The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-12-06
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original idea Of going west. I shall 60
to one of the winter resorts. We shall
communicate only through the personal
column OF the Star. Sign yourself wes-
ton l shall sign Easton.
The words fell on Carlton with his new
and deeper love for her like death SEN
tence. 1t had never entered his mine
that they were to be separated now. Dis
solve their partnership in crime To him
II seemed as If they had just begun 10
live since that night when they had az
last understood each other. And il had
come to this-separation.
man can always shift for himself
better If he has no impediments." she
said, speaking rapidly as If to bolster up
| her own resolution "A woman is ALWAYS
an impeachment in crisis like this.
In her face he saw what he had never
| seen before. There was love in il that
would sacrifice everything. She was
| sending him away from her. not to save
herself but to save him. Vainly be at
tempted TO protest. She placed her nnger
/ on his lips. Never before had he left
such overpowering love for her. And vet
she held him in check in spite Of him
Take enough to last a few months
| she added hastily. Give me the rest
can hide it and take care of myself Even
can always do that more easily than a
| man. Don't worry about me. Go some
| where, start a new life. If il takes years
We can find some way in which I can
1 come back into your life. No. no.
Carlton had caught her passionately IN
| his arms-"even that cannot weaken me.
The die is cast. We must 60"
She tore herself away from him and
ned INTO her room, where, with set face
and ashen lips. she stuffed article after
AS they left the apartment they could
see man cross the street following thera
| closely. They were Swallowed In DESPAIR
| Carlton turned toward his wife. A sud
/ den idea had flashed over her There
We're two taxicabs at the station on the
| corner.
al win take the first" she whispered.
| Take the second and follow me. Then
he cannot trace us"
They were off. leaving the baffled shad-
ow only time to take the numbers OF the
cab. Constance had thought OF that She
stopped and Carlton joined her. After a
AS they stood before the gateway 70
the steps that led down into the long
| under-river tunnel which was to swallow
them so soon and project them, each into
| a new life, hundreds, perhaps thousands
| of miles apart. Carlton realized as never
before what IL all had meant.
: She tried to smile at him bravely. She
1t was now or never. She knew it. the
+! supreme effort One word or look tco
many from her and all would be lost. she
flung her arms about him and kissed him
| "Remember-one week from today
personal-in the Star" she painted.
She literally tore herself from his arms.
week passed The quiet little woman
at the Oceanview House was stu as much
9, mystery, to the other guests as when
she arrived, trayel-stained and worn with
| the repressed emotion of her sacrifice
Only once day did she betray the
slightest concern about anything around
pers arrived. Their she was always first
at the news stand, and the boy handed
QUIT to her, as matter OF habit, the
Star.
The strain and the suspense began 20
show on her. Day after day passed, until
It was nearly two weeks since the parting
| in New York. Day after day she grew
more worn by worry and fear. What had
| happened
IN desperation she herself wired per-
| sonal to the paper; Western. Write me
at the oceanview. Easton."
swer. Then she wired the personal again:
reply. Had they captured him?
She haunted the news stand in the lobby
of the beautifully appointed hotel Her
desire to read newspapers grew. She read
It was Just two weeks since they had
left New York on their separate journeys
less day. she was passing the news stand.
| From force Of habit she glanced at an
early edition Of an evening paper;
The big black type Of the heading
NoTED FoRGER A SUICIDE"
With a little shrek, half suppressed
I
There was his name. He had shot him
self in a room in a hotel in st. Louis.
She ran her eye down the column, hardly
| able to read In heavier type than the
rest was the letter they had found On
| him:
MY Dearest Constance:
when you read this I, who have
wronged and deceived you beyond words
win be where I can no longer hurt you
/ Forgive me, for by this act am q con,
fessed emhezzler ard fare~r. could rot
; face you and tell you Oh I,,e double ife
l was leading. So have sent you away
: and have gone away rnyself-and may the
l Lord have mercy on the soul OF
Your devoted husband.
CARLTON DUNLAP
j Over and over again she read the word,
as she clutched at theedge Of the news
stand to keep from fainting-.'wronees
and deceived YOU" double life / VA
,, leading What did he mean? Had ne
! after all. been concealing something eisi
from her? Had there really been anothe
woman2
. Suddenly the truth flashed over her
5 Tracked and almost overtaken, Lacking
: her hand which had guided him, he hal
$ seen no other way out. And in his las
= act he had shouldered IL all on himssii
: had shielded her nobly from the penalty
had opened wide for her the only doc
E of escape.