The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-10-05

road spiashed her ankles and short
skirt. but she kept on. straining 10
oyertake the two ahead OF her.
Once she fancied she saw someone
In the hedge. she started back with a
haif.stificd scream but everything
was stiii again. and she hurried on
with renewed determination.
At the bend IN the road known as
CATERS corner there was n short cut
across the fields, which abe knew
would bring her abreast OF the two
men. She knew that II would be
more wet and muddy than the road.
but In her state Of mind she did not
stop TO consider such a detail: sho
and thru a broken gap. In the hedge.
Her wet skirts Tapped nncomfortably
about her ankles: the impeding
branches scratched her face. but she
did not care--shs stumbled on. cry.
Ing pi,ifuiiy.
She was abreast OF the two men
when the revolver flash split the
darkness from tho opposite sids Of
the road Her husbands name trern.
bisd on her lips when the sharp re-
port broke the silence. The field
level was far above the road. and
the bullet which Just missed Rod.
erfck Briton struck Brenda Myers
fun tn the breast
A clock IN the han struck nine "a
Or. Myers let himself into his house
Both the drawing room and dining
room were IN darkness. he went up
stairs 10 his wife's bedroom. There.
too. tbs light was lowered: . pair OF
her hiEh.hseled slippers lay careless.
iy on d. rug by the dressing table
wherc.she had kicked them hurriediy
off. He frowned a little. and went
out again. softly closing the door. A
maid met him on the stairs
Where's your missressr~
"shs went out. sir. some time ago.
Just after you did,
"Ohr
and turned on the gas. He felt rest.
less and unhappy: he wanted his
wife. He knew he would never be
happy now untii he had told her OF
the grsy-eyed ghost that had stolen
out OF the past after NO many years
and forced her humble claim upon
him.
Many q man, when he marries,
builds a fenco 30 high and strong
around his crop OF Wild oats that he
fondly imagines nobody can ever
sec over. He forgets that weeds
grow underground. until he sees
them peepins up at him from a spot
he has imagined untaintod.
And Myers loved his wife. To him
there was but one way out of the
tangis hc had woven for his own
feet years ago. and that was by tell.
ing her the truth.
He wandered about his study rest.
lessly. listening for her step IN the
hall. her shrill voice--but the time
passed and she did not come. with
something Of a shock he realized
that II was 1890.
AS he was hesitating what 20 DO.
q maid tapped n. his door. please.
sir. tho mistress hasn't come In"
II know: I'll go and meet her. He
tried to speak careIessly. but his
hands shook as no hurried into his
coat
When he got outside he ala not
know which way to 20. Most of the
houses were In darkness: the red
lamp Mt his own gate stared like
watchful eve thru the gloom. II was
raining fast; there was not a star
In the sky.
He walked slowly down the road.
Which way should he got He re-
merubered that Brenda had been an.
cry with him when they last parted.
Surely she could not have done any.
thing foolish7 lie laughed at the
idea. They had had lifts before.
many times, but she had soon for.
gotten them. and been only too will.
ing to kiss and make friends.
He would meet her in a moment:
she would come running along
with a laughing explanation. But he
reached the end OF the village. and
there was still no sign OF her.
Myers ran the distance back homo.
lie was really afraid now; afraid
he did not know OF what
Two OF the maids stood at the open
door: they looked confused when
they saw Myers. He questioned
them sharply.
Where has your mistress gone7''
The younger girl answered hesitat-
ingly. She said she had been over
TO Bedmund with her young man.
who was under groom up at Mr.. Brit.
on's, and that they had passed Mrs.
Myers on the road
WHAT Going TO Bedmund7 Non.
scnser'
1T was Mrs. Myers. SIR. She was
walking very fast. ana It was rain.
ing"
The doctor stared at her with
feeling OF heIplessncss. But why
should she 20 10 Bedmund at this
time OF night7"
The girl looked scared.
81 don't know. sir. She wasn't