Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-09-19
CHAPTER L.
The RiUer Holds Out It's Arms.

Dorothy stole down the stairs, cling
ing to the bannister, and shrinking back
into the shadows whenever an unex-
pected sound seemed to indicate the
approach of one Of the members of the
household. But nobody passed through
the hall below. and so at last she reached
it.
As she passed the mirror that hung
near the front door she caught a
glimpse Of her face, and, finchi1g,
closed her eyes to shut out the dread J.
r1l reflection. How recently she had
paused for a moment In front OF that
very mirror to admire her arrogant young
beauty.
Noiselessly she closed the front door
behind. her, and. as Ninette had done,
paused a moment. to think which way
she should turn. But for her there was
no question what destination she should
seek; she had stopped only 10 plan how
she should reach it,
The cold ram was still falling, and
the wind blew 1t straigh into the girl
face. Her cloak WIS soon dripping wet,
and the thin silk Of her negligee chung
in wet folds to her slender body.
Discomfort had always been ono Of
Dorothy's greatest aversions but to
night she was hardly aware OF it. Still
weak from her illness, she could move
but slowly. but she dragged herself on
through the shadowy streets, the
strength Of her purpose nerying her to
its fulfillment
She paused when she came TO the
river, and stared down at IL, where 1t
flowed sullenIy along under the beat OF
the rain. To her it seemed not kindly
as an aid In accomplishing her desire,
but rather some great. sluggish serpent,
wrlth1ng on In search OF what 1t might
devour.
II could still go back" she reminded
herself. turning away from the sight.
Il could go back and marry Peter" For
a moment she toyed with the thought
trying to picture what life might be tc
her. But always the thought of her
horrible sfgurement came back to her
afresh and she shuddered at the remem
brance-
She wondered what Peter would say
when he found out what had happened,
He would be sorry, she hoped. though
she knew that he did not love her
Well he would be free now to - to
NinetteI His sister would be glad, too
and so would Mrs. Crawford. They would
all pity her, Of course, but not le Of
them would really grieve over the traR-
edy Of her death. Dorothy told her
self.
AS she stood there, nerving herself
to take the final step, two men APP
preached. They were laughing and
chatting, and one paused only n fe w
PAGES away to light his pipe. And as
the match fared mp Dorothy slipped past
them and hurried down the steps to the
river.
The man stepped back suddenly as she
passed; she had gone on, swiftly as O
shadow, by the time he realized her
presence. Hastily he rejoined his com
panion.
whats the matter? You look as II
you'd seen ghot?" demanded the
other, as he turned UP his coat collar
against the wind.
81 don't know but what I did," was
the answer Though It looked to me
only like some human being going down
the steps 10 the river. Llsten-what
was that"
They listened for a moment, and the
ono who had seen Dorothy stepped to
the edge Of the walk and stared down
at the turgid stream below. But the
night was dark and so were Dorothy's
cloak and scarf; even the light Of q
bright moon would hardly have made
her slender little form visible from that
distance.
ooh. come along-you have got the
jumps tonight What do you think 1t
was--some poor devil seeking watery
grave?"
at might have been" answered his
companion, quietly, then shrugged his
shoulders at his own grewsome thoughts
and hurried on through the rain.
ITO Be- COntinued.)