The Washington herald., 1916-06-25

Martel! Don't let any woman go on
weeping when you can spare a moments
sorrow. That may sound sentimental
But it's true. It's just IL. o'clock" T"
glancing again at his watch. she may
still be up"
Ten minutes later Martel was climbing
the stairs he had descended a half hour
earlier-the stairs leading to EIsie's
apartment
Meantime the girl had gradually recov-
cred from her swoon. Sitting up. dazed-
'y, she looked about her in vacant-eyed
amaze. Then she saw the suit case and
the scattered clothes on the floor. And
all at once she remembered.
The man she adored had deserted her
had left her all alone In the world. And
she cried aloud in anguish and reawak-
cned grief
The cry reached the ears of Mrs
Wigs. who was winding her alarm clock
prior to getting into bed. The janitress
paused. set down the clock and reached
Tor some of her lately removed gar
ments. Presumably. 1t was going to be
worth while to dress again and do a little
more eavesdropping
Elsic's dilated eyes strayed from the
suitcase to something on rug beside II.
Something that glinted queerly in the
~ was -O"H
volver
As though hypnotized by its glitter.
she continued to stare at 1t. - Presently
her hand went forward. almost stealth
lily; and her fingers closed around the
pistol butt Here. to her disorderd mind.
was the full and final solution OF her
problem.
Martel had left her. And. in leaving,
he had taken away all that made life
"
near she was dead, he might be sorry.
From the grave she could sting him with
a barb OF remorse.
This was his own pistol too-this pis-
toI whose muzzle' felt so gratefully cool
against her fever-hot flesh
Elsie let herself play morbidly with the
idea. as a child morbidly bites on a sore
tooth. She knew little OF firearms. But
she had heard that II a trigger were
pressed hard enough
She did not know just how hard one
needed to tug. before the pistol would
go OF. And, experimentally she tight
ened her forefinger around the trigger.
There was a fash-a roar that rever-
berated through the whole loose -doored
apartment-a pungent smoke cloud filled
the little room.
Mrs. Wigs. half-drcssed, heard the
report Flinging a long cloak around
her. she dashed down the hall Outside
Elsie's door she paused. No sound came
from inside. She was about to turn the
Knob. when 1t occurred to her that Mar
tel, who had doubtless fred the shot
might very possibly put a second bullet
into her own head should she break in
upon the scene of carnage
So she fed down the rassageway and
down the stairs and out into the mid
night city.
In the studio street. a throrg of rev.
elers were making night hideous with
their racket. Horns. rattlee, confetti
'ucklers,' cowbells. tiCker-tape and a
dozen other temper wrecking devices
were in evidence. A mimic ba tile had
sprung up in the middle of the walk
Groups OF bystanders, on their way to
restaurants. had halted to laugh at the
spectacle. A peg-pOst policeman looked
on with tolerant grin.
Suddenly, the policeman drew himself
up and saluted, as n man and a woman
In evening dress paused near him to
watch the fun. Patrolman O'Brien had
a good memory for faces. And this man.
with the sledner. fair-haired girl on his
arm, was Charles Morehouse Halloran,
the new district attorney who was to
take Office tomorrow.
HallOrln, still new enough TO police
Difference to be gratified by it, returned
the salute.
You see" whispered Margaret, al
ready you're famous. a year ago, that
blucCoat would have ordered you to move
On. Now, he salutes you as II you were
the President"
Perhaps" gallantly suggested Hal
ioran, he is saluting the beauty Of my
new secretary. He
Mrs. Wigs. plowing her way. in hus-
tered manner. through the crowd flung
herself at Patrolman OBrien.
"Oficer.' she squalled. There's been
murder done back here, not two minutes
since, Come quick"
Murder" repeated O'Brien. Where?
Who?"
Back at the studio buiIdin. You know
our tenants. She's just been shot by
Mr.. Martel He's the man who's been
keepin' company with her. They quar-
relied. something terrible. this evenin'
An just now he shot her Just as the
clock was a~etrikin' twelve. /"
O'Brien waited for no more. He began
to push a path through the jolly crowd
that hemmed in so thightly.
Way, there" he beloved, trying to
make himself heard above the din of
cowbell, horn. and rattle. Let US
through"
Officer" spoke Halloran. at his side,
take this young lady and myself with
you. 1t is midnight; and my official du-
ties can begin with the first murder of
the new year"
Certainly sir agreed O'Brien, con-
voying them slowly through the pack Of
people. Come along II you like"
DO you mind" Halloran asked Mar
garet Graeme. You know you must
get used to such things, II you are to be
my secretary"
"Of course. don't mind" she assured
him, excited at the prospect, and l can
be OF help by taking notes for you. Oh,
why can't We move faster? We're SIM
ply crawling"
You're lucky we can move at all.
miss, said the policeman. over his shoul-
der, "in a mob like this"
Five minutes later. Martel entered Ell
sic Drayton'e studio. On the floor. under
the dim-turned light, lay the body of
the girl from whom he had parted a bare
half hour before. Nearby CLEANED the
revolver.
With a cry Martel flung himself on
his knees beside the dead woman. Her
body was still warm. He got to his feet
and stared dumbly at her. Scarce know
ing what he did, he picked up the re-
volver-and recognized 1t as his own.
Out into the hallway he reeled. with
some vague idea Of shouting for help.
But horror had. for a moment, stricken
him dumb. Scarcely had he started down
the passage when he saw several people