The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1915-01-14
CHAPTER III.
The Old Adam.


woman moved OF spoke.
Transfixed beside Alan's chair.
steadying herself with hand upon i;s
back. Judith stared at the figure In
the doorway. In a temper at once dis
comnted and defiant With this she
suffered a phase Of incredulity. was
scarce able 10 persuade herself that
this was truly Rose who confronted
her-Rose whose sweet and gentle
nature had ever served as the butt
OF Judith's contempt and ruthless
ridicule.
Here was revolution with 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
sizes. Her pose was tense and alert.
like the pose Of an animal set TO
spring In her hand hung a revolver.
the same (Judith's hand sought the
holster at her hip and found Il empty
that her sister had worn and for
gotten 10 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
aud its muzzle lifted.
Remarking this, a fash OF her one
time temper quickened Judith. or a
sudden, with a start, she crossed the
door In a single. noiseless stride. and
threw herself before her sister.
"Wellg' she demanded holly. What
are you waiting forY Nobody's stop
ping you: why don't you shoot"
The upward movement OF the hand
was checked: the weapon hung level
20 Judith's breast-as level and un-
equiyocal as the glance that probed
her eyes and the tone OF Roses voice
a. she demanded:
What we're you doing there3'
II you must know from me what
you already know on the evidence OF
your eyes-l was bidding good-by to
the man | love-kissing him without
his knowledge or consent before leav.
ing him to you for good and ALI"
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 TO see that he
remains so. Nothing. then, stands in
the way OF your marrying Alan but
me. And such being the case-and
because he's as dear TO me az 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 so you leave him TO me out OF
your charity Ia that ~"
ANY way you like. But n It's so
intolerable to you TO think that dare
love him and confess II TO you--if
you begrudge me the humiliation Of
STOPPING to kiss man who doesn't
want my kisses-if you are so afraid
Of losing him while live and love
him-very 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 like the cry Of forlorn child
punished with cruelty that passes its
understanding. She fell back against
the wall. The revolver swept up
through the air-but its mark was
her own head rather than Judiths
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 II
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 wrested
the weapon away and passed II to
Judith.
"Rose!" he cried thickly, what does
this mean? Are you madY Judith"
Dragging the bosom Of her waist
together. Judith thrust the weapon