The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-04

before; then there was a dreadful
blank in her mind. and she had re-
covered to find herself standing over
the body. And she had fed wildly for
shelter.
Cray patted her hands. You stay
with me until the trouble blows over"
he said. Il want housekeeper. You
Will be quite safe here. shall let it
be known that you answered an ad-
vertisement. When all is ready will
help you to a new life. You trust
me?"
She looked at him helplessly. Il
am SO ignorant she wept. Il must
trust you. | have nobody else"
You will not regret it." said Cray.
And he knew the girl was safe there.
Nobody came to call at his little apart
ment
The murder occupied two columns
OF his morning paper. but the only clue
was that afforded by negro janitor,
who had seen woman ascending the
steps few minutes before the trag-
edy. And he stated that her hair was
fair. The unknown woman's was
ebony dark. Cray felt safe.
The poniard was found, but gave
no clue. And gradually the interest
waned. Nobody knew the murdered
man. who had very good reasons for
Disgusting his identity.
AS the days passed Helen Ware
came to trust Cray absolutely. She
cooked for him, mended his clothes,
resolutely refused to take the money
that he pressed upon her Il can
never forget what | owe you," she
would say. But sometimes there would
be spells of weeping. Il did not mean
to kill him. the girl would moan. Il
do not remember anything except sit
ting at home waiting for him with
bitterness of heart; then | heard him
come in and went to him-and | was
standing over him with the dagger in
my hands"
You don't recall the dagger"
Yes. 1t was a curio of his; some
friend from a savage country had
| given it to him. | must have snatched
1t from the wall and stabbed him. :
AS the weeks turned into months.
Cray found himself torn between
two impulses. He wanted to let the
Girl go to some scene where she
would be able to take up her life
anew. AID Nct--hc know that he
loved her. Her hclplessness. her
charm, the ben bctweca them had
created an intimacy that was infinite
ly sweet He had been offered a new
position in the West. One night he
took his courage in his hands and
/ asked her to be his wife and 90 with
him where all memory Of the past
/ could be forgotten.
He knew by her looks that she loved
him. But she would not
1T is your pity for me, Ronald, not
love- she said, signing. Il love you,
but | can never be your wife so long
as this curse of blood lies on me-"
you acted rightly" he cried hot
ly. No jury would have convicted
you. Helen, dearest, forget it and
come with me-
Il cannot she answered sadly. Il
must leave you, and you must for
get"
But on the next day something hap
pened which drove all thoughts of
parting from their heads. The wife of
the murdered man was arrested
charged with the crime.
1t was known that she had been in
the city that day. She had threat
ened him; the negro janitor identified
her as the woman he had seen near
the apartment house. And Ronald and
Helen watched the unfolding of the
grim trial with dismay.
On the evening before the last day
Helen spoke to Ronald about what
lay uppermost in her mind.
81 cannot let that woman be con-
victed," she said. Il must go down
to the court and offer my confess
sion'
Ronald could not dissuade her. He
knew that it was the only possible
thing
And all day they sat in the dreary
courtroom listening to the intolerably
long summing up. The jury had at
last retired. Ronald had persuaded
Helen not to speak unless the verdict
was guilty
1t was hours before the jury re-
turned A murmur spread through the
courtroom. The face of the foreman
was deadly white He trembled and
looked away from the prisoners
straining eyes. There could be no
doubt what the verdict was.
Suddenly Helen sprang to her feet.
Ronald rose and kept his arm about
her. She faced the prisoner and
stretched out her hand.
But before a word could leave her
lips the woman in the dock uttered a
shrek and recoiled, clutching at the
air.
Eyes. am guilty" she cried "He
lied to me, deceived nc. ! learned
that he was supporting another wom-
an, who was passing as his wife, |
logged him to his home. | entered
after him. saw him in the hallway,
and over his head dagger hung. 1t
seemed placed there for Ee. | struck
him-and then the other woman came
out-and she stands there"
And she collapsed unconscious upon
the floor.
Helen fell into Ronald's arms.
1T is true, II is truei" she cried.
Il remember everything
The verdict of "manslaughter" was
further eased by a mercifully light
sentence, and with the obstacle to
their marriage removed. Ronald and