The Elbert County tribune., 1917-03-16

pouring white glamour in her window.
The night nurse, sitting upright by heI
bed, was sleeping soundly. She 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 present OF a pair oi
binoculars. She had been able to
while away many tedious hours with
them watching the traffic on the drive
and boats on the river
Now she slipped into a negligee and
slippers quietly, not to disturb heI
sleeping sentinel. She took up the
binoculars and moved to the window
The moon cast such a glow on the
river that she drew in deep breaths OF
delight. The columns of the monu
ment stood in the foreground like
marble trees clustered about a little
temple.
Suddenly her attention was caugh'
by the curious behavior of a man who
seemed to be skulking about the monu
and his overcoat collar pulled up ant
she could not see his face. He wal
apparently waiting for someone. Sh,
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 dc
the skulker walked away. She saw
another man come around the column
and crouch down for a moment
She put up the glasses to see more
clearly. The figure moved forward be
meath street lamp and Gloria could
see 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
er, he stopped to light cigar. 1t wai
Freneau!
She realized 1t with astonishment
She wondered If he had missed hif
train. He saw that she looked out Of
her window. Before she could wave tc
him figure sprang from the shadows
and leaped upon Freneau, long hands
clutching his throat.
Gloria tried to cry out She coule
not make sound. Subconsciousl.
her hands kept their grip on the binoc
ulars and held them to her eyes thai
she might see the whole of the tragic
spectacle.
The struggle that ensued seemed i'm
possibly unreal. Surely she was /,
some hideous nightmare. But the figb
went on. No policeman arrived to in
terfere. Then suddenly it was over
She saw Freneau's limp body fall ts
the ground, saw his enemy raise hi
hands toward the sky and then hurr,
away.
And still Gloria could not give ven
to her terror. she could only watch
helplessly. Now the first man she hat
seen came back along the drive, saw
FTeneau's body, knelt down quickly
and listened to his heart. Gloria wa,
sure that he would help her lover
sne continued to gaze, though heI
strength was ebbing away.
Instead Of rendering aid, the shad
owy figure began to ransack Freneau'f
pockets. He found the envelope of let
ters and put them in his own pocket
Then, startled by the approach of
third man, he also vanished.
The third man came on openly
Gloria felt sure that she would either
waken from her nightmare or that aid
was at hand. She used all her will tc
control her reeling senses.
The newcomer did not even see Ere
neau till he stumbled over the pros
trate form. He knelt down by IL
seemed to be aghast at recognition
Then he. too began to search through
Freneau's pockets. Then Gloria
screamed. Shrek after shrek burst
through the silence of the Stafford
home.