The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-10-26

do that. The train did not get into
New York until nearly six O'Clock.
Dared she delay that call so long a
time?
She took the calls slowly, making
him repeat several times, until his
voice was like a cannon roar with
anger. Then she set her teeth, folded
her arms and waited. Once she made
feint of receiving reports on the
calls ind after giving the bogus In
formation courteously to Captain
Henry recorded it on the back Of the
| tickets.
500 N. G. (no circuit).
$40 BY. (busy).
The girl beside her was watching
her curiously. How queer Jeanette
| Whipple was looking.
The fight was on. 27O called every
| other breath.
Jeanette tried to keep him good
natured.
| The intense strain was telling on
her. She tried to hold herself still
| and calm that she might think clearly.
She began to realize the terrible thing
that had happened. The agony OF 1t
Sink in slowly. Perhaps she would
wake up suddenly and find that she
| had been dreaming.
But 27O was grim reality. He was
calling again.
Then for over an hour she stub
bornly fought every inch Of the way.
CAPTAIN Henry was a big man and
smart one, but he could not manage
something he did not understand. He
had been obliged to wait for busy
wires. before this. 1t was nothing new
nor surprising. He never even
dreamed that this peculiar combina-
ton of busy wires, with other tech
meal terms that sounded perfectly
proper, even familiar, was due to
slip of q girl, one-quarter his age, IN
the central telephone office just four
blocks up the street.
The numbers danced before her
tired eyes. Her face was hot with the
excitement. But when six o'cloch
came she had just put up the con-
nection between 27O and New York.
She had won. She had done all she
could to save the man she loved.
She stumbled out Of her chair. She
was SO rigid she could scarcely move.
d She put on her hat and cloak with
stiff fingers. The girls seemed to shun
her, or was n her fancy? They must
know 1t, too Everybody must know 1t.
why, the world was full of 1t. Rich
ard was a murderer, flying for his life.
and vet, so strange and untrue 1t
seemed that, even as she said 1t, she
waited at the street door minute for
: his familiar figure. Then she started
home alone.
Oh, to know he was safe!
She caught her breath sharply and
; hurried on.
1t had evidently been raining. The
. dark was coming early. The mist chung
: to her skirts and dampened her hair
The electric light fiickered on lit
tie pools Of wind-swept water in the
! road.
Susan met her at the door, her kind
; sisterly face placid and smiling. Then
she started.
"Why. Jeanette dear. what has hap
.. penedT
But Jeanette could not speak. Some
.. thing was beating in her throat like @
mad thing. She brushed past her and
went in. Susan did not shut the door
jeanette heard her saying: "Have YOU
,, two been quarreling"
Who was Susan talking to? A mans
voice answered.
sIt does look like It," he said. "She
has been over block ahead Of me al
the way, going like a race horse"
"Richard!"
She turned back to the door ant
tried to call his name, but it was onl!
& gasp. Then he caught her.
I Sweetheart, has someone beer
frightening you? Why, Jeanette
Why, Jeanette-i"
With great effort she struggled
. out of the darkness that threatened tt
!. engulf her.
saThe murder, Richard, you"
He lifted her up into his arms and
Z cdrTvmE her III, SaiL uONh III AAA0 OA5
old-fashioned rocker with her.
"There, there, child. It's all right
jeanette. Nash Farnsworth shot Lath
!, rop, but. he is not going to die, though
. they thought he was at first. Did 20,
get 1t wrong? 1t was mixed at first
> In the excitement. Did they tell you i
: was Richard Nash who did 1t? FL:
; first name being my last one, and de
. scription being rather alike, did make
a little bother. He got away, I guess
Ii imagine he got that four. O'CLOCK
train. Why, little girl. you could nc
think 1t was I who shot him. coult
. your
+ And In the hush, while Susan go
supper, and the light from the fire
: played on the walls, the rocking chail
} swayed gently with Its burden, Will.
} she told him how she had played the
/ part of Fate to q man she never saw
II After she was quite herself agair
!, | he looked at her solemnly and SHOOK
his head.
ats just as the poets and phloso
. pners always tell u.s." he said. "a
f big door hangs on q little hinge. Il
J 4.s-r- (. xx-ov,,on RI fnol n nlnp cyery