The Washington herald., 1921-10-23
By Fanny L. Mckinney

Con itfeet dress. Her parted hair vas
soft and eIesminE. without speaking, ne
walked quickly to the sickroom. The purss
followed confused, terrised.
What she saw from the doorway made
her turn cold with alarm. All at once she
felt that the eonfusiop In her mind ms
cleared away like smoke before the wind.
She had been duped. This person vas
thief, Or burglar. or eIse-could Mrs.. Blash-
tons fears be jus1 --s E-,...g.. -.
fnseead Of eoint to the sick mans bed
side, the woman, without even looking tnat
way, turned to q chest Of drawers that STOOD
near the door. Taking some keys from hef
belt she fitted one to the lock OF small
drawer and opened it. 1t appeared TO con-
tain papers She began 10 turn them over
Miss Soames stood in the doorway, think
ing fast. Above all, her mind was on her
/, patient. Once get the woman free OF the
rickrocm and she believed she could srouss
2 the house and prevent her escape. But there
mast Be no disturbance here.
The visitor gave q low sound OF salts
faction. She drew out a bundle Of pspers-
letters they seemed to be, which she hid IN
the front Of her dress Then she turned and
looked toward the bed. Poor JED Verriam
woman drew a quick breath and covered
her eyes with her hands. Softly she passed
around to the other side Of the BED ana
dropped on her knees by his pillow
MISS SoAMES' alarm took new form
IN1 She decided it was now time 70 iuterfere-
When she came inside the room she saw
that III. woman was not touching the sief
man or even the bed but that Der face vas
working and her breast hesvinS.
Madam" said the nurse in sup
messed voice. IF you value his life in the
least, you must &C"
"I Know came the snswer, ehonnrg,
.but I am afraid I shall-l-1 can't
A terrific sob shook her.
Jefferson Verriam was awake. BE stirred,
turned lifted his hand to his sithtless eyeA-
who is here?'' be said.
Jefferson Verriam now raised himself
slightly on one side and put out his hand.
His fingers fell upon the smooth head
sroped over it, touched the heavinE Shout
ders.
Barbara b. cried.
oh Jeff. nv dear! my DEAR" Their
arms were about each other.
That instant Miss Sosmes heard q sound
bebind her. Turning. she saw Mrs. BlaSh-
ton lust within the doorway. Her face was
dreadful to look upon. In the Fash OF time
Will. they stood thus the nurse knew At
last her duty and on which side she would
play.
That woman! What is she doing heref
How did she get in?'
At tn. sound Of these words. spoken
loudly and violently, the man and woman
drew apart
81 say again, Row did she get in! There
h,, been some treachery." She swept Miss
Sosmes a glance. she shall be turned out
will ring for the servants and they shall
driy. her out! Miss Sosmes, ring for Hal
bert"
Miss Sosnes did not move. Jefferson
y.rrisu had raised himself to a sitting pos
ture and turned his suffered eyes toward
his cousin.
..sar,h. ysu sh.n.sot turn Barbara from
tbisr house. II sbe hsS come here 70 me Of
her own wiiI-you did come Of your own
will, Bsrbsraf'
Yes"
Then she shah stay. She is my wife"
Wait then! What are the papers she
took just now from your locked chifOnisrf
was just in time to see her there"
MRS. vERRIAM drew out the bundle
wi from her dress and laid it under Der
husbands hand, his fingers passed over it.
Your letters to me before We were mar.
ried. JEFF. If you died could not bear that
that an enemy should have them"
Sarah" The sick man seemed almost
to be taking on the color and energy Of
health. "She shall not leave this house.
l know, i have thought it through many
times as 1 lay. here. Too hastily 1 let her
go from me. There were calumnics never
believed. Barbara. you shall answer hers
now. Were those stories true or falser'
False, JEFF, false! Not only in my lits
but in every beat Of my heart have been
true to you
Then. Sarah, she shall stay"
And IL and mine are to 70, I SUD.
pose?"
Yes. am not unErstetul for your caro-
or me. But this is ny wife. Without her
l have been down into the valley Of death"
No one saw what followed. for the nurs.
passed out, leaving husband and wifi, To.
gether. -
The next time Agnes Sosmes met her old
friend, Mrs. Philip Harvey. that autocr,f,
lady attacked her at once on the subiect a.
their last conversation.
What could you have meant, child. n,
saying that you had been talking with NJ.
Howard Jefferson? 1t irked me to thip[
was getting so forretful, so made ipouir;.,
about her at the very first opportunity. tn,
poor lady is dead-dead these three wear,
lust as told you: Now how could yeu
have seen, and spoken with herr"
Agnes smiled quietly. She wouId no,
transsress professional bounds again. ssTh.r.
was mistake. Young Mrs. verri.r c,IIsS
upon me. A mistake in name. r.. - J,