The state herald., 1917-03-30

nom The pocket . lons snvslops witl
seals on the hack.
1T was the very envelope that !
saw IN Dicks pocket tonight a. he
said good-by to me. / recognised II
perfectly. for laughingly asked him
what important business It contained
and he grabbed It from my hand 30
quickly that It startled me. / know
1t was the same-this man held up
the envelope to the light to make
sure Of 1t, then put It in his pocket.
Then / found my voice and screamed
and screamed. And then don't know
what happened.
"But, oh, Stephen. 30 over there
now at once. Bring him back here
dead or alive and tell me the truth!
promise to be brave. but tell me the
truth-tell me the truth"
Her sobs choked her now 90 that
she fell back exhausted ON the pill
lows.
Doctor Royce did not 20 to her. He
was at the window. staring through
the binoculars. He seemed to be
greatly astounded, then he said: Il
can see the place perfectly; there u
nothing there"
Gloria screamed: "But I saw him
killed; tell you'll He must be there!"
Doctor Royce handed the binoculars
to Mr. STAFFORD.
"Mr. Stafford, do you see anythingf"
Pierpont stared through the glasses
and shook his head:
Nothing" E
He passed the glasses to Miss Rich.
ards. She also shook her head. then
exclaimed: "A policeman II COM
ing up the drive-he 10 passing right
across the spot-he didn't stop!"
Gloria saw this herself and won
dered II she were truly mad. Doctor
Royce turned to Gloria, stroked her
hand, and spoke to her gently.
"There, there. Gloria, child. don't
torture yourself 20. You have sim
ply been delirious and imagined these
things. But to satisfy you will go
over there at once-if you will prom.
ise 70 lie quietly here on your bed.
And try 70 believe that It IL all .
hideous nightmare-until come back
to assure you that II twill your"
Gloria nodded her head to him. un-
able 70 speak. but II seemed to Rich
ards that the doctors assurance had
no effect upon her and that she held
herself b leash only until she could
get him out Of the room.
Then she turned to Miss Richards.
sobbing: Hold me. Miss Richards.
hold me up quickly to the window
first give mo the glasses. must look
again."
Together they strained their eyes
towsrds the monument. She felt ev-
cry nerve and muscle Of 0loria's body
taut strung beneath her hands. And
she likened II to bow. 0loria's soul
was the arrow and Il was ready at
any moment to speed ON its swift and
terrible Journey.
She felt the agony - II II had been
her own. The not knowing was the
most terrible part Of II, for Richards
seemed to feel more bewilderment
than the girl herself. Her instinct
and the girls conviction seemed to
point to the truth Of Gloria's vision;
yet her common sense told her that
such thing was almost impossible.
and that Gloria's fever would fully &C
count for It all.
They watched tho monument. Tho
doctor appeared there shortly and
walked about the empty spot, signal.
ling to the window what he had said
before.
There IL nothing here-nothing."
And then Gloria began to mutter:
Lay him down there"
She raised her arm and pointed to.
ward the chaise Tongue. Then her
arm dropped. Richards put her hand
ON Gloria's head. only TO have 1t
thrown OF by the girl a. she shrilled
in . weak voice: Loosen his collar
hos choking. Dick--Dick-it's all
right now. dear: they shan't touch you
again!"
Richards felt thrill Of Joy mingled
with pity go through her. This was
something she could understand at
last-this was delirium. Then the
rest must have been delirium. too?
The sound OF tho doctors step on
the landing brought her grateful re-
lief. He came In with . smile on his
face. Going at once To tho bed. he
took Gloria's hand to feel her pulse.
Richards said: 'She II delirious
now. doctor. completely 90. Did you
ind anything?"
There wns nothing there" but tho