The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-03-25
cHAPT LII.
The Old Adam,

A long minute elapsed before either
woman moved or spoke.
Transfxed beside Alan's chair.
steadying herself with a hand upon It's
back. Judith stared at the figure In
the doorway. in n temper Of once dis
comnted and defiant. With this she
suffered a phase Of i%ncredulity. was
scarce able 10 persuade herself that
this was trsly Rose who confronted
her-Rose whose sweet and gentle
nature had ever served as the butt
1 Judith's contempt and ruthless
ridicule.
Here was revolution with n venge.
ance, when Rose threatened and
Judith shrank.
II was as II the women had ex.
changed natures while they slept.
The countenance that Rose showed
her sister was a thundercloud rent
BY the lurid lightning OF her angry
eyes. Her pose was tense and alert,
like the pose OF an animal set 10
spring. In her hand hung a revolver,
the same (Judith's hand sought the
holster at her hin and found It empty
that her sister had worn and for.
gotten to remove when she dropped,
halfdead with fatigue. upon the bed.
Aid slowly. toward the end OF that
long. mute minute, the girls grasp
frightened upon the grip OF the weapon
and It's muszle lifted.
Remarking this. a fash OF her one
time temper quickened Judith. or a
sudden, with a start. she crossed the
floor in a single, noiseless stride, and
threw herself before her sister.
"Well?" she demanded holly. What
are you waiting for? Nobody's stop
ping 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 un.
equivocal as the glance that probed
her eyes and the tone OF Roses voice
as she demanded:
What were you doing there?'
IF you must know from me what
you already know on the evidence OF
your eyes-l was bidding good.by TO
the man ! Sve-kissing him without
his knowledge or consent before leav.
ing him to you for good and ALL"
What do you mean"
THAT I'm going away-that ! can't
stand this Situation any longer. Mario.
phat and Jimmy are dead, my fathers
helpless-and | mean 10 see that he
remains so. Nothing, then. stands In
the way OF your marrying Alan but
me. And such being the case-and
because hes as dear TO me as he is
to you-I'm going to take myself of
and keep out OF the way"
For fear lest he find out that you
love him."
Judith's lip curled. do you think
him so witless he doesn't know that
already"
And so you leave him to me out Of
your charity, Is that it?"
Amy way you like. But ~ it's so
intolerable 20 you TO think that | dare
love him and confess It 10 you--if
you bcgrudge me the humiliation OF
STOPPING 10 kiss a man who doesn't
want my kisses-if you are 80 afraid
Of losing him while | live and love
him-yery well, them"
With a passionate gesture Judith
tore open the bosom Of her waist,
Offering her flesh to the muzzle OF the
revolver.
A cry broke from the lips OF Rose
that Was lie the cry Of n forlorn child
punished with cruelty that passes It's
understanding. She fell back against
tho wall, The revolver swept up
through the air-but its mark was
her own head rather than Judith's
bosom.
But before her finger found strength
to pull the trigger the man at the
table, startled from his sleep by the
sound OF angry voices, leaped from
his chair with a violence that sent Il
gathering TO the floor. and hurled him.
self headlong across the room, i'm.
~prisoning the wrist OF his betrothed
with one hand while the other wrosted
the weapon away and passed It to
Judith.
"Rose!" he cried thickly, what does
this mean7 Are you mad? Judith"
Dragging tho bosom OF her waist
together. Judith thrust the weapon