Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-08
Anna Katharine Green.

His tormentors went no further.
Why harass him for an item Of knowl-
tainly bring to light. Instead. they
hurried through the remaining formali-
ties adding to the reading already
maze d h sapitulation Of such answers
as ne mad given to their questions, and
witnessing while he signed both
papers.
This DONE he was left for a moment
IN peace, while the two officials drew
asloe into the embrasure of the VIM
DOW Tor a momentary conference.
He seemed to notice the hush, for he
reused from the torpor into which he
was again about to sink. and glanced
cautiously about him. The stenographer
was busy with his papers, and the other
two stood with their backs to him. II
help was to come it must come now,
This he realized, with a sudden craving
of his face which took from it the last
vestige of that youthfulness which had
been Its Distinguishing feature; and the
finger which had fumbled from time to
time in his vest pocket stole thithef
once more, bringing forth a little vial
which In another moment he raised to
his lips.
Was there no one to see? No one tc
No. the stenographer was closing up
his bag; and the two officials deep in
conversation. He could drain the last
drop unseen.
But the sound Of the little vial crash
Ing upon the hearthstone, whittier no
had flung it. broke the quiet and startled
the district attorney forward in doubt
bordering upon terror. =.
:. What is that?" he asked. pointing to
the fragments that had just missed the
1T contained oblivion" was the an.
sWer given him in steady tones. do
you wonder that I sought 1t? Nothing
can save me. have two minutes be.
fore me. ! would dedicate them to
His head fell forward on his hands.
The clock on the mantel struck. Could
1T be that when the second hand had
circled its small disk TWICE
This was the thought Of the dis
Inspector. lie had advanced to the
desk where Mr. Roberts was still SIT
ting, and remarked with gravity
exceeding any he had hitherto shown:
pointment for YOU. This little Vial
Of yours which held poison yesterday
contained nothing but few drops Of
harmless liquid today. The change
picious Of your intention. You viii
have to face. the full consequences Of
your crime"
Carleton Roberts arms collapsed
and his face fell forward upon them.
and very different sound broke upon
their ears. Seven clear calls from
the cuckoo clock rang out from the
room beyond, followed by woman's
smothered cry.
1t was the one ironic touch the sit
uation had lacked. 1t pierced the
heart of Carleton Roberts and started
him In anguish to his feet.
20 God!" he cried. that 7 should
have let that thing Of evil shrek out
the wicked hours from day to day, only
to torment her now with old remem-
brances! Why did I not crush it to
hanging on my wall"
With a dash he was in the hall.
In another instant he was at the door
Of his bedroom, followed by the two
officials crowding closely UP behind
him.
Would they find her there? Yes;
where else should she be, she whom
this call from the past might almost
draw from the grave! She was there
but not in the spot where they had
of collapse of which her former weak
ness had given promise. Apart from
Mr.. Gryce, with her form drawn up
to its full height she stood. with her.
finger pointing not at the cuckoo
clock as would seem most natural.
but at small newspaper print of the.
dead girls face pinned up on another
wall.
"Why is that here?' she cried in a
passionate inquiry which ignored
every other presence than that of him
who must heed and answer her.
Carleton. Carleton, why have you
pinned that young girls face up OPP
posite your bed where you can see
1t on waking, where 1t can look at
you and you at it-=Or-" here
checked by a sudden thought she
broke off. and her tone changed to
one Of doubt, perhaps you, did not
put it there yourself? Perhaps it's
B., presence ,on your wall Is trick Of
the police to startle you into betrayal.
Was it2 Was it?", :
mo. Ermentrude." The words came
slowly but. firmly. 1T put it there my.
self 1 thought it would haunt me
less than If left to my imagination.''
Then in a low tone. which perhaps
reached no other ears than hers:
Il do not know what 1t does to me,
or what see in it. Something be.
sides youth and beauty. Some-
flush" She had him by the arm.
forget, it; these men are listen
But with a convulsive movement,
he broke from her hold, and In SO do
ing his eyes fell on mirror con-
fronting him from the opposite side
OF the room Two faces were visible
In It, his own and that of his young
victim pictured in the print hanging
on the wall behind him. They seemed
alive. Both of them seemed alive. and