Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1915-01-28

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posture. Then quickly, as she saw his
thoughts revert to the dead friend at
his feet, bella was not hurt here. He
was downtown when 1t happened: but
he managed to struggle home and gain
this place, which he tried to hold
against the men who followed him,
He thought you we're dead. you sat
there so rigid and so white, and, be-
fore he quite gave up, he asked US all
to promise not to let anyone enter this
room till your son Oliver came"
Understanding partly, but not yet
quite clear in his mind, the Judge
sighed. and, STOPPING again, straight
ened the faithful negro's limbs. Then.
with a sidelong look in her direction,
he felt in one Of the pockets Of the
dead negro's coat and, drawing out a
small key, held 1t in one hand while
he fumbled in his own for another,
which found, he became on the instant
his own man again.
Miss Weeks, seeing the difference In
him, and seeing, too. that the doorway
was now clear of the wondering, awe
struck group which had previously
blocked It, bowed her slight body and
proceeded to withdraw; but the Judge,
staying her by a gesture. she waited
patiently near one of the bookracks
against which she had stumbled, to
hear what he had to say.
Il must have had an attack of some
kind" he calmly remarked. "Will you
be good enough to explain exactly
what occurred here that may more
fully comprehend my own misfortune
and the death of this faithful friend"
Then she saw that his faculties we're
now fully restored, and came step
forward. But before she could begin
her story he added this searching ques-
ton:
WAS 1t he who let you in-you and
the others-I think you said others?
Was 1t he who unlocked my gates?"
Miss Weeks sighed and betrayed
fluster. 1t was not easy to relate her
story: besides 1t was woefully incom-
plete. She knew nothing of what had
downtown, she could only
tell what had passed before her eyes.
But there was one thing she could
make clear to him, and that was how
the seemingly impossible gates had
been made ready for'the woman's en-.
trance and afterwards taken such ad-
of by herself and others. A
pebble had done II ala pebble placed
in the gateway by Bela's hands.
As she described this and insisted
upon the fact in face Of the judges
almost frenzied disclaimer, she thought
she saw the hair move on his forehead.
Bella a traitor, and in the interests Of
the woman who had fronted him from
the other end OF the room at the mo- |
ment consciousness had left him! Evil |
IDENTIFY this intrusive little body did
not know Bella or his story, or
Why should interruption come then?
Why was he stopped, when in the pas !
sion OF the moment he might have |
let fall some word Of enlightenment |
which would have eased the agitated
curiosity of the whole town! Miss
Weeks often asked herself this ques-
ion and bewailed the sudden access
If sounds in the rooms without, which
the entrance Of the police
Ind put new strain upon the judges
aculty OF self-control and attention
o the one matter in hand.
The commonplace Of an official In.
luiry were about to supersede the play
# a startled spirit struggling with a
problem Of whose complexities he had
eceived but glimpse.
The library again! but how changed!
evening light now instead of blazing
unshine: and evening light so shaded
hat the corners seemed far and the
many articles Of furniture, numbering
he spaces between, larger for the
hadows in which they stood hidden.
Perhaps the man who sat there in
ompany with the judge would have
referred to see more perfectly that
ortion of the room where Bella had
AIKEN his stand and finally fallen; but
rom the place where he sat there was
o getting any possible view OF that
art OF the wall or Of anything con-
ected with It; and SO. with every ap-
earance Of satisfaction at being al
owed In the room at all, Sergeant
Ioolittle from headquarters drank the
Idge's wine and listened for the
idge's commands.
Sergeant, l have lost a faithful
eryant under circumstances which
ave called an unfortunate attention to
" house. ! should like to have this
lace enthusiastically guarded, you
any and all intru'
Ions till / can look about me and Sc
ure protection of my own. May l
Ely upon the police to do this, begin
II tonight at an early hour? There
re loiterers already at the corner and /
. front Of the two gates. ! am not
to these attentions, and
ok to have my fence cleared" !
Two men are already detailed for
he Job. your honor. / heard the order [
lven Just as left headquarters"