Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-01-20
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f. ROMANCE
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RUPERT HUGHES

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planning that she did not feel ready
for sleep. IL was the nurse who was
drowsy after he long strain of
Gloria's illness.
Richards put out all the lights save
the one shaded lamp by the bedside,
and hen she must have dozed, for the
text thing she knew was that her ears
were throbbipg and ler nerves jang-
ling with the wiz. slamor OF Gloria's
screams.
Fol an instant the nurse was too
Mortified to move. then as her wits
returned TO her the fact that the voice
was Gloria's penetrated TO her con
seriousness. Gloria, indeed. was tug
ging at her and crying TO her inco
herently. Then she tainted as her
father rushed In in his dressing gown.
He and Miss Richards lifted the girls
body 10 the bed. Then Richards
reached for the telephone to call Doc,
tor Royce. blaming herself bitterly
the while for having slept at her post.
Doctor Royce vas not at homo. His
secretary promised 10 send him the
moment he returned. The nurse did
what she could.
Turning to the bed she was clutched
by the cropping hands Of Gloria She
heard her cry: ut
Save him. save him. father; they've
murdered him. Let me go TO him,
oh. Dick. Dick"
Richards held the frantic girl tight
In her arms and tried TO soothe her
as she struggled 10 rise from the bed
again. But the ayes that looked into
hers were almost those Of a maniac,
and the nurse signed to the distracted
father to help her. Gloria was shrek
ing now as she found renewed
strength:
There. there. look, Look down by
he steps OF the monument Dick is
lying there. ] tell you they've killed
him. Oh. my God. why don't you 20
TO him instead Of holding me here?"
With one supreme effort she
wrenched herself free from the two,
only to be mercifully seized with an.
other fainting spell. Swooning for
ward, her face would have been
dashed against the footboard OF her
bed had not Richards recaptured her
in her arms. AT last Doctor Royce
appeared in the doorway. His foot
struck the binoculars. which still lay
on the floor where they had fallen
from Gloria's hand. He started back
from them, looked towards the pros.
trate Gloria. and. STOPPING swiftly.
thrust the glasses into his pocket with
what sounded to Richards much Ike
an oath. Then he came forward to
Gloria. taking her from her fathers
arms.
Gloria opened her eyes again and
stared INTO the doctors own with an
other outcry:
You will believe me and 20 to him.
won't your
Reason seemed to return to her
now. and her eyes were overlooking
with tears. Her father had to turn
his " away. for Gloria's made him
think OF a child torn from It's mother
and beaten and pleading. When Doc
tor Royce spoke his voice was hoarse
with emotion:
Gloria, you know that I would give
my life TO spare you u pain or to
do you any service. bur remember
that 0 are still very Ill. that any
further excitement might be fatal to
you. You have a high fever and are
not yourself. You are a very sick
child. Tell me what ia troubling you
and what frightened you and ! will do
anything can TO help you"
Gloria seemed to be holding herself
under extreme control as IL to con.
vince them OF her sanity.
"Oh. Stephen. you must believe. I
tell you saw il all-from the window
here. But there Is no time to lose.
You must go TO him. Dick Freneau
Is dead! Murdered, His body Is
down there at the base of the monu-
ment.
Miss Richards was sleeping. /
couldn't. | looked through my glasses
on the drive. | turned them towards
the monument. 1 saw a man in eve
ming dress lettering about | couldn't
see his face. he seemed TO be wait.
ing for someone. A policeman went
by. The man stepped behind the mon.
ument till the officer had gone. Then
he came out again. He took a revol
yer from his pocket. Then he walked
away az a tramp came along.
- saw the tramp-a slouching crea-
ture with o hideous face-a face |
shall never forget. ! saw IL plainly
under the light OF the lamps as he
dropped on a bench. But thought
nothing OF him and turned my glasses
down the drive.
i saw a man stop to light a cigar.
IL was Dick. / was surprised. !
thought he would have been on the
train. He seemed TO look up at my
windows. Then he walked on. |
turned my glasses back to the tramp.
l saw a terrific look come over his
face, under the lamp-post-as he saw
Dick approaching | wanted 10 scream
q warning, but he was too far away.
saw the tramp skulk behind a tree.
.,"As Dick passed him the tramp
leaped on him from behind. There