Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-02-18

" Dinna Greet saiu. 4 II get n,..t
but we mum ha' time. Let Dan Page &c
upstairs and talk to them from win
dow
" oh Dan. says the puir lady. Dan
will you do that? Tell them you didn't
mean to hurt Mary or-or me-. NO. no.
he whimpered. I can't ] can't But
grsbbit him by the arm and pulled him
to his feet BE a man. ] cried and
shookit him Be a man and get you
upstairs.
You'd be safe IN the cupols, Dan,
says Mrs. Page. I'll stay with you
and this kind man will go for Philip.
But he kept sayin No, no. and could
hear the others bangin' at the door and
dared not stay. so / slippit DOT the way
came and went off for Mr.. Langdon."
Mrs. Page, whose anxiety to be near
Mary had kept her from returning to the
witness room, shuddered at the memories
that Macpherson was conjurinR up out
OF the past. The softness which time
! had lent the tragedy OF that chill winter
morning was stripped off, exposing the
old horrible sroping fingers. icy cold.
clutching at her as she strove to drag
Dan Page upstairs towards the cupola.
She could hear his voice, now thick
with drink, now thrill with terrible fear
-as he pleaded with her 70 hide him
and to save him She had been merci-
fully numb with the horror of il then;
consumed only with the desire to hold
those men at bay long enough for Mac.
Pherson to bring help. and it was that
desire which gave her the strength to
| drag the heavy bulk OF her husband up
the two flights of stairs into the little
cupola at the top.
She could feel again the sting OF the
cold dawn wind against her face as she
stepped out on the platform of rough
boards and dropped the inert figure OF
her husband at her feet
Then with all the eloquence of her
great fear she had pleaded with the
mob to 20 away. They had seemed all
eyes floating on a great pool of black
ness against the snow as she looked
down. but later she could see the grim
mouths below the eyes and knew that
her leas were falling on deaf ears.
Finally one who seemed to be the ring
leader had stepped forward and cried;
Where Is your husband? 1t is he that
we want to talk to-" And she had lied
and said. He is sleeping"
They muttered ominously at that and
again the rlngleader spoke: I'VE have
no quarrel with you,y Mrs. Page. but no
drunkard who strikes his daughter and
drives her insane shall stay in this town
Dan Page has got to go"
HE will, he will" she promised wildly.
I'm take him away today. He didn't
mean to hurt us-he didn't know what he
was doing But he'll go away-oh,
promise that" And again the grim voice
answered her:
Hell SO. but we'll see him off. Let
him stand up like man and talk to us
At that they all took up the shout for
Page. and he, lying on his face on the
boards. moaned and prayed TO the God
he had long forgotten 10 save him.
How long she talked and urged and
wept and pleaded Mrs. Page herself did
not remember. but somehow she had
held them-still threatening-still omi-
nous--tln far down the road she saw
a small speck that she knew was an
approaching sleigh with two figures in IT.
At sight OF II she had forgotten every
thing except an infinite relief. and cry
ing In her Joy had sped downstairs. leav-
ing Dan Page still huddled in the windy
cupola
ITO Be Continued tomorrow