Grand Forks herald., 1918-10-28
4 CHAPTER 1s-t tContinued.) y

CHAPTER 1s-t Continued.)
She took back the empty cup with
trembling hands. and watched him
lest he complain Of the flavor. But
either it had proved .tasteless or he
had not noticed, and presently he got
up and began to, amuse himself with
pack Of greasy cards, and >the long,
airless morning began to drag out its
weary length.
The hoarse little alarm-cloc licked
with the relentlessness of Fate, nerv-
ously seemingly irregularly. Pearl
felt that it was like the beating of her
own heart. Sometimes 1t seemed as
though the hours were centuries
long; sometimes that they passed like
moments irretrievably lost. The
room, the whole situation became
the scene in play, or some trouble
which concerned another person, and
to which she had loaned her body as
a puppet to complete the characters
Yet deep in her consciousness burned
the driving need OF the peril, dnd the
fierce determination to win-to ac-
complish her end at any cost. She
had become like a panther watching
herr prey, and every move that Red
made she followed with her burning
eyes. wondering.
At quarter after twelve he stretch.
ed himself luxuriously, and pushed
aside the cards. Her heart leapt with
relief when he yawned and shook his
tousled head. -
"Gee!" said he. Gee! But I'm
sleepy! Think Til go out and get a
can. Wake me up little"
Cant GO for you?" she offered.
mot muchm .he snapped. "1've got
Then he left, and for moment
she looked at the door as he locked
1t behind him. Telephones! Oh God!
That meant those men, their final in
structions! She covered her face with
her hands and moaned. What was
Red saying over the phone? But such
horrors We're eating up precious time
fort, she got down couple of mugs
from the little shelf which held the
scant supply of crockery, and care
fully grinding all the remaining lit
tie pellets from her box to fine pow
der, she enptied it into the larger OF
them. &
When Red returned he had, ac-
cording to premise, a can of foamine
beer and a package of food. The lat.
ter he permitted Pearl to relieve him
of. pouring the beer himself and
handing her the smaller mug.
"Ah. go on, take it, kid" he urged
her. It's nice and cool, and this is
one hell of a hot day." =
He toasted her, then, and wiped hif
lips.
Poor stuff he remarked GROSSLY
gathering up the cards anew. and
lighting a cigarette. Then he looked
at her as she, crouched against the
mantel, watching him with fascinat.
ed eyes.
"Whatcha staring at. d-n you.'
he said, lazily. Don't worry >abou,
that job. It's only business after all
and there'll be a lot of loose .coir
floating around after tomorrow.J tina,
you'll be glad to use. And AIM
stingy. Gee! I feel sleepy. Must be
the heat, guess!" /
He arose languidly and took off hi.
Gaat, transferring the door-key to hit
tfouser pocket as was his custom
Then he stretched out on the bed.
Hurry the eats along, adda girlie,'
he yawned. you can set 'em out to.
day." and rolled over on the side ir
which he had placed the Key. Once
there. it was safe, he boasted, for nj
one could lay hands on him withou
rousing him instantly
Pearis hands were cold and wet a:
she clasped them, watching hin
tensely. Five minutes went by ant
still the man on the bed lay like log
she glanced nervously at the clock
tlfteen minutes past one! She scarce
~ dared to breathe, much less t.
move, but her knees suddenly refused
TO support her, and perforce she Nsanl
into the nearest chair her gaze rivet
ed to the mstionless figure on the bed
rive minutes passed thus in ute
silence. Another five minutes, an,
another, and still neither figur
moved. Both might have been trans
nxed by some mysterious power. rh
clock on the mantel gave a littl
splutter and jerk as it passed tn
nalf-hour mark, and still Pearl di,
not move. Out In the }maelstrom o
| the city beyond these narrow walls
the clamor of life roared and bluster
ed rudely beneath the pitiless pail o
heat. The sun was obscrured b,
clouds of dust, and the haze Of snok
OF a windless July day. Faint sign
and sounds of these found their wa,
| into the little room, but only vaguely
It seemed to he hung, detached, in
space of its own. ....
| Another quarter hour and Pear
arose cautiously, speaking the man
name.
Red" she said. He did not stir
Red" she said again, louder thi
spoke. ~ 20 o.
He did not respond. 50 she laid
hand on his shoulder. shaking hin
gently. He rolled over Imply at he
touch, and she started at the sudde,
sight OF his face. It was wax-like. tn
mouth Slightly open. -
MY God! I've killed him." sh,
whispered frantically. feeling for hi
heart. It was beating rhythmicali,
though family. and She breathe;
again; she had not wanted that. The,
she rolled him over. going through hi
pockets swiftly and thoroughly. Th,
key! There it was: And money;
Wherever Red had get the roll Of Hill
she had surprised him counting. the,
were not in evidence now. He ha,
apparently concealed them elsewhere
Tor his pockets yielded only a sma1
amount Of silver-less than fifty cent
IN all. But she took this, and glance,
once more at the clock. Twenty min
utes past two! There was no time 4
lose. Even now she might be too lat
II Adam had set out earlyA witho,,
SO much as further look at the IN
conscious Red sho eos +ho