Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-08-26
THE WHITE
FEATHER

CONIlNUED fhOM ttrCLi'lNp Ihuh
moments OF all. he did his best to
comfort her by dint Of stern calm
rather than by any consolation. Two
soldiers stood just behind him and two
more were at the door
Molly did not attempt to pass them,
but stood looking in. She was almost
past horror. 1t seemed to her by now
that "a nightmare had become the
usual mode OF life. Miriam was al
ready beside the doctor on the other
side of the bed. Chris stood by the
window, looking out of it. lie felt the
long drawn painfulness of the scene
rather as Charles did-as an inflicton
that had to be borne. But altho the
dying woman had been Charles cont
panion, II was Chris who was the more
moved by the signt. 1t Was hol
pleasant death, not the quiet ana IN
evitable drawing to the full OF one
who dies in due time, but rather
sudden and violent disruption or the
life tissues. Everything that was sor-
did and ugly in the work of spies
seemed concentrated and fused in the
stiffening figure on tho bed.
Charles and his mother were both
In their different ways-his clear-cut
and positive, hers muddled and hope
less-aware that all the Glamor ana
glory had been stripped OFF their eX-
plots No one engaged in what was
glorious would have been driven 10
'end like fraulein; that was the bare
fact. and there was no getting away
from il. Even the silent soldiers post
ed about the room were dimly con-
sclous that the excitement and inc
thrill of the spy hunt had dwindled to
terrible drabness. There seemed no
glory on their side, either. only un-
pleasant necessity.
Suddenly more violent CONFUSION
than ever before jerked fraulein's
body up upon the bed, and In that mo-
nert her distorted, passionate spirit
passed. A..
window to come to the beds foot, was
conscious of an immeasurable. feel;ng
OF relief, as tho a heavy weight Whlch
had been pressing on all or them IN
that house was lifted. he became III
a moment the man of decisive acton
again. In low, quick voice he or
dcrod the removal of Charles, and as
he himself conferred with the doctor
and the inspector he saw out or the
corner of his eve that Miriam was at
/ tending to Mrs Sanderson.
"She had better be taken down 10
the police station" he ordered, ~ ou
can't possibly sit up any longer, Miri-
warder with her. Corporal, you take
Herr Won Mantel with you. You have
got the bomb, haven't you?'
"It's waiting outside in bucket OF
water, sir"
"Verv we'll. that's all then. Tell the
colonel I'll come down and see MIN IN
the morning." A.,
wall OF the corridor as Won Mantel
with his guards passed along It, foi-
lowed by Mrs. Sanderson between
Miriam and the inspector. Then chris
came to the door of the room. Inc
LIGHT was behind him, so That ms
figure showed dark, but even so sne
could see by the sudden droop OF IT
how worn out he looked. Her braIn
Registered the fact unconsciously' tho
raturaIlv at that moment the stark
horror Of what she had seen possessed
her to the exclusion of everything
else. She ran toward him with fran
tic cry. ,hod
Take me out Of this or l shall go
mad. o, Chris, Christ"
"Why. Molly what did you come up
for? How wrong OF you! You poo,
child" and, putting his arms around
her. Chris picked her up bonHy. s
let her head fall on his shoulder
but still clung to him tensely. You
must go to bed, Molly" went on Chris.
"No, no." she begged, don't send
me to bed. can't bear 1t. l shant
ever sleep"
"But what shall I DO with you:
sweetheart? I am dead beat myself
Molly had the first moment OF
genuine inspiration of her life. Put
me down a minute Chris she whis-
pered, and, running to the big win
dow at the end of the corridor, she
pulled aside the heavy curtains.
cold. pure, gray light suffused the
passage, the first breath OF dawn. me
garden still lay dark, but beyond 1t
the sea glimmered palely and a line
of gold cleaned at the rim.
Lets go out, Chris" said Molly,
"iust for a few moments. Look at
the sky and the sea, 1t all looks so
clean"
Brent turned her face up toward
his and scrutinized 1t In the wan light.
Even Mollys triumphant prettness
showed signs of weariness; there
were dark marks under her eyes and
she was very pale, but Chris thot he
had never seen her look so pretty,
or. rather, more than pretty. This
was indeed Undine after she had
found her soul; but, as he looked, he
gave n SlSH 10 INC ioNtiy thotiSS'hNS"
that was gone.
All he said. with the absurdly boy
ish note in his voice she had always
liked. was: molly, darling, how
frightfully clever of you! Come along,
before anybody catches us" He took
her hand and together they fastened
down the stairs In the hall he in
sisted on muffllng her up in big
coat. Then they went across the
veranda into the garden. The lawn
was covered with innumerable twin
king points of dew and the glossy
leaves Of the laurel shone bright The
shrill, confused chirping Of the birds
came from the elm trees. Chris and
Molly went to the little gate that led
on to the cliff path and stood there
looking over the sea. The destroyers
had gone; nothing remained to tell
of the events of the night before, and
the slowly Frightening sea looked as
innocent of war as the quiet English
garden in which they stood.
Chris caught Molly to him.
Dear little sweetheart" he said.
"The nightmares over. Look up at
me-"
"I-I-can't," said Molly. II feel