Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-30

him. He had gone to that distant land
where wicked railroad presidents
cease from Troubling and their weary
victims are at rest. The open news
paper told its tale only too plainly,
and the silent situation inside the cot
tage showed that in all probability
the old woman had died from heart
shock, whereupon her faithful hus-
band had promptly decided not to b
parted from her.
John re-entered the cottage, turned
off the gas and threw open the win.
dows. He was about to summon as
sistance when the roar of train
reached his ears and he remembered
the unguarded crossing with its peril.
Gus approach. He ran out and began
to wind down the slow moving gate,
but left it half way as the train drew
nearer. Then he dashed into the
street in order to guard the curve, but
had delayed just second too long.
A car moving at sixty miles an
hour swept past like a phantom. II
swerved widely at sight of the ap-
preaching train, but was caught BY
the cowcatcher and sent flying to
DITCH woman's frenzied shrek mir
Cling with the engines whistle and
the clang of the bell. H.
A few people gathered and assisted
joni in the work Of rescue. He was
literally dazed with horror when he
found Ralph Morgan stretched in
/ sensible on the ground, but tho
youngster regained enough conscious
ness to point to the car, beneath
which Marjorie was pinned. ~
Providentially, in some sense, shs
had escaped fatal injuries, but her
beautiful face was most terribly
gashed by the broken glass. ohn's
very soul was narrowed by the, sight.
He could not forget 1.-THE memory
of that place of death and disaster
fingered with him many days.
At last, about fortnight later,
learning that young Mrs. Morgan
was able to receive visitors, he went
to the hospital with an armful OF
flowers. By unlucky chance he
reached the open door of her room
at moment when Mrs. Howell was
speaking. -. az
"Of couse, you understand, Mar
jorie," the mother was saying, in a
dull voice, your social career il
ruined, now that you've lost your
looks and have married beneath you.
Your father and l will provide you
with companion and an income and
a suitable place to live. We suppose
1 you will hardly want to stay a.
home"
Apparently the interview was at an
end. John made off. If he stayed
there he felt he would have had dif-
ficulty in keeping his fingers off tho
callous womans' throat.
| He sought a telephone, thinking
that the hapless girls father would
come to her rescue. His name soor,
cleared the way to the financier's desk.
He began a stammering explanation:
but Howell answered sharply:
I've no time to talk about nv
daughter now, Mr.. Burton. I'm rak-
ing in million dollars ninuter'
Almost in despair, John was maxi
ing once more for Marjorie's room,
He met Ralph and the two men en-
tered together, but Burton did not
know that the husband was about to
see his wife for the first time with
the bandages off her face.
The poor girl was certainly a pitia-
Bile sight. After one Mortified glance
Morgan rushed out. John went after
him, thinking to speak some soothing
words, but the other pointed through
the open door with gesture 81
despair and muttered huskily: IL.
My God To think of it! am mar
ried-to thatPe
Seemingly unable to withstand the
prospect opening before his life Nor
gan staggered away, leaving Burton
to look after him in silent amaze
mert and 1oathing. In that hour OF
torment the would-be reformer could
only remember that when Abraham
dared to appeal to Jehovah on behalf
OF the wicked city the Lord promised
not to destroy the place if ten lust
men were found therein. W.
Yet the count failed, and the civ
was destroyed! n.
] end of the Third Episode.)