Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-03-20
LIGHTS.


jumping from his chair. ''cant
fellow sit on his own m hrcis b"rrh
"a, night. and smoke in aas p.aca'"
The young man 10 whom the reader
will be introduced had 4 habit when
anything was worrying him of going
on the porch and smoking. asking
ception room he cut on. so he would
not be bothered by them.
Bob was about % years old. about
i've feet tall. with dark brown eyes.
and brown hair that lay on his head
in smooth wavy ripples. Bob had a
temper. WOE 10 the man or woman
that crossed him II they were in the
wrong." But Bob was loyal and
true and very much in love, and on
this particular night his love was
what was worrying him.
This was not so much TO him
though. that he did not notice some
thing peculiar about the way those
lights were flashing in the house
across the street. From what Bob
saw It looked as IL some one was
pulling a shade up and down. which
IHhb' III" llSHt llhhN dS II Iiu.
After nearly fifteen minutes re-
lapse and the Hastings were not re-
ucwcd. bu, the house remained III
darkness Bob decided he would in
v"stigatc the matter. Just as he
stepped from the porch scream
burst forth on the still night from
the house. Il hanging OF door in
tn" house, then all was silent
again.
Bob era bbed his pistol 'in his hand
aud ran across the street TO the other
house, from which the screaming and
the banging OF the door had come.
lie pushed open the front door and
crcpt cautiously upstairs. He reach
cd the top OF the stairs and went 10
door marked bath and pecrcd in.
ne saw nothing unusual here. so NJ
proceeded into the next room. Every
thing was In perfect order except
the bed. which looked as II some one
had slept in 1t. only there wah blood
on the. side OF the bed and from one
side came mourning az -! some
ono in pain. lie went quickly TO the
eide OF the bed AND there he found
beautiful! Mrs. Clarke lying in pool
II blood. moaning and grooming on
the floor. He quickly raised her from
Tho floor and went to get her some
water bat her life was already past
saving. by the side OF the bed he
found knife covered With blood.
and when he picked il up there were
stains all over his hands. "lic-he
,r-tricd to ki-hss me-" moarncd
Mrs Clarke, after he had stolen
everything: ard he said if 1 didn't
no would Kill me. | would no; do
it." but her sweet voice trailed off
in tho distance. and she died with a
smile on her face as she lay In Bob's
arms.
By this time the police had been
aroused and upon finding Bob with
the knife In his hands and blood
stains on them. too, they arrested
him and held him for murder. Many
times during his Imprisonment his
hanccc. Ethel knight, visited him
Then one day when she came to sec
'iim she pat her arms around him
and kissed him. saying. Bob. do not
worry: everything will turn out all
right. I still have faith in you and
shall have until death parts us"
Sob almost broke down under this.
and when she started to leave he was
ioath to part with her.
The next day the trial came of
and Bob was almost sentenced to
death. when a detective walked in
the door with n young hoy on one
side of him and man OF about 30
years of age on the other side OF
him. His clothes were ragged and
he had a beard OF weeks growth.
Judge" said the detective, this man
has a confession to make" The man
took the stand. He told how he had
loved Mrs. Clarke all his life. but
that he had lost all he once owned.
81 then became a drunkard. he told
them, and insulted her, then there
was no chance for nc. was so
hard up after Il while for money and
food that stole. had heard OF
Margaret's marriage TO Mr.. Clarke.
and became bitter. The night killed
her / did not know that she was
even living in that house. but when
I entered the bath and then the bou-
doir. saw her and recognized her
She did not know ne, as I was COM
plctely disguised. But as she stood
there. her dimpled arms bare: I
became maddened and attempted to
kiss her. but [ found was repulsed
and then killed her. The flashing OF
the lights was signal to my COM
radc outside. and thought I got
away unnoticcd. but this little boy
here saw me and I am brought to
Justice"
Bob Daniels was set free. and the
minute he left the court he carried
Ethel TO her home. In the garden
he took her in his arms and said:
Dear Little Ethel. your prophecy
came true" AS his lips met hers In
long lingering kiss. something
seemed to whisper above them. Jus
tice is the way to liberty"
Originality
- VIRGINIA. PERKINS