The Elbert County tribune., 1917-06-15

pangs she would have had to endure
as the wife of Freneau. for he had all
the graces and none of the seventies
of character. Gloria had known only
his charms when she saw him muir
dered before her window. She had a
long battle to persuade her people that
she even saw the deed. Her doctor,
Stephen Royce, persisted In declaring
that what she witnessed was the fic-
ton of her Imagination.
With great difficulty she had learned
a few truths. She had overtaken
TraslS only to be told that she had bet
ter let him go since his confession
would involve her brother David. She
had refused to believe that David had
taken justice into his own hands, and
Hike an ancient Indian hired brave
to assassinate his enemy. Trask alone
could clear David of that charge or
fasten 1t on him. And Trask had vnn-
ished.
Doctor Royce had done all he could
to keep Gloria from piercing the veil
about the crime. But now that she had
learned a part of Freneau's duplicity,
truth. He was eager to know 1t him
self.
When she told him that Trask had
been Carried off, he said: "They can't
carry him far without killing him. lie
is doomed anyway, I'm afraid. We
must find him soon or there will be
nothing to find"
He spoke truth that Trask himself
was beginning to realize. The human
frame is not built to serve as buffer
between yachts and barges, and
Trasks frame was wrecked within his
flesh by his accident. His fear of JUS
tlce had made him consent to the eff
fort to escape from the Stafford house,
but the judges automobile had not
gone far when he was compelled to
beg that 1t run more slowly. Finally 1t
grew plain to him that he was about
to escape from earthly judgment and
punishment altogether. He had moth
ing to fear from the police or the wear
ers of the black robe. He began to fear
the more what higher courts awaited
him. He dared not enter those tribu-
nails with burden on his soul.
Suddenly he felt that Gloria, who
had been his tormentor and his enemy,
wns one person on earth who could
give him comfort. He began to
cry out that he wanted to be taken
back to her. Jed and Nell and the
chauffeur thought him mad, but they
were afraid of him. He held the un-
canny weapon of the power to die
| oil ha dx-inu ,l, Mo-,
said, as he checked the car and began
to turn 1t round. He had super
stitious fear of thwarting a mans last
wish. He was not afraid of anything
else, but he was in panic lest Trask
should die in his car. He paid little
heed to Trask's groans and made all
speed to the Stafford home.
Royce had just taken Gloria into his
car to set forth on a hunt for Trask
when Judge Freeman's motor brought
! him back. Judge Freeman saw the
meeting and he was covered with
chagrin. He saw that Gloria recog-
nized his chauffeur, and she threw him
a look of reproach. but she was too
much absorbed in Trasks needs to re-
proach him.
To Gloria's astonlshment, when
Trask was lifted from the car he did
not glare at her, but put his hand out
to her.
Hes got lot he wants to tell you,"
Nell explained.
Royce motioned for one of the re-
clining chairs to be brought from the
sun parlor and Trask was placed in it.
When they started to take him into the
house, however, he shook his head and
moaned: mo, no; leave me out under
the sky over where there's flowers"
1t is strange how the suffering of an
enemy pleads and prays for him.
Gloria was distracted with sympathy
for Trask. and her heart ached for
him as for an old friend In distress.
She had the servants carry him to a
flower-walled nook where the breeze
was spicy and there was shade with
out gloom.
Judge Freeman watched the group
and an idea came to him. He stepped
into the house and motioned to Pier
pont Stafford's secretary to bring his
note pad and pencils.
as it dictation?" the secretary
asked.
Yes" said the judge. "but it's be-
yond mine. It's possibly the final
statement of dying man and 1t may
have legal Importance"
He led the secretary back of the
arbor, where he could hear without
being seen. The secretary did moi
relish such eavesdropping, but the
Judge kept him to the work.
There was some delay In making
Trask as easy as possible, and Royce
sent for his medicine case that he
might keep him from u sudden col
lapse. Trask grew impatient with the