as he re-.
mcmbered them. what do you think
of tliat?"
Mrs. COrtlandt's eyes widened. This
wns not the man she knew. At this
moment he was actually insistent. al
most overbearing. and he was regard
ing her with that same ironical sneer
that had reused her anger earlier In the
evening.
lie began to chuckle, apparently
without reason. His shoulders shook
fcebly Mt first. then more violently.
His fiat chest heaved. and he hiccough-
ed us II from physical weakness. 1t
was alarming. and she rose. staring at
him anrightedly. He continued to
shudder aud shake in uncomfortable
hysteria. but his eyes were bright and
watchful.
"Oh, l-I-to0k 1t all in-I let him
p.put the moose around his own neck
and tie the knot. Then l hung him."
His convulsive giggling was terrible.
forecasting. as 1t did. his immediate
breakdown.
"Stephen!' she exclaimed. in a
shocked tone. convinced that his mind
was going. "You are Ill. You need a
doctor. will call Joceel." She laid
her hand on his arm won't you 60
to your room and let me call dOctor?''
"Not yet. Wait! He told them what
I had done for him. acknowledged It
all and made them hear 1t from my
lips too. Them He paused. and she
stecled herself to witness another spec
tacle Of his pitiable loss OF self control
But instead he grew icy and corpse
like. with lips drawn back in Il grin
II played with him the way you have
played with me. Think"
Her face went suddenly nshcn.
"Well. told him before them an
that intended to give him something
In return, and ! did l-gave-him-
you"
God! You didn't tell him that
You didn't say that-befOre those men
Oh-h! She shrank back. drawing the
gauZy silk robe closer about her breast
Then she reused to sudden action. Seiz
ing him by the shoulders she SHOOK
him roughly with far more than hel
which neither Of them understood.
"Oh. did it" he declared. He
yours now. You can have him. He
been Your lOver"-
sue nung min, a..ny from her SO VIC
lentiy that he nearly fell.
Its II lie. you know it's lie!"
Its true. I'm no fool
She beat her hands together distract
edly. What have you done? Whn
will those men think? Listen! 70
must stop them quickly. Tell them it
. not so.''
He seemed not to hear her. "Tr
going away tomorrow" he said. "bu
Ill never divorce you. no matter wha
you do. and won't let you divorc
! me either. No. no! Take him now
you want him. but you'll never be abl
to marry him until I'm gone. And
won't die sOon-l promise you tina
3 I'm going to live"
: "You can't CO.
'sThere's boat tomorrow"
Don't you see you must stay and e,
plain to those men? My God! They
J. think you spoke the truth. They'll b
3 lieve what you said"
: "Of course they WILL" he chattere
{ shrilly. That's why l did it in tn,
way. No matter what you or he or
9 can do or say now they'll believe
l. forever. 1t came to me like flash