Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-12-28
is pocket, as if he had just hidden

his pocket, as If he had Just hidden
something there.
She was not familiar with firearms.
Her mother had been afraid of them
and her brother had never flourished
any around the house, yet she knew by
instinct that some Weapon OF defense
was in Gordon's possession: and a
nameiess horror rose in her heart and
shone from her blue eyes, U she would
not speak a word to let him know ii. If
he had not been in such haste, he would
nave seen. Her horror would have been
still greater If she had know that he
already carried one loaded revolver and
was taking a second in C; 81 of an
emergency.
Don't worry" he called as he hur-
ried out the door. Henry will get
anything o need, and | shall soon be
back"
The door closed and he was gone. She
neard his quick step down the hall.
heard the elevator door slide and slam
again, n then h knew he was gone
Gown. Outside an automobile sounded
ana she seemed to hear again his words
at the phone. The rear door" WHY had
ne gone TO the rear door? Was he in
hiding? Was he flying from someone?
W.1at. oh what, did it mean?
without stopping to reason it out. she
new across the room and opened the
LIN DSbiooiIlI ne lldQ luSI iGIt,
then through it passed swiftly to Il
bathroom beyond. Yes, there was a
window. Would it be the onep Could
she see him.? And what good would
1t do her if she could?
n crowded close to the window.
Ihefe was a heavy sash with stained
glass, but she selected a clear bit of
yellow and put her eye close. Yes.
there was a closed automobile just be-
low ner, n 1t had started away from
Where? ~ IVA
Her mind was a blank for a few
minutes. she went slowly, mechanical
ticing anything about her, sat down in
tne chalr, putting her hands to her
temples, and tried to think. Back to
the ome in the church where he
d appeared at her side and the serv-
ICE mad begun. Something had told
ner imam that he was different, and yet
lnere a been those letters, and how
could 1t possibly be that he had not
written them? He was gone on some
dangerous business. OF that she felt
sure. There had been some caution
given him by the mar to whom he first
pnoned. He had promised to take pre-
cautlon-that meant the little. wicked
cleaning thing in his pocket, per
maps some harm would come to him.
ana would never know. And then
she stared at the opposite wall with
wonder filled eyes Well, and suppose it
I Why did she care? Was he not
Tue a whose power over her but
s"o snort DAYS ago would nave made
neI welcome death as her deliyerer?
why was all changed now? Just be-
cause ne had smiled upon her and been
KIND! Had given her a few wild flow
ers n said her eyes were like them?
stau mar that waved instead of being
sliaisht ana thin! And where was all
her loyalty to her dear dead fathers
memory?. How could she mind that
danger should come to n who had
threatened to tell terrible lies that
should blacken him in the thoughts of
people who had loved him? Had she
ofsolten the letters? Was she willing
TO forgive all just because he. had de-
clared that he did not write them?
How FOOLISH! He said he could prove
That he did not, but of course that
was all nonsense. He must have writ
ten them. And yet there was the wave
IN ms mar, and the kindness in his
eyes. n he had looked-oh, he had
looked terrible things when he had
read that letter; as if he would like
TO Wreak vengeance on the man who
mad written it. Could a man masouer-
ade that way?
And then a new solution to the prob
lem came to her. Suppose this-who-
49, ~ "oo III IIldll WHO Hau mar
ried her. had gone out to find and
punish George Hayne? Suppose
But then she covered her eyes with
her hands and %shuddered. Yet why
should she care? But she did. Sup
pose he should be killed, himself! Who
did he come to take his place? Was
1t just another of Georges teryible
tricks upon her?
"A quick vision came of their bring
ing him back to her. He would lie.
perhaps, on chat great crimson leather
couch over there, just as he had lain
in the dawning of the morning in the
stateroom of the train, with his hands
hanging limp, and one perhaps across
his breast, as if he were guarding
something. and his bright waves OF
brown hair lying heavy about his
white. SO white and cold, with a little
blue mark in his temple, perhaps.
The footsteps of the mar Henry
brought her back to the present again.
She smiled at him pleasantly as he
entered, and answered his questions
about n would have for break
fast; but it was he who selected he
menu, not She, and after he had gone
she could not have told what she had
ordered. She could not get away from
the vision on the couch. She closed
her eyes n pressed her cold fingers
AS SSCpdllS. " OElVe IL AWAV.
but still her bridegroom seemed to lie
there before her.
The colored man came back pres
emily with a loaded tray, and set it
down on a little table, which he Wheeled
before her. as though he had done it
many times before. She thanked him,
aid there was nothing else she
needed, SO he went away.
h toyed with the cup of, delicious
coffee which he had poured for her.
and the few swallows she took gave
her new heart. She broke a bit from
a hot roll, and ate a little Of the de-
icious steak. but stin her min was
at work at the problem, and her heart
was full OF nameless anxiety.
He had gone away without any
breakfast himself. and he had had no
supper the night before, she was sure.
He probably had given to her every
thing he could get on the train. She
was haunted with regret because she
had not shared them with him. She
got up and walked about the room,
trying to shake off the horror that was
upon her. and the dread of what the
morning might bring forth. Ordinarily
she would have thought of sending a
message to her mother and hrotbor