The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-03-18

with 8 desperate effort strengthened l again. The door, I forgot the door! It isn't locked. Lock the door! Then you take the candle over there on the washstand, and | and I'll show you-~ You--you get the 1 things while Pm undressing. IT car help myself that much"
 1 Rhode Gray crossed quickly to the door. turned the key in the lock. and retraced her steps to the washstan6 that stood in the shadows against the wall on the opposite side from the ed, and near the far end of the garret Here she found the short stub of g candle that was. stuck in the mouth of gin bottle. and matches lying be- side ii. She lighted the candle, and turned inquiringly to Gypsy Nan.
 The woman pointed to the end of the garret where the roof s1oped sharply down until, at the wall itself, it was scarcely four feet above the floor.
 "Go down there Right to the wall-In the center" instructed Gyp- sy Nan weakly. And then, as Rhoda Gray obeyed: Now push up on that wide board in the ceiling.''
 Rhode Gray. already in g. stopped position, reached up, and pushed at
 
 back without a sound, like a narrow trap-door, until it rested in an up- right position against the outer frame of the house, disclosing an aperture through which, by standing erect. Rhoda Gray easily thrust her head and shoulders.
 She raised the candle then through the opening-and suddenly her dark eyes widened in amazement. It was a hiding place, not only ingenious, but exceedingly generous in expanse. As far as one could reach the ceiling m eta orphosed itself into a most convenient shelf And it had been we'll utilized! It held a most as- founding collection of things. There was a cashbox, but the cashbox was apparently wholly inadequate-there must have been thousands of dollars in those piles of banknotes that were stacked beside it! There was a, large tin box, the cover off. containing some black, pastelike substance-the stuff" presumably, that Gypsy Nan used on her face and hands. There was a bunch of curiously formed ridges. an electric fashlight, and a great quantity of the choicest brands of timed and bottled fruits and pro- visions-and little to one side. eVi- dently kept ready for instant use, a suit of excellent material, undercloth- ing, silk stockings, shoes and hat were neatly piled together
 Rhoda Gray took the clothing. and went back to the bedside. Gypsy Nan had made little progress in dis robing. It seemed about all the wom- an could do to cling to the edge of the cot and sit upright.
  she asked tensely; "a1l those things up there-that money"
 Gypsy Nan forced twisted smile.
 "It means I know how bad I am, or I wouldn't have let you see what you have" she answered heavily. 'It means that there isn't any other way. Hurry, Get these things off. Get me dressed!"
 But it took a long time. Gypsy Nan seemed with every moment to grow weaker. The lamp on the chair went out~for want of oil. There was only the guttering candle in the gin bottle to give light. Itehrew werd, hickering shadows around the gar ret; it seemed to enhance the already dealthlike pallor of the woman, as. using the pitched of water and the basin from the washstand now, Rho
 
 Gypsy Mans face and hands.
 It was done at last-and where there had once been Gypsy Nan. hag- like and repulsive, there was now stylishly. even elegantly, dressed wom- an of we'll under middle age. The seemed to have acted as a, stimulant upon Gypsy Nan. She laughed with nervous hi1arity;, she even tried vahantly to put on a pair of new black kid gloves, but, failing in this, pushed them unsteadily into the pocket of her coat.
 'Tm-Tm all right" she asserted as Rhoda Gray, pausing in the act of gathering up the discarded garments, regarded her anxiously. Bring me a package of that money after you've put those things away yes. and you'll find a f1ashlight there We'll-we'H need it going down the stairs
 Rhoda Gray made no answer. There was no hesitation now, in her actions, as. to the pile of clothing in her arms, she added the revolver that lay on the blanket. and, returning to the little trap-door in the ceiling. hid them away; but hen brain was whirl- ing again in a turmoil of doubt. This was madness, utter, stark, blind mad ness, InlsS IIl1IS IAlStl S1le was oOlttS. It was suicide literally that. nothing less than suicide for one in Gypsy Mans condition to attempt this thing. But the woman would certainly die here. too without medical assistance .oniy there was the police. Rhoda Grays face, as she stood upright in the little aperture again, throwing the wavering candle-rays around her, seemed suddenly to have grown pinched and wan. The police, The policer It was her conscience, then. that was gnawing at her-because of the police, Was that it2 Well, there was also, then, another side. Could she turn informer, traitor, be- come a female Judas to a dying woman, who had sobbed and thanked her Maker because she had found some one whom she believed she could trust? That was a hideouS and an abominabIe thing to do. You swore it, You swore you'd see me words came and rang l.. T~t,.,