The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1915-05-29
CHAPTER LII.
Tho Old Adam.

Tho Old Adam.
long minute elapsed before either
woman moved or spoke.
Transfxed beside Alan's chair.
steadying herself with hand upon it's
back. Judith stared at the figure In
the doorway, In u temper nt once dis
comtited and defiant. with this she
suffered phase Of incredulity, was
scarce able TO persuade herself that
this was truly Rose who confronted
her--Rose whose sweet and gentle
nature had ever served as the butt
OF Judlths contempt and ruthless
ridicule.
Here was revolution with vengc.
| auce. 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 thunderclopd rent
by the lurid lightning OF her angry
eyes Her pose was tense and alert.
| like the pose of an animal set To
spring In her hand hung u revolver
the same (Judith's hand sought tho
holster at her hip and found It empty
! that her sister had worn and for
! gotten to remove when she dropped.
half.dead with fatigue. upon the bed.
And slowly. toward the end OF that
long. mute minute. the girls grasp
frightened upon the grip OF the weapon
and its muzZle lifted
Remarking this. a flash OF her one
time temper qulCkoned Judith or Il
sudden, with n start, she crossed the
floor IN n single, noiseless stride. aud
threw herself before ber sister.
"Weli?' she demanded hotiy. "Whnt
are you waiting for? Nobody's stop.
ping you. why don't you shoot"
The upward movement pf the hand
was checked the weapon hung level
TO Judith's breast--as level and un,
equivocal as the glance that prub"d
her eyes and the tone OF Roses voice
as she demanded
What were you doing there"
III you must know from me what
you already know on tho evidence OF
your eyes-l was bidding goodby to |
the man ! loye--kisBing him without |
his knowledge or consent before lcay |
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-nnd ] mean TO see that he
remains so. Nothing. then. stands In
the way OF your marrying Alan but
me. And such being the nseand
because he's as dear 10 me ns he is
to you-l'm going to take myself on
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 30 you leave him to me out OF
your charity! Is that ~"
ANY way you like. hut II It's so
to you to think that ] dare
love him and confess II TO you-if
STOPPING to kiss man who doesn't
want my kisses-if you are 30 afraid
Of losing him while live and love
him-yery well. them"
With 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
hat was like the cry OF n forlorn child
punished with cruelty that passes It's
understanding. She fell back against
no wall The revolver swept up
through the alr-but It's mark was
ler own head rather than Judith's
BOSOM.
But before her finger found strength
o pull the trigger the man at tho
able. startled from his sleep by the
ound OF angry voices, leaped from
lis chair with a violence that sent II
lattering to the floor, and hurled him
elf headlong across the room. i'm
the wrist OF his bctrothed
nth one hand while the other wrested
he weapon away and passed It to
Judith.
Rose" he cried thickly, what does
his mean? Are you mad? Judith"
Dragging the bosom Of her waist
ogether, Judith thrust the weapon a,
lto It's holster and turned away.
"Be kind TO her. Alan" she said In
n uncertain voice: She didn't under. =
tand and--and ! goaded her beyond
I'm afraid Forgive me
ut be kind 10 her always!" Y
Somehow. bllndly. she stumbled out 7
the cabin into the open, possessed
y thought whose temptation was
tronger than her powers OF resist =
nee. What Rose had failed TO ac-
Dmplish might now serve to resolve
udith's problem. -. None. she told \
erself, bitterly, would seek to hinder
or. But she meant no to arrange the
Iatter that none should see or sus-
ect and be moved 10 Interfere.
Round the shoulder OF the noun
Iin. on the road along the edge OF the !,
IN, she was sure OF freedom from I
And yet, such IL the inconsistency
the human animal, the instinct for
III preservation was stronger than
'und the mountain and shot toward be
sr, she checked herself hastily and
mped aside IN ample time to escape on
sing run down. br
The next instant the machine was br
rching to halt and the sonorous ~
,cents OF Seneca Trine were saluting W
sr; p