Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-06-02
BON y Loais Jos~ph vs.s
Confined from u last issue)
XXxII

Confined from our last issue)
XXI
Amazing to learn, upon authority
as sound as that of the clock in the
hotel lobby, that the age of the
evening vas still somewhat short Of
nine . /. preposterous to credit
that lapse of time SO little could
have wrought the transformation of
lies kindly countenance at close of
day to its present cast, so bleak,
~forbidding. and implacable
Lucinda slipped into her sitting
room, turned the key. found the
switchbox near the door, and in an
abrupt blaze of illumination stood.
startled beyond speech, face to face
with Nelly Marquis.
One of Nelly's hands was planted
Nat against the wall: the other, IA
begrimed fist. was fumbling at her
mouth. Those ives whose haunted
beauty had first laid claim to ones
humanity We're now black pools of
pathos In a face whose chalkiness
was runneled by tears.
Lucinda started back to the door
but the woman plunged down to
grovel at her feet.
"Oh, Mrs. Drucei I'm all right
now, I I'm, I swear I am! Forgive
me. and for Gods sake don't turn
me out, don't call the police! Did /
hurt him bad"
Desperately" Lucinda replied.
"Wbether he'll live or not we don't
know yet"
You left him that way. o. my
God!"
Are you approaching me?" Luz
cinda retorted in amazement-"as IL
1t had been I who shot your hus-
bandi'
MY husband!' Nelly shrilled.
tits yours I'm talking about, it's
Mr.. bruce. It's not knowing how
bad I hurt him that's driving me
crazy . . I didn't hardly know
who he was while we were fighting
-" She drove her knuckles
against her mouth.
Lynn got what was coming to
him. Lynn never treated any wom-
an so mean, and / guess 1t was
right his punishment should come
from me. I amt a bit sorry, 1 hope
he dies . . . Do you-do you think
hs will?"
To the implicit hope that gave
Wanted impenitence the lie. Lucin-
da returned, In a low tone ami
against her wish. the n word,
Probably :"
II don't care" Nelly walled. at
was Mr.. bruce I came here to find
gu about. Please tell me how bad
he's hurt?"
Not much-A flesh wound in the
arm"
THANK God it wasn't worse. I'd
never have forgiven myself, never
Are you in love with him, then p"
Lucinda demanded inexorably. rs
Bel in love with you.?"
With a hysterical note in the
laugh that scorned this notion, mo,
no." Nelly cried. "He isn't that
sort. / don't know what the trouble
was between you two, but it WASH.
another woman. MI. bruce never
as much as held my hand"
Lucinda stood pitiful, contemplate
Ing the creature who huddled in the
chair, shivering, whimpering a little.
gnawing her knuckles, with the
dazed eyes of an animal hunted 20
its last gasp. A murderess by in
tention, whom the word of any mo-
ment might prove a murderess IN
Incomprehensible the alchemy OF
the human heart! Lucinda was MAX
Ing up her mind to help a sinner cir
cumvent the justice of the social
order
The telephone sounded a peremp.
tory call. Lucinda, answering, heard
the voice of her chauffeur.
When Lucinda hung up she found
Nelly slowed round in the chair.
'That was Inspiration. I've ar
ranged to let you steal my car. You
can leave it wherever you think it
safe to get aboard a train. You can
drive, of course ?" Nelly nodded.
Are you strong enough to drive
the car yourself? 2" Lucinda mi s.
doubted fer perhaps the hundredth
time though for the first openly.
The woman on the bed gave her
hand a small jerk of petulance.
Don't worry" she insisted. "I'll be
all right. can drive any make of
car there is"
where will you so?"
North, by the Coastal Highway. 1
might go right through to Frisco.
What time is 1t now? / suppose
You wouldn't want to call UP Lynn's
'Td rather not"
"I guess it's all over with Lynn
now, as far as you're concerned,
isn't it,"
Eyes" Lucinda said with the
slowness that spells restraint-"as
far as I'm concerned, it's all over"
I'm awfully sorry" the girl as
serted, her voice in turn carrying
the color OF oomplacency-"I mean,
sorry for you. You must've been
awfully stuck on Lynn"
Yes . :" To Offset a choke in
her voice Lucinda added with a hard
laugh: "Awfullyi'
The house telephone came to Luz
cinda's rescue: Mr.. bruce was call.
Ing.
Lucinda promised Nelly to get rid
of Bel as soo as she could, and in
return sexacted the girls promise to
rest. Then Lucinda shut herself
out into the sitting-room.
Bells light motor-coat hung from
his shoulders, with empty sleeves.
thus Disgusting that his right arm
was in q sling. His features were
drawn and gray. but his eyes keen.
steady ana (Lueinda made sure,
looking sharply wholly u~nsenti-
mental,