Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-05-03
from the pocket long envelope with

from the pocket long envelope with
seals on the back.
1t was the very envelope that
saw in Dicks pocket tonight as he
said good-by to me. l recognized il
perfectly, for l laughingly asked him
what important business it contained
and he grabbed it from my hand SC
quickly that it startled me. / know
it was the same-this mau held UP
the envelope to the light to make
sure of it, then put it in his pocket
Then l found my voice and screamed
and screamed. And then | don't know
what happened.
But, oh, Stephen, go 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 so that
she fell back exhausted on the pill
lows.
Doctor Royce did not go to her. He
was at the window, staring through
the binoculars. He seemed to be
greatly astounded, then he said: 81
can see the place perfectly; there liz
nothing there
Gloria screamed: But ! saw him
killed: / tell you! He must be there!"
Doctor Royce handed the binoculars
to Mr. Stafford.
MIR. Stafford, do you see anything?"
Pierpont stared through the glasses
and shook his head: VIZ
Nothing"
He passed the glasses to Miss Rich
ards. She also shook her head, then
exclaimed: "A policeman is COM
ing up the drive-he is passing right
across the spot-he didn't stopl"
Gloria saw this herself and won
dered If 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 so. You have sim.
ply been delirious and imagined these
things. But to satisfy you l will go
over there at once-if you will prom.
ise to lie quietly here ON your bed.
And try to believe that it is all
hideous nightmare-until l come back
to assure you that it is--will your"
Gloria nodded her head to him, un.
able to speak, but it seemed to Rich.
ards that the doctors assurance had
no effect upon her and that she held
herself in 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 me the glasses. | must look
again"
Together they strained their eyes
towards the monument She felt ev
cry nerve and muscle of Gloria's body
taut strung beneath her hands. And
she likened 1t to a bow. Gloria's soul
was the arrow and it was ready at
any moment to speed on it's swift and
terrible journey.
She felt the agony as if it had been
her own. The not knowing was the
most terrible part CT it, 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 a thing was almost impossible
and that Gloria's fever would fully &C
count for it all.
They watched the monument. The
doctor appeared there shortly and
walked about the empty spot, signal
ling to the window what he had said
before.
There is 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 it
thrown off by the girl as she shrilled
in weak voice: Loosen his collar
he's choking Dick-Dick-it' all
right now, dear; they shant 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 the doctors step on
the landing brought her grateful re-
lief. He came in with a emile on his
face. Going at once to the bed, he
took Gloria's hand to feel her pulse.
Richards said: she is delirious
now, doctor, completely so. Did you
find anything?"
There was nothing there" but the
I X Z