The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-12-07
CHAPTER XXI.

| Toward nine o'clock on the follow
| ing morning John rose from fitfui
| sleep and looked around him. Even
before he could recall the events of
| the preceding night be felt that there
was weight pressing upon his brain,
| a miserable sense of emptiness in life,
| q dull feeling of bewilderment. Al
| though he had no clear recollection OF
getting there, he realized that ne was
in his own sitting-room, and that he
had been asleep upon the couch. He
saw, too, that 1t was morning, for
ray of sunlight lay across the carpet.
AS he struggled to his feet, he saw
with a little shock that he was not
alone. Sophy Gerard was curled up
in his easy chair, still in evening
clothes, her cloak drawn closely
around her, as if she were cold. Her
head had fallen back. She, too, was
asleep. At the sound of his move
ment, however, she opened her eyes
and looked at him for moment with
puzzled stare. Then she jumped to
her feet.
"Why, we have both been asleepi"
she murmured, little weakly.
At the sound of her voice it all came
back to him, a tangled, hideous night
mare. He sat down again upon the
couch and held his head between his
hands.
81 remember everything that hap
pened at the club" he went on slowly.
"Is the prince dead?
She shook her head.
"Of course notl He was hurt,
though, and there was a terrible scene
of confusion in the room. The people
crowded around him, and / managed,
somehow, to drag you away. The
manager helped us. To tell the truth,
he was only too anxious for you to
get away before the police arrived.
He was so afraid of anything getting
into the papers. I drove you back
here, and, as you still seemed stunned,
I brought you upstairs. I didn't mean
to stay, but I couldn't get you to say
a single. coherent word. I was afraid
to leave you aloneW
81 suppose 1 was drunk" he said.
in a dull tone. 81 remember filling my
glass over and over again. There is
one thing, though he added, his voice
gaining sudden strength Il was not
drunk when / struck the prince! l
remember those few seconds very dis
tinctly. I saw everything, knew ev-
erything, felt everything. If no one
had interfered, think 1 should have
killed him !"
'You were not drunk at all" she de-
clared, with a little SILVER, ''but you
were in a state of terrible excitement.
1t was a long time before l could get
you to lie down, and then you wouldn't
close your eyes until / came and sat
by your side. l watched you go to
sleep. I hope you are not angry with
mel / didn't like to go and leave
you"
''How could I be angry?' he pro-
tested. "You are far kinder to me
than I deserve I expect l should
have been in a police cell but for
you'll"
"And now," she begged, coming over
to him and speaking in a more mat
.er-of-fact tone, "do let US be prac-
-ical. 1 must run away, and you must
20 and have a bath and change your
clothes. Don't be afraid of your repu-
.ation. I can get out by the other en-
rance"
Remember" she whispered, "you
lave to go to see Louise! ~
lie covered his face with his hands.
whats the use of it?' he groaned.
It's only another turn of the screwI'
Don't be foolish, john" she adj
nonished briskly. you don't actual
Y know anything yet-nothing at all;