Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-01-12

can't tell. you. You must trust me.
Robert. We've loved each other ali
these years; believed in each other
You're everything that life means to
me-you and Doris. We're going away
together now to begin a new life. Per-
haps some day when we are in our
new home I'll tell you, but not now.
You've always believed in me. Be
lieve in me now"
Strickland strove desperately TO calm
himself, but the effort failed. He eX
claimed:
Il do; / do! But there's one thing
YOU must tell me. What have you
been to Trask?"
The woman on the sofa shuddered
and buried her face in her hands She
tried to speak. but the words would
not come. She tried to raise her eyes
TO meet those of her husband. but a
power outside of her held back her
head. She could not look into the face
of the man who was bending over her
begging. pleading for a full eXplana-
tion from her. Her soul revolted
against the confession which he seem
ed determined TO wiring from her.
For a full minute they were speech
less. Then he turned from her, rush
ed to the table. drew from the bag the
revolver which Doris had dropped
therein. at his bidding, but short time
before, and ran from the room. In
moment the banging of door tod
rhat he had left the home that had
been SO happy.
May Strickland half sat. half lay on
the sofa, with her head resting on her
arms and her body shaken by sobS
The nerve wrecking scene had exhaust
ed her mentally and physically, ana
for n few minutes she could not rise
Her sobbing was not loud. but was dis
tinct, and it shook her body from head
to foot. At last the dreaded siGnifi-
canoe of her husbands actions reveal
ed itself TO her. and she rose with Il
scream:
Hes gone! He's gone! If he finds
him he'll kill him! His whole life W.
be ruinedr'
The words spoke eloquently of her
devotion to her husband. No thought
now of her own ruined life-only that
of her husband lying in ashes.
She rushed to the telephone and seized
the receiver, at the same time calling
excitedly into the transmitter:
"HellO, hello! Give me 1872 River =
Again a telephone call rang in the
home of Gerald Trask that night.
Before central could reply to May
Strickland's frantic request for "1S2
River her daughter Doris rushed into
the room from the adjoining bedroom
The child cried:
"Oh. mamma, I'm afraid. I'm afraid!
The mother took her in her arms
''Oh. my darling! My baby! My little
girl. Hello. hellO!'
Doris Strickland had told the story
of the tragic last night in her home.
All the courtroom-judge, jurymen, al
torneys, attendants. spectatOrs-had lis
tened SpellbOund to the child. She was
a bright yOungster and had required
but little leading by David Arbuckle.
Several times District Attorney Gray.
jealous of the interests Of his client.
the sovereign people, had objected to
questions put TO the child by Arbuckle
on the ground that they were leading
questions and therefore calculated to
bring out the answers which the at
torney wanted. But Judge DinsmOre
had ruled that the age of the child was
such that latitude must be allowed Ia
the attorney for. the defense.
Even the Judge himself, learned.
grave, stern and impartial, had been
favOrably impressed by the child's
manner on the stand and had smiled
at her. thereby encouraging her 10 go
on with her story even when she was
tired
Now. however, the limit of the chid'S
strength seemed to have been reached
and she sobbed in childish yearning fol-
a mothers comforting presence. Alas.
that mother had not been found III
spite of diligent search by prosecution
and defense. Was she alive or dead:
No one knew. Had she sought relief
in voluntary death, and had her body
gone the way tdhGll Uy ~ AIltlAAa AAlN
weary women in New YOrk-the way
of the cold green tides leading down
the river. through the bay and into the
limitleSS ocean?
1t was for her mamma that little
! Doris cried:
Mamma. Mamma. I'm afraid! I'm
afraid
Arbuckle soothed the little one.
Don't cry Doris. | won't be much
longer Whom did your mother call up?'
Mr.. Trask Bur he wasn't there"
How 90 You know he wasn't there?"
Because mamma said il will ca4
again.
Then what did size do
she cried and walked ur and down
the room and said lots Of terrible
things"
What did she Say?"
"eXVbv difnn-t fell him? IgLy