Charlevoix county herald., 1918-10-11

and drew forth an old-fashioned locket
OF silver. With her eyes fastened on
Reich, she pried 1t open. extended II
in her hand, and thrust 1t before him.
do you know herr" she Kissed.
Reich gave one glance at what she
held and drew back as from a threat
ened menace.
His eyes stared from their sockets,
and he shrank with peculiar cring-
Ing motion as though confronted by
ghost! If ever a mans face held the
stamp of guilt, his did at that mo-
ment. Yet he said no word.
Lucille laughed harshly.
mo need to answer" she began,
speaking in fierce, gloating- accents.
your face Is enough to condemn you.
No need Cor you to say that you rec
ognize the face of little Laura Foote
Of San Francisco, whom you betrayed
to her death three years ago; of little
Laura Foote, whom you taught to love
you, as you did this girl, and betray-
ed as you did her; of the little woman
you trapped and turned over to your
companions after you had won the
faith and trust of her heart-Homer
Richmond; of the same little heart she
stabbed when she found out that she
was lost; Of the little girl who died
rather than meet the fate to which
you had led her, even as this girl said
tonight that she meant to die.
"You say that we don't know you
are not Homer Reich. It doesn't mat
ter. know you are the man who be-
trayed this girl here three years ago,
and were then known as Homer Rich
mond. l knew you the minute ! saw
you In the hotel at Salt Lake three
days ago. knew you after the whole
three years-because-Pd been hunt.
ing you all the time-hunting you and
praying that I might find you-pray-
Ing every night that might find you,
since the day leaned over the cold,
white face Of my little dead sister, and
swore to Almighty God chat I'd find
you, If He gave ms life and strength!
sand the other day found you and
spoke to you and you never suspected.
Then knew that God had heard my
prayer and given you into my hands.
Since then have played my part and
watched the coils of the web as they
gathered about you. And / gloated.
Great God, how gloated while I wait
ed! And waited in order that your
latest victim might be saved before I
struck.
"You, Homer, Richmond, or Reich,
or whatever you call yourself, sent my
sister to her death, but you left behind
you a picture upon which you had
written a message of love to her in
your own hand. The very same words
you wrote on the picture you gave to
this little girl who sits here now
Your loving Honer!' Do you re-
member? You wrote them on Laura's
picture Of you, and you wrote them on
the one you gave to Lilly Lawton and
the writing is the same. There is the
last link Of the chain to bind you-anS
prove you the man you are.
TITS taten a long time, Homer, bus
my hour mas come-after three years!
Your action robbed me of my sister
and made me the woman I am. Your
action put me into the business I've
followed for the last three years.
They've been long three years full
OF hardship and horror and hope de-
ferred, but they're past, and tonight
Is worth all they have cost-because
at last I have you as I've prayed to
get you! After three years-after
three years-Pve kept my oath!"
Her voice rose to something ap-
preaching scream-and broke. For
a minute she stood with clenched
hands, gasping. Then by an effort
controlled her emotions and drew a
long breath.
THAT was the page in my past of
which spoke. Mr.. DUAL" she said
quite calmly. There is no doubt that
this man is the Harold Richmond men,
toned in your dispatch"
Reich sat utterly Collapsed pitt
full object-beside McKabe. Not once
since Lucille had thrust the picture OF
her sister before him had he moved or
attempted to speak. Utterly cowed-
utterly beaten down by the tearing |
away Of the veil from his soul-he
half sat, half lay in his seat, his chest
heaving in short, shallow panting-all
vestige of resistance wiped from his
being; utterly bound in the web OF
fate into which he had so unwittingly |
cast himself.
Sheldon gave him glance and
turned to me.
HE fooled me-fooled me silly!"
he said in a tone Of complaint. He
fooled me an Green an Lilly, but by
the Lord, he didn't fool Semi Dual!
That mans a wonder! My hats off
to him! Thar, thar, little gal, don't
cry. Good Lord, but you're lucky,
after ALI"
Connel broke in, addressing Reich:
Richmond, have you anything you
want to say?"
Homer made no response, and the
captain spoke to McKabe:
II fancy we hold him on about two
counts. Take him and the woman
away"