The state herald., 1917-03-23

She Wanted That Picture.
pouring white glamour In her window.
The night nurse. sitting upright by her
bed. was sleeping soundly. sha had
won Morpheus because she was spurn.
ing him instead Of counting him.
Gloria determined to try the same
method herself.
Doctor Royce. who seemed to think
Of everything. had, during her illness,
made her q present OF . pair Of
binoculars. She had been able to
while away many tedious hours With
them watching the trafic ON the drive
and boats on the river.
Now she slipped into negligee and
slippers quietly, not to disturb he,
sleeping sentinel. She took up the
binoculars and moved to the window
The moon cast such . glow on the
river that she drew in deep breaths o,
delight. Tho columns of the monu
ment stood in the foreground like
marble trees clustered about q little
temple.
Suddenly her attention was caugh,
BY the curious behavior Of . man who
seemed to be skulking about the monu
ment. He had his hat pulled down
and his overcoat collar pulled up ant
she could not see his face. He wa
apparently waiting for someone. She
saw him take from his pocket some
thing that looked to her like . re
volver. Gloria was greatly excited
Before she could decide what to de-
the skulker walked away. She saw
another man come around the column
and crouch down for Q moment.
She put up the glasses to SEQ more
clearly. Tho hgure moved forward be
meath . street lamp and Gloria could
SEQ distinctly . Wild and bearded face
A shudder went through her: uncon
sciously she drew her robe close:
about her.
Turning her glasses down the drive
she saw third man approaching. He
looked vaguely familiar. Coming clos
or, he stopped to light cigar. 1t was
Freneau!
She realized II with establishment
She wondered II he had missed his
train. He saw that she looked out o.
her window. Before she could wave ts
him figure sprang from the shadows
and leaped upon Freneau. long hands
clutching his throat.
Gloria tried to cry out. she couis
not make . sound. subconsciousl.
her hands kept their grip on the binoc
ulars and held them to her eyes tha'
she might sec tho whole Of the tragic
spectacle.
Tho struggle that ensued seemed i'm
possibly unreal. Surely she was b
some hideous nightmare. But the hgh
went on. No policeman arrived to in
terfere. Then suddenly II was over
She saw Frencau's limp body fall Il
the ground. saw his enemy raise hii
hands toward the sky and then hurr,
away.
And still Gloria could not give vent
to her terror. she could only watch
helplessiy. Now the nrst man shs hat
soon came back along the drive. saw
rTuuehu uOuys kuott uUWu Vuickiy
and listened to his heart. Gloria was
sure that he would help her lover
She continued to case. though be,
strength was ebbinG away.
Instead Of rendering aid. the shad
owy figure began 10 ransack Frencaus
pockets. He found tho envelope Of lot
tors and put them In his own pocket
Then. startled By tho approach OF .
third man. ho also vanished.
Tho third man came on openly
Gloria fcit surc that she would either
waken from hcr nightmare or that aid
was At hand. She used all her will te
control hcr roeling senses.
Tho newcomer did not even SEQ Fro
ncau TIL he stumbled over the pros
tratc form. Ho knelt down by Il
seemed to bc ashast st recognition
Thcn he. too. began 10 search through
Frcncau's pockets. Then Gloria
screamed. Shrek after shrek burst
through tho silence Of tho Stafford
homo.
ITO pr CoNTiNuED)